Ferry Plantation House - A Historic Site in Virginia Beach, Virginia

Ferryboat Report, Update 03
Prepared for Friends of Ferry Plantation House (FoFPH) by:
Dean Giangregorio, Ferryboat Captain

23 April, 1200: Finished scraping all loose paint from the boat’s interior. Work also continued on reefing seams on port side.

25 April, 1400: The boat was prepared to be transferred from the trailer onto the saw horses; the rudder was unshipped and the stern seat removed (it was already loose). The tie-downs for the tent cover were taken in to free both tent and trailer, and the trailer’s winch hook was unfastened from boat stem ringbolt. Loose seat supports were taken out of the boat, as was the trailer’s lug wrench.

At 1600 the boat was moved from the trailer to the horses with the assistance of students from the Black Student Union and Student Activities Group of Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Connecticut. We started by moving the tent cover forward to clear boat. Then we positioned saw horses next to trailer. The boat was then rolled to port, over the trailer wheel well, and set onto the horses, upside-down. Extra pieces of line (tie-downs) were coiled and placed under the boat (inside, on one of the seats). The rudder, tiller, stern seat, and loose seat supports were placed against the boat (between the boat and shrubs). Secured work at 1630.

The tent cover was moved back over the boat later this night.

16 May, 0820: I arrived at Ferry House to prepare the ferryboat for work; loose items that were stored under and around the boat (rudder and tiller, stern seat, lines and seat supports) were placed against the bushes and out of the way.

At 0900 CWO4 Allen Mordica (USCG, retired) arrived at Ferry House to assist. We ran a heavy duty, 100-ft extension cord from the crawl space outlet to a work area.

At 0930 a work crew arrived from USCG Station Little Creek; BMC Jeff Ryan (Station XPO), FN Will Clagett, and SN Deirdre Slaughter.

I opened the House for access to the restroom and to break out the small tents in case of rain. One tent was set up; a portable table saw and miter saw were rigged under it for the Work Area. Lumber for the new bottom was unloaded from CWO Mordica’s truck and placed near the boat. (CWO Mordica donated the lumber.)

Work started with lowering the boat from the saw horses onto small plywood bases – one aft, one at the bow – to provide greater stability for working. Three short sections of 2 x 4 were inserted – one under the bow and two under the stern – to keep the boat from resting on the plywood, thereby providing additional ventilation under the boat.

Major renovation work started by removing the keel. The keel came off with little difficulty. An inspection found a small crack about one-third of the way aft and a new keel is in the planning stage if needed. At 1000 Carl Fisher (Captain, NOAA, retired) arrived with a donation of two 12-foot long 4 x 4s for use as possible replacement keels.

Removal of the false keel followed. The false keel proved to be more difficult to remove; the forward end came off easily due it being rotten. The remaining portion was found to be epoxied to the boat’s bottom. Because of the false keel’s deteriorated condition and epoxy to the bottom it was decided to cut sections off along with the bottom.

Removal of the bottom started at the stern. This proved to be difficult due to the large number of screws attaching the plywood bottom to the boat’s sides. Work was done in sections in order to use the old bottom to help the boat retain its shape. New planks were measured to fit and cut in the Work Area. The planks were attached with recycled stainless steel screws salvaged from the old plywood bottom. Silicone caulking was used to assist in fastening the new planks to the boat as well as to create watertight integrity. This was done for expediency and practicality; once primed and painted these joints will not be visible to the public.

We secured work at 1700 and cleaned up the area. The small tent was struck and properly stowed, and then returned to the attic. The extension cord was unplugged and the House’s power cord was reconnected to the outlet. Crawl space louvers were put back in place. All work party members departed at 1730. The House alarm system was activated and the House was locked. The boat was left sitting on the 2 x 4s and plywood base. The saw horses are being used to hold pieces of lumber until the next work day.

16 May, 0930: I arrived at Ferry House for the Bayside History Trail tour, and to work on the ferryboat. Period attire was worn and work was presented as Living History. CWO4 Allen Mordica arrived at Ferry House around 1000 to assist with boat restoration. More of the old bottom was removed and several more new planks were fashioned and laid.

Living History at the “Boat Shed” proved interesting to many on the Bayside History Tour. At 1700 the Boat Shed was neatened and work was secured.

Updated Task List:
• Scraping of all loose paint is finished;
• The keel was removed and inspected for soundness;
• The deteriorated false keel was measured and partially removed; a new false keel will be fashioned;
• One-half of the plywood bottom has been removed;
• The areas around the chine were inspected; so far no repair is needed;
• Several new planks roughly 6 inches wide were laid for the bottom;
• The boat’s bottom is one-third planked;
• The seams on the boat’s sides still need to be reefed and prepared for new caulking.

Goal: The immediate goal is to have the new bottom completed by the end of May.

We’re still looking towards a “launching” on or about July 1st. Fitting out should be completed before the Grace Sherwood event on July 10th.