Seawolf Park update: Jan 28, 2009

[Onkel Neal]

USS Stewart is afloat and righted.

The recovery plan was discussed and approved at the November board meeting of the Cavalla Historical Foundation. The largest and most expensive job will be getting the Stewart righted.


The current plan is to right the Stewart where she is currently sitting and not try to move back into her original position. This will be done by building a tall bank around the ship and the ground washed out from under her with high pressure water hoses. She will be floated and then water pumped out so she will settle back down into her current position on an even keel. The boat lodged under her keel will be removed. The grounds around her will be restored to normal. Once this has been accomplished power can be restored and the efforts to clean up the office and berthing areas can be begin.

The Cavalla will remain where she sits and the trench around her will be filled in. The area on her hull that is exposed will be repaired, sand blasted and painted. Power will be restored and interior cleanup efforts can begin.

The Command Master Chief for the Seabee battalion in Dallas has volunteered 100 man days for the recovery effort. This will be used a training exercise for them and provide skilled trades to aid with the recovery work. Hopefully they can refurbish the memorial plaza and sidewalks in the area and replace or repair the light posts, flag poles and memorial plaques in the military exhibit.

The Tautog sail will be placed back on its concrete pad and painted. The Carp conning tower will also be placed back on it concrete slap so restoration work can continue.

A new concrete slab has been poured and will be used for for the new storage container.

The Galveston Park Board will replacing the fencing that surrounded the military exhibit. The new fencing will appear like fencing around a military installation.

[snakeyez]

Great to see that progress is being made down there Neal.

[FIREWALL]

Glad to hear things are looking up.

[nikimcbee]

Dumb question, can you guys still use any volunteer help? I do have a free plane ticket on SW.

Just curious, what is this about?

[Rip]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

Dumb question, can you guys still use any volunteer help? I do have a free plane ticket on SW.

Make sure I know when you come. I may be able to get over for a weekend as well. Don't know if I will have my crotch rocket fixed yet. I may have to ride the little 500.

Or god forbid go on four wheels.

[Rip]

Originally Posted by Bewolf

Just curious, what is this about?

Seawolf Park in Galveston, TX. Badly damaged in the Hurricane last year. At last years Subsim get together we all went down and lent a hand. Hopefully something we can keep doing routinely for those of us in area, or with an interest to visit New Texico.

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by Rip

Make sure I know when you come. I may be able to get over for a weekend as well. Don't know if I will have my crotch rocket fixed yet. I may have to ride the little 500.

Or god forbid go on four wheels.

Roger that. I really like the area and this is a great way to help something I enjoy.

...plus I need a new Cavalla hat.

Originally Posted by Rip

Seawolf Park in Galveston, TX. Badly damaged in the Hurricane last year. At last years Subsim get together we all went down and lent a hand. Hopefully something we can keep doing routinely for those of us in area, or with an interest to visit New Texico.

Man, that blows massivly. I hope the damage done was not too bad. If there wasn't this ocean in between I'd offer a hand. Hope everything goes well there.

[Onkel Neal]

Man hopes to resume tours aboard historic sub
By John Lowman
The Facts
Published February 5, 2009
GALVESTON — Bill Thirtle disappears below the deck of the USS Cavalla, heading into the submarine known for sinking the Japanese destroyer Shokaku in 1944, but losing a battle against Hurricane Ike 64 years later.

Ike’s storm surge lifted the Cavalla from its base of sand and grass in Galveston’s Seawolf Park, where the vessel has been landlocked since 1971. The surge turned the boat about 8 feet to the west.

“Ike picked it up, moved it and set it down in the wrong place,” Thirtle said.

The hurricane pushed the 1,650-ton, 310-foot-long vessel about 15 feet to the north and left it sitting about 5 feet higher than it was Sept. 9, the date of the last tour. Thirtle has led people through the World War II-era, diesel-powered submarine for years and is one of several people making sure September’s public tour isn’t the last.

Full article: http://thefacts.com/story.lasso?ewcd=5f64ceee1f9ee211