The Ida May Project

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The Ida May Project

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Our mission is to preserve Oyster Bay’s maritime heritage by involving the community in traditional boat building projects. Flower & Sons, Inc.

The Ida May Project

In 2009, a project to build a replica of the Historic oyster dredge “Ida May” got underway. "It served us well for 75 years," said Dave Relyea, co-owner and spokesperson for the Frank M. shellfish company. "We decided then that it was time to retire the ship - it was worn out and Frank M. Flower donated it to the Waterfront Center for possible display to help educate the public about aqua-farming and the environment of the estuary. We never envisioned it going back into the water. We discussed it with Senator Marcellino when we retired the “Ida May” and he said why not have it go back into the water rather than have it as a static display. It was a great idea. It was logical that the Christeen Oyster Sloop Preservation Corporation be the group to go to, to get it underway." The Ida May project will be the construction from scratch of an oyster vessel that follows as closely as possible the lines and construction of the original “Ida May” while meeting current United States Coast Guard standards. A survey was conducted with the hope that the original “Ida May” could be preserved in her entirety, but multiple shipwrights determined that key timbers were simply not salvageable. If existing timbers cannot be used, the boat cannot be considered a pure restoration. Further complicating the issue, lateral stability is a problem for modern day public certification. As a result, a detailed study of “Ida May” was undertaken. Her lines were recorded both for posterity and to guide a modified design. It is Senator Marcellino and the organization’s hope that, similar to the restoration of the “Christeen”, the” Ida May” project will be the kind of community activity that draws volunteers, builds pride among its supporters, creates opportunities for learning new boat-building skills and results in a vessel that can take more people out on the waters of Oyster Bay.

04/27/2024

The Ida May is on the dock at the Waterfront Center.

- Tomorrow (Sunday 4/28) at 2 PM we will dismantle the winter cover frame and move it to Building J. The more help we get the easier it will be. We’re doing it on Sunday because the cover is being measured this afternoon, and the boat is being hauled Monday morning. Also, it would be low tide on Monday AM, making it a steep climb off the float.

- Monday morning the Ida May will move to OB Marine Center and get lifted out of the water. We will start sanding as soon as she is settled, probably around noon.

- We have only until Friday afternoon to sand and paint the whole boat. We’ll be working 9 - 4 Tue, Wed and Thu, weather permitting. Come help, and bring your friends!

03/30/2024

ALL HANDS ON DECK

Happy Easter to all of the crew. And, it is the moment to get the Ida May and the Christeen out from under wraps and freshened up for their busy summers.

Both boats are still at the Safe Harbor Marina in Glen Cove, where they spent the winter. Starting this coming week (Mon., Apr 1) we will meet Monday and Thursday mornings at Building J in Oyster Bay at 9:00 AM to assemble our tools and supplies, then head over to Glen Cove to work on sanding and painting the boats. There is a lot to be done.
In addition, the Christeen’s cover will be removed on Sat, Apr.. 6, starting at 9 AM, and she will be hauled in Glen Cove on Apr 8 for a few days of painting.

We need all hands on deck to get these boats ready - I hope you will join us.

Please feel free to call me if you have any questions..

George Lindsay
516-509-7369
[email protected]

05/12/2023

Ida May is Launched

On may 3rd Ida May took to the water. A fine crowd turned out on a nice day to celebrate a significant milestone in an eleven year project. OB Town Supervisor Saladino and Christeen Oyster Sloop Preservation Corp President George Lindsay both spoke, followed by the reading of a poem by Linda Echausse, a granddaughter of volunteer Bill Gyves, and then a blessing by volunteer Rev. Mary Beth Mills-Curran. We were so pleased that Ann Smith, accompanied by her daughter Jennifer Laughlin, christened the ship with the traditional breaking of the bottle of Ch*****ne. And we remembered those who had passed on that contributed so much to the project: founder Clint Smith and longtime volunteers Bill Shephard and Bob Larson.

After the Christening, Ida May was moved down the launching ramp and into the water with a traditional spraying from the East Norwich Fire Department pumper. Out on the water Christeen gave a cannon salute. And the moment was captured in a painting by Kirk Larsen. Ida May sat at the dock for a bit to ensure the seams were holding and then towed over to OBMC where she will be docked for the final fitting out. The next step is obtaining Coast Guard certification, and then she will start her new career of marine education under the auspices of the WaterFront Center. While this was a momentous moment, the work is not yet done, and we are still raising money to complete the project.

04/25/2023

First step toward Launch
The process of preparing Ida May to be moved out of the building has started. Josh and his team took the Pilot House off the boat on Monday. It was a delicate process that took about three hours as the team moved with great deliberation to avoid any mishaps. A frame built of large timbers was constructed inside the PH to brace it. Then the whole assembly was jacked up a few inches. A large forklift was carefully maneuvered into place and padding and strapping were attached. And then the lift. The PH was moved off the boat and down to a trailer. It was moved out to the west yard where it awaits the Ida May that will join it on Thursday. The launch is scheduled for Wednesday the 3rd with ceremonies starting around 9:30. And don’t forget the celebration party on May 4th at Cooper Bluff. Festivities start at 4:30. There is a $60 donation and please RSVP at [email protected] or you can make your donation at our website – IdaMayProject.org/Donate.

04/16/2023

Launch Date and Celebration for Ida May

Our launch date is set for May3, with ceremonies starting around 9:30 AM. Ida May will be moved out of the building on April 27th and taken to the yard west of the building where the Pilot House will be re-attached. On the rising tide of May 3rd the boat will be launched at the Town of Oyster Bay boat ramp in Theodor Roosevelt park.

A celebration party will be held on May 4th at Cooper Bluff in the Oyster Bay Marine Center. The party is from 4:30 to 7PM and will feature b**r, w**e and D’oeuvers. There is a $60 per person donation – the launch on the 3rd is free. Please RSVP for the party on the 4th. You can make your donation at IdaMayProject.org/donate.htm or let us know you are coming at [email protected]

Between now and the launch there is still a lot of work to be done. Josh and Joe are busy caulking the hull and there is a lot of painting to be done. We’ll be working Saturdays too, so if you are free come on down and lift a brush.

04/05/2023

THE WH***EY PLANK
Friday, Apr. 7, 2023, at 5:00 PM

we will fasten the final plank on the IDA MAY
You are invited to join us in Building J on the Western Waterfront to help fasten the final trunnels and toast this milestone with the shipwrights, crew and friends.
Please bring your favorite libation or snack to share.

The IDA MAY will launch on May 3, 2023. Stay tuned for further details!

02/17/2023

Planking is two-thirds done

Work continues on the final tasks as we point towards our May 3rd launch date. Josh’s crew and Ida May volunteers are concentrated on planking and should be completing the final work in the next week or so. There is plenty of work for volunteers so if you are available and interested please come on down. We are working every week-day. Nobby is working on getting all the mechanicals installed and the iron work has been sent out for galvanizing. Once the planking is done there will be a ton of painting needed, so we need all hands who are able to help with this.
We are still in need of funds required to launch the new Ida May and do the final prep work in anticipation of Coast Guard certification. So if you know of an organization or individual who might be interested in participating in the launch as a sponsor, please let us know.

01/04/2023

Planking has Started

The last major step is underway. Josh and his crew fired up the steam box and started planking this week. This process requires a lot of hands, so if you are able to come help, or just want to see how straight boards can be made to curve to form the shape of the hull, come on down to Building J. We'll be working all week (not on weekends).

08/06/2022

The Engine is in the boat!
At long last the John Deere engine that has been sitting under the boat for two years has been installed. Last Tuesday, Josh and Nobby, with the help of Melrose Contracting, accomplished the task. On Monday, Nobby unpacked the engine and did the prep work. Tuesday started with perhaps the toughest challenge of the day, getting the mobile crane into Building J. There were only mere inches of clearance, and it took Eric Melrose a lot of maneuvering to do it. While this was underway, Nobby and Josh’s assistant, Sam, attached the sling and the engine mounts. Then the hoist began. All went smoothly, and in a matter of minutes the engine was in the boat. The next step will be to align the engine with the shaft and bed it down. Thanks to Melrose Contracting Corp for helping with this major step forward.

07/05/2022

Volunteers Are Needed Because Josh is Back!

Josh Herman, shipwright for the Ida May Project is back at work. After a spring of finishing other ship projects he is now ready to devote his and his staff’s time, on a full time basis, from now to completion. If all goes as planned, the ship could be in the water by late fall.
During the last three months volunteers focused on getting ready for planking the hull. The steam box was widened and expanded. An additional boiler was built. And the whole assembly was moved to the west side of Building J. This will facilitate moving the steamed boards to the boat. In addition, Josh brought a large Planer that will sit by the steam box.
So, the big push now is to find the volunteers that will help make the magic happen. There is a special need for the focus on finishing, since once the planking and caulking is done, the boat needs to get right into the bay to soak up the water that will swell the wood and make the boat shipshape.
George Lindsay, president of the Christeen Oyster Sloop Preservation Corp. explained that now, with the grant money in place, materials ordered and Josh committing to the schedule, the next step is to call back the IMP volunteers and welcome new ones. Jobs will be allocated to match the skills of the volunteer.
The plan calls for a full crew of volunteers working under the direction of Herman and his staff from July 11, through the summer and fall seasons to complete the vessel.
Shifts are being set up for volunteers to work from 8 a.m. to noon or 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. You can pick your days, the more the merrier, and you can opt for a full day if that
suits your available time better.
You can email your intent to [email protected], or drop in at Building J on West End Avenue, weekdays, from 9 to 4 starting July 11.

Address

West End Avenue, Building J
Oyster Bay, NY
11771

Telephone

+15163059204

Website

http://www.idamayproject.org/donate.htm

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