Deborah Dawson

Photographer

Restoring the Mary E

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Location: Portland, Maine

Nationality: US

Biography: I hold a USCG 50 Master Inland captain's license, so spend much of my time photographing along the coast of Maine. I find beautiful islands and people who care deeply for the environment that sustains us. Adapting to any environment, I allow... MORE

One of the original Percy &...E was originally built in 1906.

1 of 14 © 2024 Deborah Dawson

One of the original Percy & Small buildings is still in use as a sail loft today for Maine Maritime Museum. This is just a short distance away from where the Mary E was originally built in 1906.

Mary E's Stem was strai...fastened from the waterline up.

2 of 14 © 2024 Deborah Dawson

Mary E's Stem was straightened then new planks fastened from the waterline up.

This archival print shows the M...ght and strain of fishing gear.

3 of 14 © 2024 Deborah Dawson

This archival print shows the Mary E early in her career as a fishing schooner. Shipwrights used illustrations and original plans to rebuild the transom area which had drooped downward from the weight and strain of fishing gear.

Andros Kypragoras checks plans ...engine arrives to be installed.

4 of 14 © 2024 Deborah Dawson

Andros Kypragoras checks plans before the new engine arrives to be installed.

Where possible shipwrights pref...iece of wood for a precise fit.

5 of 14 © 2024 Deborah Dawson

Where possible shipwrights prefer to use traditional hand tools which allows them to methodically craft each piece of wood for a precise fit.

Every nail in the planking is p...ake the the vessel water-tight.

6 of 14 © 2024 Deborah Dawson

Every nail in the planking is plugged, sealed and sanded to be flush and invisible to the eye when painted. This also helps to make the the vessel water-tight.

Tim Clark measures to fit the b...ash over the bow in heavy seas.

7 of 14 © 2024 Deborah Dawson

Tim Clark measures to fit the bulwark which protects the deck from waves that could wash over the bow in heavy seas.

Lead shipwright, Andros Kyprago...s the new engine over the rail.

8 of 14 © 2024 Deborah Dawson

Lead shipwright, Andros Kypragoras carefully guides the new engine over the rail.

At the end of a work day wood shavings cover the floor.

9 of 14 © 2024 Deborah Dawson

At the end of a work day wood shavings cover the floor.

Aaron Freeman uses a traditiona...ing the Mary E's cabin.

10 of 14 © 2024 Deborah Dawson

Aaron Freeman uses a traditional shipbuilder's chisel to shave small amounts of wood for a precise fit while building the Mary E's cabin.

Traditional oakum and hemp are ...to make the vessel water-tight.

11 of 14 © 2024 Deborah Dawson

Traditional oakum and hemp are packed into the seams between planks to make the vessel water-tight.

Geno Scalzo rolls the oakum whi...s to make the boat water tight.

12 of 14 © 2024 Deborah Dawson

Geno Scalzo rolls the oakum which will then be hammered and pressed with strands of hemp into the seams of the boat. These fibers seal the spaces between the planks to make the boat water tight.

Aaron Freeman uses an antique L...aw to easily cut 8 inch blocks.

13 of 14 © 2024 Deborah Dawson

Aaron Freeman uses an antique L. Power & Co. ship saw to easily cut 8 inch blocks.

Lead Shipwright, Andros Kyprago...som which was entirely rebuilt.

14 of 14 © 2024 Deborah Dawson

Lead Shipwright, Andros Kypragoras assesses the overall shape of the transom which was entirely rebuilt.

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Public Story

Restoring the Mary E

Copyright Deborah Dawson 2024

Date of Work Feb 2018 - Apr 2018

Updated Dec 2019

Location Bath, Maine

Topics boat building

In 2016 the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, Maine purchased the Mary E and took on the monumental task of restoring her to original design on the shore of the Kennebec River near where she was originally built in 1906.

The museum assembled a team of shipwrights and artisans to restore the fishing schooner in 2017/18. Many years laboring as a fishing vessel, and carrying cargo had deformed the hull to such a degree that the Mary E needed to be rebuilt from the keel up. These photographs document the shipwrights’ attention to every detail as they labored tirelessly through the winter to bring the Mary E back to original form.

She was relaunched in June 2018 and the Mary E now proudly serves as the museum's ambassador schooner visiting tall ship regattas throughout the summer to educate visitors about Maine's rich ship building history.

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