The H. Lee White Maritime Museum’s Schooner Ontario Committee had a big year and made considerable progress on Ontario’s refit. Most significantly, the Maritime Museum has raised over $130,000 in actual committed contributions from major sponsors individual donors, and community members. Additional in-kind support and skilled volunteer labor has significantly reduced the total cost of the refit, making the dream closer to completion.
Additionally, physical work has begun on the vessel as well. Volunteer crew members worked to begin refurbishing the spars and brightwork, and clearing out the cabins and hull in preparation for interior work. A new storage container was purchased to provide dry storage and adequate work space, and with the assistance of Bob Wilmott and the crew of Carpenters Local 277 out of Syracuse, an OSHA approved access stairwell was added for access to Ontario’s deck. We even made some new friends at Cayuga Boat Works, who will be building Ontario’s new masts as part of this project.
In 2022, the HLWMM will begin the physical process of refitting the vessel. Up first on the docket is to have a formal inspection of the vessel’s hull. Additional work will begin on the vessel’s interior, replacing aged plumbing, wiring, and other system’s infrastructure as the HLWMM’s staff and crew work behind the scenes on the development of the vessel’s educational mission.
The HLWMM would like to thank this project’s sponsors: Pathfinder Bank, Community Bank, Fulton Savings Bank, Oswego Teachers EFCU, Raby’s Ace Hardware, the Golub Group, as well as all the individual donors committed to our mission. Interested in supporting the future of tall ship sailing on Lake Ontario? Contact Executive Director, Mercedes Niess, at 315-342-0480.
Don’t forget to check out our restoration photo’s, here:
Schooner Ontario Photo Album (coming soon)