Creeker Visit

[Don Abele]

I recently had the good fortune of meeting Bill Grumbine while he was in Cape Cod. He drove an hour or so north for the visit.

I gave him the full five and half cent tour of the ship and our workshop used to maintain her in her 1812 configuration. From the spar deck to the keel, and the 50HP 4-sided planer to the 4 foot chop saw.

Bill brought a bunch of "show and tell" pieces - AMAZING work.

After the tour we had lunch and enjoyed talking about a diverse range of topics. He truly is an amazing man.

I've only had the good fortune of a couple of Creeker visits and all of them have been amazing.

If anyone finds themselves heading towards Boston, be sure to drop me a line.

Oh, and the picture to prove it all...

Be well,

Doc

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Doc.................I am extremely envious!.............Two of the people I'd like to meet............At the perfect place!

[Jim O'Dell]

Great meeting! The personal tour of the ship would be more than worth the 2 hours drive! Jim.

[Bruce Page]

Great meeting! The personal tour of the ship would be more than worth the 2 hours drive! Jim.

I toured her back in the mid 90’s, awesome ship! I would love a behind the scenes tour and to meet Don!

Green with envey

[Art Mulder]

Sounds like a great time, I love touring old ships and stuff like that.

But, ya know you got yerself a UFO up in the top-right corner of that photo...

[Ken Fitzgerald]

That's because Bill hasn't taken up Stinsonizing yet!

[John Shuk]

Bill is a nice guy. I had the chance to meet him at a symposium.

[Steve Clardy]

Sounds like you both had a great visit

[Jack Hogoboom]

I've nearly been there and done that. I was fortunate enough to take a class from Bill right before he made the DVD that has made him famous. what you see on the DVD is exactly what you get in person. I had a great time.

I was also fortunate enough to be about the Constitution when she made her first voyage in Boston Harbor after her refurbishing. My brother was chosen to represent the state of Texas and was allowed to have four people in total on board. She is an amazing living piece of American history. And she is still a commissioned Naval vessel. When we were aboard, all of the officers and crew were in period dress and the military pageantry and precision was nothing short of amazing. Something I will remember always.

I wonder if they still do that....

Jack

[Don Abele]

Jack, you are absolutely correct. The Constitution is still commissioned - she is the oldest commissed warship afloat in the world.

I am stationed aboard her as the Command Senior Chief. The 63 active duty Sailors that man her work for me. We do dress in a period 1813 uniform for tours throughout the day and anytime we take her underway for sail demonstrations (like we just did this past Friday and will do again this upcoming Friday).

We are getting ready for another major refurbishment starting in October which will last about 2 years. We are replacing the entire Spar Deck (that's the top deck exposed to the weather). It's in great shape, but it's flat - originally it would have been cambered (curved) to the outboards to allow water to wash off the deck. The deck was flattened sometime in the 40's when she was being used as a receiving ship (berthing).

Once we start this overhaul the ship will not look like she does now until it is completed. We have to remove all the rigging and masts which extend above the fighting tops (white platforms commonly called crow's nests). The ship will remain open for tours as we will be removing the deck in sections to ensure access to the public.

So between now and October is the best time to visit - after that I'd recommend waiting until the overhaul is complete.

Be well,

Doc

[Gary Keedwell]

I've nearly been there and done that. I was fortunate enough to take a class from Bill right before he made the DVD that has made him famous. what you see on the DVD is exactly what you get in person. I had a great time.

I was also fortunate enough to be about the Constitution when she made her first voyage in Boston Harbor after her refurbishing. My brother was chosen to represent the state of Texas and was allowed to have four people in total on board. She is an amazing living piece of American history. And she is still a commissioned Naval vessel. When we were aboard, all of the officers and crew were in period dress and the military pageantry and precision was nothing short of amazing. Something I will remember always.

I wonder if they still do that....

Jack

Don't want to sound like a twirp... but can you tell me what DVD Bill did?
Gary

[Randy Moore]

Hey Don,
Man, you lookin' kinda PUNY . Don't they feed you in the service? I am envious, too, both gentlemen I would like to meet.


Randy

[Keith Starosta]

Jack, you are absolutely correct. The Constitution is still commissioned - she is the oldest commissed warship afloat in the world.

I am stationed aboard her as the Command Senior Chief. The 63 active duty Sailors that man her work for me. We do dress in a period 1813 uniform for tours throughout the day and anytime we take her underway for sail demonstrations (like we just did this past Friday and will do again this upcoming Friday).

We are getting ready for another major refurbishment starting in October which will last about 2 years. We are replacing the entire Spar Deck (that's the top deck exposed to the weather). It's in great shape, but it's flat - originally it would have been cambered (curved) to the outboards to allow water to wash off the deck. The deck was flattened sometime in the 40's when she was being used as a receiving ship (berthing).

Once we start this overhaul the ship will not look like she does now until it is completed. We have to remove all the rigging and masts which extend above the fighting tops (white platforms commonly called crow's nests). The ship will remain open for tours as we will be removing the deck in sections to ensure access to the public.

So between now and October is the best time to visit - after that I'd recommend waiting until the overhaul is complete.

Be well,

Doc

Hey Don....uhhh....may I ask what is going to happen to the old decking once it is removed? I'm sure there are more than a few of us who'd LOVE to have a piece of two of it....

- Keith

[Don Abele]

Keith, as you might imagine, we've been getting asked that question a lot.

Unfortunately, all the wood will be disposed of. I don't have the exact date when this decking was replaced last, but they used arsenic treated wood. Which makes it all hazmat.

The wood going in will be untreated douglas fir and white oak. The white oak extends about 6-8 feet from the gunnels and was used to support the added weight of the guns. The rest of the deck is douglas fir. We will seal the deck with a penetrating sealant which will get renewed periodically. With the salt water we use to wash the decks, they will turn black quickly.

Be well,

Doc

[Gail O'Rourke]

Don, hey, I may just bring the kids up - I am in Plymouth. Very cool.