On Thu, 19 Jun 2014 07:35:58 -0700 (PDT), hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:   
      
   >On Wednesday, June 18, 2014 10:25:46 PM UTC-4, Glen Labah wrote:   
   >   
   >> One of the volunteers told me how much it costs to keep it just moored   
   >> in place, a   
   >   
   >Yes, the dock fees are substantial.  It costs a fortune just to keep the SS   
   United States at a dock now.  I think someone donated the money to buy time to   
   save the ship.   
   >   
   >Phila also has the Olympia, the flagship of Adm Dewey.  It is a museum open   
   to the public.  However, they've learned that the bottom is badly rusted and   
   the ship may just be resting in the mud.  I hate to say it, but necessary   
   repairs will likely cost a    
   fortune and there is no money to save it.   
      
   >  A volunteer organization can only do so much.   
   Very true.   
   The volunteer bit is often where such large projects breakdown even if   
   a vessel is in reasonable condition and has a  cheap berth when it is   
   first acquired   
   Over a certain size of vessel the volunteers quickly start to become   
   overwhelmed by day to day maintenance. Externally it may look fine and   
   painted and the hull may even be sound. it will be little things like   
   a weeping joint to a faucet in a washroom that drips quietly for years   
   causing corrosion in unseen corners ,eventually a vessel then rots   
   from within.   
   With ships the size of the United States just keeping the bathrooms in   
   a sanitary state would need a full time team of  volunteers and not   
   many will want do such a mundane task for days on end.   
      
   Seen dreamers on this side of the pond think  keeping the QE2 as   
   museum or buying the last  former Royal Navy Colussus class carrier   
   back from Brazil were projects that people would flock to support,   
   many will verbally support the notions  but people who would be active   
   and remain so are never enough to do all the mundane tasks.   
      
   G.Harman   
      
   --- SoupGate/W32 v1.03   
    * Origin: LiveWire BBS -=*=- UseNet FTN Gateway (1:2320/1)