Shielding the Douglas fir of the wooden boat from moisture helps prevent the perfect conditions for “dry rot” fungus and is one of the most important steps in preserving the vessel for the future.  Wayne Palsson, a Northwest Seaport volunteer, likens dry rot to “cold fire.”  “Extremely damaged wood looks like it has been burned and charred, it just falls apart under any pressure, and overtime, it spreads like fire.”

Northwest Seaport President Shannon Fitzgerald, along with the help of George Stausser, Jim Flies, and Joe Shickich installed the framework to support the plastic, and then Shannon, George, Wayne, and John Endresen spent a day draping four sheets of shrink-wrap plastic over the boat.  It was like raising a tent.  They had to arrange the plastic to easily unroll from the top, then fasten the pieces to each other and to the sides of the vessel.  Then it was shrinking time.  Wayne Palsson used an industrial heat gun to shrink the plastic to the tension of a drum — that way most water and snow will easily shed off of the cover.

The cover will be on the Arthur Foss until late spring when Seattle’s Rain Festival should end.

Dan Roberts started the Seattle Chantey Sing over 10 years ago will lead Northwest Seaport’s February Chantey Sing aboard the historic steamer Virginia V.  Dan continues to perform with The Whateverly Brothers and Bold Horizon, as well as solo.  He will lead the February session and keep the music rolling along.  It being close to Valentine’s Day, songs of maritime romance may be featured.  Folks of all ages are welcome.   Go to our Chantey Sing Page to learn more!

Hank Cramer is one of the best-loved folksingers in the American West. He is widely known for his booming bass voice, smooth picking on a vintage flat-top guitar, and his wry sense of humor. He has a wide repertoire of both modern and traditional songs, spanning the genres of celtic, appalachian, maritime, cowboy, and plain old folk music. Hank has a discography of 19 albums, and has been selected to receive the Humanities Washington Award for 2011.

This is the third co-production with Seattle Folklore Society.
Make reservations here.
Visit Hank Cramer’s website.

Adults $15 / NWS Members, Seniors, Students $13 / Kids $7