Taking more hog out
After several weeks of effort, and leveraging the experience of the restorers of the USS Constellation, the Museum’s shipwrights have taken nearly three inches out of the hog. The technique used consists of jacks putting upward pressure on both the bow and stern while gravity acts to drop the central portion of the keel, when the supporting stanchions are backed off. We know the shape of the hull is changing by means of a laser measuring system and visual observation of gaps in the planking starting to close up.
Wetting of the hull continues by means of a misting machine on the interior of the hull and a crude but effective garden sprinkler system on the exterior. While keeping the hull wet is desirable, the downside is the return of mold and mildew. To suppress this, the shipwrights have sprayed the hull with borate, a substance which is used in the construction and preservation of modern log cabins.
One of the next steps is to commence removal of the ceiling and much of the framing. To facilitate this activity, the shipyard is designing an overhead crane system which will be installed in the hold.