Posted on 10/04/2006 4:47:06 PM PDT by SmithL
The S.S. Northland, a former U.S. Navy ship that is the pride of the Richmond Sea Scouts, is on its way to seaworthiness again with help from some local industries that stepped in to handle crucial heavy lifting.
The ship, a 26-year-old surplus U.S. Navy torpedo weapons retriever, has been out of commission for just over a year when its starboard engine failed after leaving the Richmond centennial celebration.
But after a long haul, things are looking up for the local Sea Scout chapter, which was originally chartered by the Boy Scouts of America in Berkeley in 1933.
Repairing a 16-cylinder diesel engine may be a relatively simple operation for the U.S. Navy, but it's no small task for a nonprofit youth program with a mission of teaching such things as boating and maritime skills
The parts to fix the damaged engine block weren't going to be found at the nearest Kragen store.
A long search ultimately turned up a compatible engine in Southern California that had an intact front half that could be mated to the intact back half of the Northland's damaged engine. Buying the surplus engine set the Scouts back $5,000, along with transportation costs to bring it to Richmond and $550 for machine work on the crankshaft.
That raised the next not-so-minor challenge -- getting the original engine off the ship to do the work.
"The only way to get that huge engine out is right through the side," said Jon Sargent, a Sea Scout parent and founder of the Northland Nautical Foundation.
The Sea Scouts don't have the facilities for such a large operation, but they have some supporters who do.
Port of Richmond maintenance manager Tom Wilson put the Scouts in touch with Manson Construction, which agreed to allow the use of its dock on West Cutting Boulevard for the engine removal.
"It turned out that (brothers) Charley and Rick Butcher of Manson Construction were Northland Sea Scouts themselves in the late 1960s," Sargent said. "We even found their Sea Scout advancement papers in an old log book"
Foss Maritime Co., another local business that Sargent said "has always been supportive and helpful," towed the disabled ship to the Manson dock, where welders cut a hole in the steel hull. The engine, which had previously been put onto a specially made Teflon platform, was then delicately maneuvered by crane out of the small hole. Manson trucked the engine back to a warehouse at the Port of Richmond, and Foss towed the 102-foot Northland back to its home berth near the Red Oak Victory.
"These local guys came together and got things done," Sargent said. "They came forward much more than we anticipated. They've taken the time and effort to make this happen for the kids. They wanted to get the ship running and get the program going again."
Even though they lost use of their flagship vessel for more than a year, the whole saga has been educational for the Sea Scouts, who are now doing the engine rebuilding work.
Even with all the assistance, the Sea Scouts face a hefty tab. The program, which is funded largely through donations, sold one of its sailboats to cover part of the estimated $15,000 total cost. Scouts are now raising funds for gaskets, bearings and other essential parts. Provided they can raise the money, the ship could be running again in another month.
But the burden would have been far greater without the assistance of the local firms.
"They've taken the time and effort to make this happen for the kids," Sargent said. "They wanted to get the ship running and get the program going again."
With crafts that include sailboats and the 110-ton Northland, the Sea Scout program in Richmond provides a complete range of experience and instruction on such skills as boating and maritime skills, safety, navigation, engineering and piloting, as well as teaching the importance of discipline and teamwork.
The chapter is actively seeking new recruits, who must be boys ages 14 to 18. Girls that age can join one of the Sea Scout programs in Martinez or Berkeley.
Reach Chris Treadway at 510-262-2784 or ctreadway@cctimes.com.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.