It has been a busy couple of weeks for the Martha crew. First came downrigging the mainmast, then further diagnosis and digging into the aged cedar of the spar. What we found is a natural check—probably original to the cedar tree from which the spar was made—which allowed water and fungus spores to accumulate in the mast over time. We removed as much of the compromised material as possible, and new wood was milled up and joined to fit. Once fitted, the new panel was epoxied in place. Layers of protective paint, hardware and electronic systems were added or reinstalled.
It was a triumphant moment when the spar rolled out into the sunshine again—-one step closer to being reunited with Martha. The mast was dressed with supporting rigging and then with all the running gear (with a little help from the Bo’s’n’s Mate). On Friday we rolled the spar down to the dock, and Gus from Olympic Crane crane brought the 1700lb assembly back on board with the high tide. This coming period will hopefully see us tuning the rig, tying up loose ends and addressing details in the rigging with an eye towards a shakedown soon. We hope to see you on the water and we look forward to getting back to work welcoming aboard anyone who values what Martha has to teach.
