'Fit out season' gets Maine's historic windjammers ready for summer season
Updated: 5:20 PM EDT Apr 22, 2019
HARD AT WORK IN WHAT' KNOWN AS 'FIT OUT SEASON'.... --NATS OF OUTDOOR PAINTING-- (05-2-31)(NOAH BARNES) "WE ALL UNIVERSLLY, PRETTY MUCH, (TIGHTEN UP) ON'T LOOK FORWARD TO FIT OUT SEASON." IT'S THAT TIME EACH SPRING,, THAT VERY BRIEF WINOW BETWEEN THE SNOW MELT AND EMORIAL DAY WEEKEND WHEN EVERYTHING -NATS- AND THEY DO MEAN,, EVERY NOO, CRANNY, STITCH OF SAIL AND PLANK GETS WORKED ON. (05-02-17) (JR BRAUGH) "EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE DONE, FROM A TO Z, TOP TO BOTOM, EVRY SURFACE OF THE BOAT GETS PAINTED AND SANDED OR IN SOME CASES VARNISHED." (05-19-20) (NOAH BARNES) "THIS YEAR I THINK WE'RE BOARDING ON THE 24TH WHICH IS A MONTH AND A WEEK... HERE THAT BOYS- MONTH AND A WEEK- WE'RE GOING SALING IN A MONTH AND A WEEK,, PAINT LIKE THE WIND,, HA HA." -LITTLE NATS- ONCE THEY FINALLY DO RAISE THE SAILS,, THESE HISTORIC SHIPS,,,,, MANY,, WELL OVER 1- HUNDRED YEARS OLD -- ARE ON THE WAER SEVEN DAYS A WEEK FOR FIVE MNTHS STRAIGHT --- THEY TAKE A BEATING,, SO, THE BTTOM LINE IS GET IT DONE NOW -- OR PERHAPS, HAVE TO REPLACE IT SOONER THN LATER. (05-03-15) (JR BRAUGH) "IF YOU FALL BEHIND JUST ONE YEAR AND IT'S LIKE YOU GOT TO HIT THE RESET BUTTON AND DO EVEN MORE WORK I THINK." THEY'RE SPIFFING UP FOR THE THOUSADS OF GUESTS WHO WILL COME T ROCKLAND TO SPEND SEVERAL DAYS AND NIGHTS ABOARD THESE SHIPS SAILIG THE MAINE COAS... AND THESE CAPTAINS HAVE A STRICT STANDARD OF FIT, FINISH AND SAFETY... (04-59-21) (SAM SIKEMA) "THE COAST (04-59-21) (SAM SIKKEMA) "THE COAST GUARD COMES DOWN AND MAKES SURE EVERYTHING IS STUCTURY SOUND, WE ARE OBVIOUSLY VERY INVESTED IN MAKING SURE OUR GUESTS HAVE A SAFE EXPERIENC, A GOOD EXPERIENCE." --NATS-- AS MUCH AS THESE CAPTAINS AND CREW MEMBRS MAY UNIVERSLLY NOT LOOK FORWARD TO THS BUY AND HECTIC FIT OUT SEASON .... BEYOND, ALL THOSE PAINT CANS AND SANDERS -- (05-26-36) "SOME NICE FLOWERS, HORSORDERVS, COUPLE OF PEOLE SITTING AROUND NJOYING A QUIET , COZY ANCORAGE WITH A COCTAIL I THE EVENNG" --- A SILVER LINING... (5-17-05) "IT'S LIKE PRE SEASON, IT'S LIKE WINDSPRINTS FOR SOCCER PRACTICE, IT'S DOUBLE SESSIONS IT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO GET TO GO SAILING FOR A LIVING
'Fit out season' gets Maine's historic windjammers ready for summer season
Updated: 5:20 PM EDT Apr 22, 2019
In just a few weeks Maine's fleet of historic windjammers will be busy sailing for the season, but before that, each ship gets a makeover.It's called fit out season -- the brief window between the snowmelt and Memorial Day when crews go over each ship in-by-inch."Everything needs to be done. From A to Z, top to bottom, every surface of the boat gets painted and sanded or in some cases varnished," Schooner Ladona Capt. J.R. Braugh said.Every nook, cranny, stitch of sail and plank gets worked on.Each summer, thousands of people visit Rockland to enjoy the historic ships. Some are more than 100 years old.The ships spend seven days week on the water for five months straight. They take a beating, so safety is critical."The Coast Guard comes down and makes sure everything is structurally sound. We are obviously very invested in making sure our guests have a safe experience, a good experience," Victory Chimes Capt. Sam Sikkema said.As much as the captains and crew members do not look forward to fit out season, they know it is critical for a successful sailing season.
ROCKLAND, Maine — In just a few weeks Maine's fleet of historic windjammers will be busy sailing for the season, but before that, each ship gets a makeover.
It's called fit out season -- the brief window between the snowmelt and Memorial Day when crews go over each ship in-by-inch.
"Everything needs to be done. From A to Z, top to bottom, every surface of the boat gets painted and sanded or in some cases varnished," Schooner Ladona Capt. J.R. Braugh said.
Every nook, cranny, stitch of sail and plank gets worked on.
Each summer, thousands of people visit Rockland to enjoy the historic ships. Some are more than 100 years old.
The ships spend seven days week on the water for five months straight. They take a beating, so safety is critical.
"The Coast Guard comes down and makes sure everything is structurally sound. We are obviously very invested in making sure our guests have a safe experience, a good experience," Victory Chimes Capt. Sam Sikkema said.
As much as the captains and crew members do not look forward to fit out season, they know it is critical for a successful sailing season.