Re: The Cutty Sark - The ship that died of shame.


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Posted by JLabaree on May 23, 2007 at 02:13:38 from 74.75.219.146 user JLabaree.

In Reply to: Re: The Cutty Sark - The ship that died of shame. posted by Alex Forbes on May 22, 2007 at 04:16:53:

This is getting rather off the subject, but I’m interested in this comment, Alex. I, too, worked at Mystic Seaport (for some years, albeit back in the 80s and it’s been a long while since I have gone back to visit). While it’s true that none of the three large signature ships (Morgan, Dunton, Conrad) is seaworthy, they are all afloat and maintained to a pretty high standard. Many of the smaller vessels are, indeed, seaworthy and are actively sailed or powered (as in Sabino) by staff.

What is the inherent connection between preservation and seaworthiness? Aren’t they two separate concepts? You can preserve something in a complete state of disrepair - indeed, one of my favorite exhibits at Mystic is the largely dismantled Australia, among whose bones you can ramble about and see how such ships were constructed.

What’s the point of sinking the monumental additional funds into bringing the Morgan to seaworthiness, as opposed to structural soundness, just so you could float down the Mystic River and take a turn around Fishers? Surely it’s impressive enough that she’s afloat, fully rigged, in sound condition, and a fine (and sole) example of an American whaling ship. What would it cost to make her seaworthy and how much do you actually gain by doing that? Wouldn’t the museum advance its overall goal more by putting that money into collecting other vessels?

I’m not trying to argue that Mystic is perfect – I’m sure it isn’t – but surely they have preserved a vast amount of our nation’s maritime heritage. You can see examples of all kinds of boats and really get a feel for what it took to build, sail, and outfit these vessels. In addition, thousands of vessels are stored there for builders or scholars to come see, measure, and study. That’s a critical role for a museum to play.

- Jonathan



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