Lotus Deck Project Update
In the Fall edition of our newsletter, we were excited to announce the kick-off for the important project of repairing Lotus' upper deck. In the Pacific Northwest, as local naval archaeologist Nathaniel Howe likes to say, boats die from the top down. Rain leads to rot, and a solid upper deck is the first defense against our soggy winters. Rebuilding that deck is vital for protecting the rest of the boat and that is job number one this season, covered in part by a Heritage Capital Project grant from the State of Washington.
To get started, master shipwright Mark Stout (of Port Townsend's Scow Bay Boats), former steward (and superb carpenter) Ben Bruns, and current steward Jonathan Tune, have been taking up the plywood overlay and some of the original tongue & groove fir decking in exploratory holes where the deck was spongy.
Two of those holes revealed significant rot, with a major beam in peril. Mr. Stout expertly dropped in a replacement, embossed and dedicated to former volunteer Dan Helman (Mr. Stout and Dan Helman Memorial Beam pictured at left).
To protect the deck and allow the work to proceed in all weathers, Mr. Stout, Ben, Jonathan, and Executive Director Christian Gruye built a framework and encased the entire upper deck perimeter in heavy duty plastic (The Bubble!). Lotus may be wearing a veil for part of the spring but important work is coming from those banging and sawing sounds that you hear. Stay tuned!
Thank You To Our 2020 Donors And New 2021 Deck Project Campaign
We want to again thank all the generous individuals and organizations who contributed during December to our Giving Tuesday and End of Year funding drives. It helped so much with our operating expenses during those trying times!
For our focus in Spring of 2021, we will be raising money dedicated to our Deck Project. We will need to raise about $25,000 to meet our contribution required by the Heritage Capital Project Grant. We've spent years working on getting this project in place and earning this grant, and we hope to apply for more such awards soon. Every dime that we raise in this process helps prove to granting organizations that we are worth the money!
Donate Now And Get A Chance At A Stay In Our Glorious Master Stateroom!
In order to encourage those much-needed donations, and to make it a bit more fun, for every contribution over $50 made through March 31, we will enter your name in a drawing for an overnight stay in the Master Stateroom! Of course, all amounts are welcome, and all donors will be invited to a special donor tea this summer (in small groups and as continuing COVID restrictions allow!). But if you plan to give anyway, you might as well get a shot at a free overnight stay in our lovely Master Stateroom (as pictured below)!
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Lodging Available On-Board
Another way to help support Lotus is to book one of our delightful staterooms for a stay on Lake Union, near the heart of downtown Seattle. We have five rooms available - two rooms with two bunk beds apiece, two queen-sized rooms, and the Master Stateroom with a private bath.
Contact us for details at info@mvlotus.org or call us at 425.243.9641.
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Getting Friendly With The Neighbors on The Historic Ships Wharf
The M/V Lotus is only one of the six different vessels that make their home at Lake Union Park's Historic Ships Wharf. Recently, representatives from the four non-profit organizations that own and preserve these ships have met to form a coalition to jointly draw more visitors and increased public involvement for the Historic Ships Wharf. You'll see us doing more together to promote the wharf and attract visitors to this unique spot with vessels from every era of Puget Sound's maritime history.
Stay tuned for more news as these groups put their heads together to keep Lake Union Park and the Historic Ships Wharf a lively, safe, and fun part of our city.
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A Little Bit of Lotus History
The Beaver holds a prominent position in the main cabin (the saloon) on board M/V Lotus. The story told is that Maurice McMicken, who commissioned the yacht, had the room built around the desk and cabinet that now resides in the corner of the saloon. The desk has a drop front and a beaver carving mounted on that section. We believe that Maurice snagged that piece of wood directly from the S.S. Beaver, the very first steam ship on the West Coast of North America, after that unfortunate ship ran aground in 1888 and disintegrated in Vancouver Harbor. He had the beaver carved from that timber and affixed to the desk, where it fits perfectly! Also in the saloon is a reproduction painting of the S.S. Beaver, in honor of that vessel and the desk. The entire saloon is built in the style of the craftsman desk, with matching leaded glass in the upper cabinet doors. It's a must-see for any new visitor aboard Lotus!
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