Preserving The Last Iron Hulled Tall Ship

November 28th, 2010 | Print | By April M. Williams

Falls of Clyde (Photo Credit: jdnx)

Did you know the world’s last iron-hulled sailing tall ship is now docked in Honolulu, Hawaii? In 2008, the ship narrowly escaped being sunk as a reef in Honolulu.

The “Falls of Clyde” is docked in Honolulu Harbor near the Aloha Tower. She is the only surviving iron-hulled four-masted full rigged ship and the last sail-driven oil tanker in the world. The ship has been closed to the public for several years as work continues to restore and stabilize her. The goal is to restore and preserve the ship as the last of its kind.

“The Friends of Falls was founded in August 2008 and our mission is to preserve and restore the Falls of Clyde” said Bruce McEwan, president of the group.

The first step in the process is to stabilize the ship to maintain its structural integrity. Once the ship is stable, she can be moved to dry dock for further maintenance and preservation. Only then will restoration efforts begin. The Falls of Clyde is listed as a National Landmark and the goal is to restore the ship to its days as an iron-hulled oil tanker.

Bruce McEwan, President of The Friends of Falls of Clyde took us on a tour of the ship where we saw her current state for ourselves. The hull of the ship is rusty and is in need of sandblasting and painting. Once we boarded, we could not miss the crumbling and badly deteriorated teak deck in desperate need of replacement.

Below deck where there is less exposure to the elements, the ship is in better shape. The first room we entered was a sparse crew sleeping area. Four short wooden bunk beds attached to the sides of the walls made for tight quarters. Cubbyholes built into the sides and front of the room stored minimal personal belongings.

The cramped kitchen area required good organization skills to manage meal planning, cooking and serving. The massive iron stove was the focal point in the galley. On cold nights, this stove would make a cozy warming station for weary sailors.

Entering the Captain quarters in the stern of the ship was like walking back in time. The wood paneling and teak benches formed a rounded room which showed an air of sophistication and elegance I had not seen on other parts of the ship. The white painted walls curved around the built in teak benches covered with burgundy velvet covered cushions. The Captain and his officers might have spent evenings in this spacious entertaining area discussing politics or business deals over a glass of port.

Her teak deck is eroding and the ship is a reminder of days long ago. The Falls of Clyde’s future depends on those who believe she is a valuable part of history worth saving for posterity.

Preserving Last Iron Hulled Tall Ship Honolulu Hawaii

Learn more about the Falls of Clyde today by following them on Facebook or the Captain’s Log to learn about recent updates and events.

The Friends of Falls of Clyde is a 501C non-profit organization accepting donations to save this unique part of history. The current Million Quarter drive collects funds converted to 25¢ increments for tracking purposes and you can visit their website to follow the progress of the campaign.

Feature Photo Credit: jdnx

About this guest blogger:
April M. Williams is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and a great friend of 808Talk. She is also the author of the book “Social Networking Throughout Your Career”, available in paperback and on the Kindle.

Learn more about April by visiting her at the websites below.
LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilmwilliams
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CyberLife Tutors Blog http://www.cyberlifetutors.com/blog/
Travel Blog http://www.aprilmwilliams.com