Revisiting Mystic Seaport (with pics)

[Subnuts]

This Monday I revisited Mystic Seaport, and armed with a half-off coupon, dragged my mother in tow. She hadn't been there since the early 60s, back when it was basically two ships and a couple old buildings. Much to my surprise, she really enjoyed the visit, though spending five hours on all those hard wooden floors and decks can be awfully tiring!

The pictures from my last trip can be seen here: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom//sho...d.php?t=197810
I tried to avoid taking pictures of things I'd photographed the last time, or visiting all of the same exhibits I'd already seen. Needless to say, I wish I could have returned on Tuesday - I swear I only saw half the seaport this time!

This is the Roann, one of the last of the eastern-rig draggers, a type of fishing trawler that was common off the New England coast from the 1920s through to the 1970s. As anyone who has ever played a Sonalysts sim knows, these boats go whump-whump-swish-whump-whump-swish.


I can't identify the motor launch in the foreground. Snazzy little boat either way. Behind the Roann you can see the Sabino, a little steam-powered river boat built back in 1908. More on her later.


Mystic Seaport is a working museum, so naturally there's always something go on. Here we see a tin roof being moved into position.


There's a shipbuilding exhibit at the shipyard, although the lighting inside was kinda lousy and I only got one good shot. This is a pair of lower frames from a ship whose name I can't remember. Trivia time: the part of the forward frame that overlaps the keel is known as the "floor," so if anyone tells you that ships don't have floors, they're full of BS.


The Charles W Morgan is the world's only surviving wooden whaling ship, and almost certainly the Seaport's pride and joy. In one month she'll be returned to the water after a five-year restoration, and a year from now she'll put to sea for the first time since 1922 for a tour of New England harbors. Hopefully, of course!


A year ago, the entire ship was surrounded by scaffolding, covered in a weatherproof tent, and almost entirely unpainted and unplanked. The difference from May 2012 is startling.


The entire hull was replanked, recaulked, and repainted in the last year.


You still have the walk up 40 feet of stairs to get onboard the ship, which was too much for my Mom to handle. Here we see some painting in progress, although I don't think the cherry picker is authentic 19th century shipyard equipment.


Steve has got to do something about his model building.


Making her look good as new!