Wapama yahoo group

[bholderman]

This seemed like a good place to start. I've created a Yahoo group regarding the Wapama. No bells, whistles or even members yet, but...

http://tinyurl.com/3yyxtx

[Clyderigged]

Good on you, Brad
Victor Zulu

You are probally aware that the Wapama towed the Star of India from the San Francsico Bay to San Diego. The Star of India's rigging was lofted out and made aboard the ferry boat Eureka by the late Jack Dickerhoff, master rigger, in 1960. There has always been a connection between the San Diego Maritime Museum and San Francisco Maritime NHP. The Wapama needs a lot of help and support - she is not getting it here.

Clutha Fecit,
Jamie White

[dmede]

Thanks Brad, just joined.

[Weathergage]

San Francisco Maritime NHP is now looking at removing the stern steam powered capstan and midships mainmast steam cargo winches (all of cast iron ) from Wapama; contracting the job out. There is a developing safety paranoia that is being perpetrated by several bureaucrats wholly ignorant of things maritime that this will relieve the burden on the ship, keep the winches from falling and possibly hitting someone, etc. This seems to be a manuever to find a way to slowly seague into dismantling Wapama after years of willfull and deliberate neglect..remember she is a National Historic Landmark, the last and only of her kind. I do agree that removing the winches would ease some strain, BUT, that I don't believe that's the point. A pretext is needed.. the problem is what to do with the winches once removed, and what will be stripped off next in the name of "safety". Safety is a powerfull bureaucratic weapon that can levelled at anyone who doesn't BELIEVE and suddenly you're an outsider, a leper, who hasn't seen the light of CYA salvation. Wapama needs help and political clout.

[dmede]

Weathergage, do you have the names or emails of any of the beuracrats (or anyone else who might be involved) so that concerned members of the forum might be able to send emails or letters in support of the Wapama?

I'd love to be able to help (and I'm sure others would too) but right now all I can think to do is sound off about the boat to the appropriate individuals.

dave

[bholderman]

Is there anyone at San Francisco Maritime NHP that's Wapama-friendly? Weathergage gave a contact name, Terry Dorman, the Volunteer Coordinator, but sometimes that doesn't say a lot.

[Weathergage]

To all: Ed Zelinsky was a great friend of Wapama, of ships in general, California history and our museum..he has passed. Trying to think of allies for Wappy...she was owned/ operated by the McCormicks..any descendants alive who care about history and have money? Talk to Nancy Pelosi..she helped us with C.A. Thayer. Not so sure about D. Feinstein anymore. Our Assoc. is staffed with recent- hire Ignorants controlled by park super who is master landlubber. Few maritime leaders these days..one is Ray Ashley in S. Diego- we have bozos. Brainstorming time.

[Weathergage]

1. Write clear concise letters to California congressmen/women REPEATEDLY! Squeaky wheel gets the oil. 2. Write the World Ships Trust 3. Get an article re: her current plight publ. in Sea History mag. Use the media- pen mightier than sword, etc. 4. Contacts- know a super-duty fundraiser/s, grant writers- Save Americas Treasures,etc. alot of money out there but if it's going to Wapama in the NPS, word your documentation so that the money only goes to Wapama- DO NOT believe promises and gibberish. If Wapama is de- accessioned and in non profit hands- completely different story..think about it. Jeremiah O'Brien was de-accessioned and look at her now! REMEMBER! YOU MUST HAVE A PLAN and your pieces in place...this ship is a LARGE project and requires dedicated people who won't give up. People built her- people can fix her.

[ishmael]

Hm, I tuned through here because the last coal fired steamer on the great lakes was a car ferry named Wampama. Named after an Ojibway satchem. After they made that big bridge I'm not sure how she made her living, but she was still around and running circa 1980. When the engineers put some coal to her she made a plume of black smoke visible for miles. Sorry, wrong thread.

[Weathergage]

Speaking of W spelled ships..there's the 3 masted lumber schooner Wawona..in a bad way. Any Wawona people coming down to San Diego for the Maritime Heritage Conference in October?

[Weathergage]

Having trouble accessing. Will go sailing instead-I'll try again later.

[bholderman]

You've already joined the group. If you need to write an email, you can write direct to:

wapama@yahoogroups.com

[Weathergage]

The person to talk to at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park is the park superintendant, Kate Richardson. Note that Richardson is career park service, not maritime interested except as is politically expedient or career enhancing. Good luck, commander, in your quest!

[Weathergage]

SF Maritime NHP superintendant Kate Richardson reports to National Park Service Pacific Western Region (PWR), headquartered in downtown Oakland, CA. Don't know any names yet. Where do you want me to send those Wapama plans?

[bholderman]

Weathergage,

That would be grand, please check you pms for my address.

[bholderman]

Brian,

This more of a bump. But, I've already talked to enough people that have given me some different conceptual tacks that I haven't seen before. So, its now time to start writing a few letters, I think.

[Weathergage]

The one yard that can drydock Wapama in the bay area is San Francisco Drydock, at the foot of 20th st. Bay Ship and Yacht would have to build a steel cradle (see C.A. Thayer) and motorize it ashore and into a hanger at Alameda Pt. to do the job. SF Drydock is union, BSand Y isn't. Both yards charge heavily (gouge) for additions, job order changes, etc so a legally brilliant technically precise repair document must be generated to keep the yard (contractor) in line and performing quality work on time..get some sharp lawyers on this. Your technical rep has to be first class, incorruptible, not interested in making friends at the yard (they are NOT your friends, they are interested in your money), has to be alert and ferocious for your vessel or you will be skewered and the vessel unfinished. AND you have to STAND BEHIND HIM! Allan C. Rawl worked on the C.A.Thayer project for some time under contract to SF Maritime NHP. He's back in Maryland. Peter Boudreau in Annapolis has been involved with historic ship repair (Gazela Primeiro, Constellation, others) and is part of Tri-Coastal Marine, along with Andy Davis. Suggest you contact RAWL first to get his view on things.

[Weathergage]

Of course, if you can tow the Wappy to San Diego, you can pick your yard or maybe wangle some jobsite, historical-public viewing, volunteer thing. Just have your program organized before going to the city-they like completion dates, permits($$), etc. Money and influence are key..gotta get some heavy hitters on your team...any vessel takes alot of board-foot-dollars to repair. San Diego climate will be warmer but easier on the ship than the bay area windblast. Maybe put a shelter over the vessel and then sell it when the projest is done..that's what they did on the pilot schooner VIRGINIA project in Norfolk, VA. Perhaps it could be an annex site of San Diego Maritime. Who owns Southwest Marine shipyard- can you get them on your board of directors? Found a group of historic steam buffs? Steam train guys are usually interested in machinery if its old, iron, heavy, rare and unloved. You will need a volunteer program, promotion/ public relations, fundraisers and persistance.

[donald branscom]

WAPAMA is history. Next is demolition at sea.

I built an exact scale model of the ship years ago and did extensive research on it. The PARK SERVICE just used it to get money for new rugs,computers and fluff. They stripped all the brass etc.,.

There are no trees big enough anymore to replace some of that ship.
The main keel was 25x37 300ft long all one piece Douglas Fir and had 3 sister keelsons.

What about putting it on land make it into......Wapama burgers ! /gift shop. You could go to the Fort Mason library and reprint some of the stories of the passengers accounts of the miserable voyages and sell them.

When i finished my model my plan was to sell it to the Park Service and have it placed on a huge plexiglass box so people could see what it looked like in it's heyday and put coins in the collection box.
The Park Service had just recieved another $280,00 something dollars grant so i figured they might want a completed model.
I went and talked to them and they said they had no money and would not even consider $500.00 for a model that had taken me over a year to build. I was standing in thier newly redecorated lobby.
Then that week i heard a man in a wheelchair made a model and gave to them but it was hidden in a building in Fort Mason (I finally found it)where no one would ever see it. It was a very competent model by the way. Same size as the model I built, shown below.

Good Luck but watch out my friend.

I will post a photo.
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i8.tinypic.com/63t6stk.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
http://i8.tinypic.com/63t6stk.jpg

[bholderman]

No worries, gentlemen. Unfortunately, weathergage seems to think I know what I'm doing (I can't figure out if thats funny or not). I don't.

The railroad connection is the second time that aspect has come up. I wonder if that is something to pirsue, not just from an enthusiast-as-a-resource point of view.

I've often been intrigued in images I have seen of work docks, there has always been a set tracks down each pier. The intereaction between railraod and shipping is a neglected portion from a museum perspective. You have maritime museums and you have railroad museums.

Maybe we need this:

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p267/bradholderman/6a08867u.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p267/bradholderman/op12086-144.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p267/bradholderman/op12086-140.jpg

[donald branscom]

San Francisco Maritime NHP is now looking at removing the stern steam powered capstan and midships mainmast steam cargo winches (all of cast iron ) from Wapama; contracting the job out. There is a developing safety paranoia that is being perpetrated by several bureaucrats wholly ignorant of things maritime that this will relieve the burden on the ship, keep the winches from falling and possibly hitting someone, etc. This seems to be a manuever to find a way to slowly seague into dismantling Wapama after years of willfull and deliberate neglect..remember she is a National Historic Landmark, the last and only of her kind. I do agree that removing the winches would ease some strain, BUT, that I don't believe that's the point. A pretext is needed.. the problem is what to do with the winches once removed, and what will be stripped off next in the name of "safety". Safety is a powerfull bureaucratic weapon that can levelled at anyone who doesn't BELIEVE and suddenly you're an outsider, a leper, who hasn't seen the light of CYA salvation. Wapama needs help and political clout.

Where is the propeller now?

[bholderman]

Wapama's main purpose in life was that of a lumber schooner. Which means she carried lumber from Alaska and other places in the northwest. There approximately 200 built of which she is the last. There was never any standard design, each seemed to unique in their own way.

She's a steamship, in my opinion another negelected facet of martime preservation.

In 1927, she towed the Star of India down to San Diego, after she was bought by the Zoological Society. There's a connection here that gnaws at me. I crew for the Star of India. Several people on differnet occasions have mentioned bringing Wapama to San Diego. I wonder if the Star of India is in a better position to save the Wapama than anyone or anything.

Key points (and this is more for my behalf):
1. She was a lumber schooner heavily interacting with railroads.
2. The last Pacific Coast steam schooner.
3. She towed the Star of India to San Diego, thus establishing the Maritime Museum of San Diego.

I need to sit down with Ray Ashley and get his point of view...

[ishmael]

Just a note to clear up an earlier error on my part. That last coal fired car ferry was named Chief Wawatam. Might have the spelling wrong.

[Canoeyawl]

There is a great little book, Ships Of The Redwood Coast published by the Stanford University Press that explains these “Schooners” pretty well.

Having watched the fate of Wapama for about thirty years now I got a good look at her a few weeks ago and she is going fast. I think it is unrealistic to expect a restoration or even preservation at this stage of the game. If she is still around when motor fuel is obsolete the public romance may be rekindled and funds made available. Unfortunately steam ships just don’t have the lure for public funding that sailing ships do.

http://www.californios.us/arts/
http://www.californios.us/arts/wapama2.jpg

[Weathergage]

Of course there's a connection between heavy rail and ships..spurs lead down piers for loading/ unloading ships..San Francisco, Redwood City, Antioch, Stockton, Vallejo, Oakland, Richmond...any strategic location where rail and deep draft can connect. Wapama's propeller is on display in the Visitor Center (ground floor of Argonaut Hotel) of SF Maritime's old Del Monte Cannery bldg. There are museums built around models, built around book, magazine or historic document collections, perhaps small boats or old marine engines, or maybe a photo archive- well SF Maritime is built on ALL of THE ABOVE...BUT, its the SHIPS that people come down to see..same goes for San Diego Maritime, South Street, Mystic Seaport, Penn's Landing in Philly, L.A. Maritime- anywhere there's something in that water, floating, still alive, maybe by degrees, people see that and know that a tangible piece of our history is being kept alive by people WHO CARE...and I'm not talking about paycheck collectors, I'm talking about men are committed to get 'er done...think about this, please.

[donald branscom]

Very nice photo CANOEYAWL.

The main importance of the WAPAMA is that it was the first passenger ship on the west coast. It carried 44 passengers and 100,000 board feet of lumber.

Also if you are looking....

WAPAMA is not like the general lumber shcooner design- it is different because of the cabins for the passengers.
There are drawings but NO DRAWING of frames 11 forward.
I know because i hunted for a year for those.
I made drawings and notes while it was on a barge in Sausalito before it was towed to Richmond.

[bholderman]

Wow, a nice read guys.... It is very interesting to read about history of vessels that once sailed or (steamed).. And pictures are nice, because if I would googled it, search results would ended up nada...

Thank guys

Yep, I've tried. The Wapama and other steam schooners are a tough find on the net, easier with books, but not much. Thats pretty much the reason for creating the yahoo group, as a central location, the links, file and photo sections are slowly being populated.

[Weathergage]

Credit where its due...GOOD ON YOU BRAD for creating the Yahoo groups WAPAMA site..give the public a chance to learn about her...Lord knows, the Park Service has tried to bury her existence for decades, first under superintendant William Thomas and now under current SF Maritime Super Kate Richardson. Remember that the only thing for the triumph of evil is for good men to see it and DO NOTHING.

[bholderman]

Is there anyone in the vicinity of the Wapama that could manage a decent picture of her. I'm writing an article (hopefully for Sea History) and would like the most current photo I can manage.

In lieu of anyone's success, its an opportunity to have a photo published.

[Weathergage]

I can take some photos with my Pentax 35mm and mail em to you. Will that work? I don't have a digital camera yet.:confused:

[bholderman]

I can take some photos with my Pentax 35mm and mail em to you. Will that work? I don't have a digital camera yet.:confused:

Weathergage,

That would be fine. I think I sent you my address prior in regards to the line drawings. Let me know if you need it again.

[Weathergage]

A contractor has been viewing Wapama to work up a bid to remove the following pieces from the ship- steam powered stern capstan, aft chocks and bollards, mainmast steam powered cargo winches (2), bow chocks (4), and two steel plates from her forward rubrails. A subcontractor is to bid on pumping some residual bunker C from her seeping fuel tanks into a hazmat cntnr. and the barge (Wappy sits atop a barge) spaces are to be sucked dry of rusty rain water. The contractors are NOT to cut or butcher the ship getting the gear out..they're gonna need a crane with a long reach to pick those winches..will send photos.

[bholderman]

Weathergage,

Thanks for the news. I have a meeting with Ray Ashley tomorrow. Although not intended as a Wapama-oriented one, I definitely plan on bringing it up. Since, I cannot get a hold of anyone on the chain of command at SF Maritime, he's the next best thing. He also is in close contact with Peter Sanford, Wapama's saviour at this point.

Where are they planning on storing this removed material?

[Weathergage]

Any gear removed from the Wapama would be taken to our warehouse at Alameda Point (the old Alameda Naval Air Station ) for storage. Portions of Wapama's old cargo masts, booms and gear are already there as is the remainder of what was C.A. Thayer's mainmast. The mainmast was sacrificed to make a new mainmast for the scow schooner Alma. Proper planning would have provided (6P system ) for a properly sized mast ordered early and stepped during the scheduled yard period. Time will tell us if the right decision was made. A new mainmast for the Thayer doesn't come cheap..not now and not in 5 or 10 years.

[bholderman]

Sheesh, do you mean to tell me that the Thayer is going to be mastless for however long?

What was the point of restoring the hull then?


Any gear removed from the Wapama would be taken to our warehouse at Alameda Point (the old Alameda Naval Air Station ) for storage. Portions of Wapama's old cargo masts, booms and gear are already there as is the remainder of what was C.A. Thayer's mainmast. The mainmast was sacrificed to make a new mainmast for the scow schooner Alma. Proper planning would have provided (6P system ) for a properly sized mast ordered early and stepped during the scheduled yard period. Time will tell us if the right decision was made. A new mainmast for the Thayer doesn't come cheap..not now and not in 5 or 10 years.

[Weathergage]

The restoration of C.A. Thayer is a process that goes back to the days of Bill Thomas (previous SF Maritime NHP Super- before clueless kate) and Kathy Lohan (former SF Maritime NHP Assciation Executive Director) as well as an SFMNHP Association trustees group who went to Washington D.C. to lobby for funds to restore Thayer. Without the Association, there would have been no restoration...the park owes the Association a massive debt of gratitude for saving its butt...again. However the lubbers who are now fumbling about in the park and association administrations have no experience with maritime matters as well as little or no interest in maritime culture...its just CYA, don't make waves, and ohmygod, don't buck kate or its curtains for you. Middle management is cowed and submissive, while the super is constantly out of her office on trips elsewhere...the whole place rudderless, drifting slowly towards a lee shore of unaccountability. When Thayer will actually recieve some material to continue her restoration remains a question...the world wonders.

[Weathergage]

The gear has been removed from the Wapama and sent to the warehouse in Alameda- the ship wasn't cut up in the process of removal. Thayer continues to sit, awaiting wood for repairs...money is available though for a kitchen area to be built up at HQ in bldg. E..gotta keep those priorities straight.:cool: