record-breaking snowstorm<\/a> that hit the Northeast. Anything metal, such as a snowblower or metal shovel, would damage the decks of the Charles W. Morgan and other wooden boats in the maritime museum\u2019s collection.<\/p>\n\u201cYou\u2019ve got to be cautious as you go,\u201d said Shannon McKenzie, vice president of watercraft operations and preservation. “The added difficulty is, you\u2019ve got to get it up and over all of the rails of the boat, which for the Morgan, it\u2019s 4 feet, 3 feet in places. So it\u2019s an onerous effort.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scott Gifford, shipyard director at the museum, said the crews are trying to mitigate wear and tear on the boats’ historically accurate natural materials. This includes caulking in the Morgan’s deck seams that’s made of pitch \u2014 a combination of pine tar, linseed oils and other \u201cold-timey potions” \u2014 that prevents leaks. It could get pulled out by a metal shovel.<\/p>\n
Clearing the snow is only the first step. Pure rock salt has to be scattered on the decks afterward to remove any remaining snow and ice. Fresh water from melting snow isn’t good for the wood.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe wooden boats definitely prefer to have salt water instead of fresh water. It sort of pickles them a little bit and it\u2019s much better for the wood,\u201d McKenzie said. \u201cSo we put salt on the decks so any fresh water that\u2019s melting from the snow gets the salt into it and doesn\u2019t contribute to rot on the boats.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gifford said the process essentially duplicates how wooden ships were preserved generations ago, when ships were regularly washed down with salt water. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis wasn\u2019t our idea,\u201d he said. \u201cThis was out in the wooden boat world long before us.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Mystic Seaport, the nation’s largest maritime museum, has three large ships, including the Morgan, the last remaining wooden whaling ship from the 19th century American merchant fleet. There are also about a dozen mid-sized ships at the museum that need to be cleared of snow in every storm.<\/p>\n
Cleanup of the boats and the entire 37-acre riverfront property from this latest storm, including parking lots, began in earnest on Tuesday. The maritime museum includes a historic seaport village with cobblestone, slate and gravel walkways that have to be shoveled by hand. It’s a process that’s been repeated multiple times this winter.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s trying our patience a little bit,\u201d McKenzie said with a laugh. <\/p>\n
She said an enthusiastic team of about a dozen people started clearing the boats at 7 a.m. and were done by lunchtime. They then joined about seven other workers to help finish clearing the sprawling grounds.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s like piles and piles and piles of snow, but it\u2019s really beautiful. And it was a lovely day outside,” she said. “It wasn\u2019t too cold. It was great. We had a great time.\u201d<\/p>\n
During the storm, workers had to keep a close eye on the boats. McKenzie said there’s always a risk the snow could compromise their stability, especially if it piles up on one side.<\/p>\n
The museum is expected to be open to staff and with limited exhibits for visitors on Wednesday. The Morgan will be ready for visitors over the weekend. But that could depend on the latest forecast, which includes more snow.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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