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IDemo

(16,926 posts)
Tue May 19, 2015, 09:49 AM May 2015

USS Constitution Warship Moves to Dry Dock for Restoration

Source: ABC News

The USS Constitution has been moved to dry dock for a major restoration project expected to take three years.

The world's oldest commissioned warship, still afloat on Monday night, moved into dry dock at the Charlestown Navy Yard historical park in Boston.

The project could cost the Navy as much as $15 million. It will include re-coppering the hull, replacing worn rigging and old planks and making general repairs to the stern, bow and captain's cabin.

The ship's top deck will be open to visitors during most of the work, beginning in June.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/uss-constitution-warship-moves-dry-dock-restoration-31144094

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USS Constitution Warship Moves to Dry Dock for Restoration (Original Post) IDemo May 2015 OP
A few years ago I visited Boston yuiyoshida May 2015 #1
I'd love to visit the Constitution before I die IDemo May 2015 #2
If you enjoyed the Pampanito sharp_stick May 2015 #4
She is magnificent, independently of her historical significance. Sgt Preston May 2015 #3
Yep.... American Heavy Frigates were a game changer. Adrahil May 2015 #5
and designed by the Army.... happyslug May 2015 #10
More photos about docking and the resoration effort here... FailureToCommunicate May 2015 #6
Elegant ship, and scary as hell. Larry Engels May 2015 #7
Estimates are that only about 10-15% of the Constitution's planking is original. Aristus May 2015 #8
And presumably none of the original tons of hemp rigging IDemo May 2015 #9
Just like George Washington's axe Brother Buzz May 2015 #11
"We replaced the handle six times and the head twice..." SeattleVet May 2015 #12
There you go! Brother Buzz May 2015 #13

yuiyoshida

(41,759 posts)
1. A few years ago I visited Boston
Tue May 19, 2015, 09:59 AM
May 2015

Last edited Tue May 19, 2015, 10:39 AM - Edit history (1)

and got to go aboard her.


The only thing more impressive to me was being aboard the USS PAMPANITO


Both Historic Ships. http://www.maritime.org/pamphome.htm

IDemo

(16,926 posts)
2. I'd love to visit the Constitution before I die
Tue May 19, 2015, 10:08 AM
May 2015

I have direct family ties to its construction. I'm not at all familiar with the Pampanito; that's a distinct looking keel.

sharp_stick

(14,400 posts)
4. If you enjoyed the Pampanito
Tue May 19, 2015, 10:36 AM
May 2015

you should see the USS Nautilus if you're ever in Connecticut. It was the first nuclear powered submarine and compared to the WWII era boats it was downright luxurious.

They have a great museum of submarine history there with lots of artifacts and a nicely set up tour of the Nautilus. My kids love it, we wind up going pretty much once a year.

http://www.ussnautilus.org/

 

Adrahil

(13,340 posts)
5. Yep.... American Heavy Frigates were a game changer.
Tue May 19, 2015, 10:52 AM
May 2015

The Brits had dominated the seas with their large fleets of massive ships of the line.

But the American-style Heavy Frigates were something new. Reasonably fast, reasonably well armed, and very sturdy, they could take most Brit or French ships on independent duty. And they are beautiful to look at!


 

happyslug

(14,779 posts)
10. and designed by the Army....
Tue May 19, 2015, 11:51 AM
May 2015

The Department of the Navy did not exist till 1798 (The US Navy likes saying it has existed since 1775, but it was abolished after the Revolution and incorporated into the Department of War (US Army) under the US Constitution of 1787. Thus the US Army (as the Department of War) was the organization that designed the USS Constitution and its sister ships (With massive input from Naval Captains and other experts in Naval vessels).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_six_frigates_of_the_United_States_Navy

 

Larry Engels

(387 posts)
7. Elegant ship, and scary as hell.
Tue May 19, 2015, 10:57 AM
May 2015

Look at those cannon! I would not want to see them pointed at any vessel I was on.

Aristus

(66,082 posts)
8. Estimates are that only about 10-15% of the Constitution's planking is original.
Tue May 19, 2015, 11:10 AM
May 2015

I wonder how many restorations before none of the original is left?

I hope to visit the ship someday.

There's a part of me that wishes we would ditch the rather cult-of-personality practice of naming aircraft carriers after Presidents. Instead, we should bring back the names of the original fleet frigates for new craft, minus 'Constitution', of course.

Imagine the Constellation, the Chesapeake, the Congress, The President, and the United States aircraft carriers.

IDemo

(16,926 posts)
9. And presumably none of the original tons of hemp rigging
Tue May 19, 2015, 11:27 AM
May 2015

That would be one historical detail that would be great to restore.

Brother Buzz

(36,212 posts)
11. Just like George Washington's axe
Tue May 19, 2015, 11:54 AM
May 2015

We replaced the handle six times and the head twice, but it's still George Washington's axe.

Perhaps we can rename the Constitution, Ship of Theseus.

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