Sunbeam V Captain Michael Johnson sent these photos and update on the morning of September 29, 2017.
STONINGTON, ME — This is about the mid-way point for Sunbeam V dry dock. Take a look at the photos. The first photo shows one of several areas of rust under the flooring being repaired. The second is the replacement of the foggy pilot house window. The third is a random exterior shot. The fourth photo is the old leaking grey water tank being replaced. The fifth is Sunbeam V engineer Storey King’s dryer duct cleaning project — which was more extensive than expected. The final photo is the dismantled Sunbeam V hallway where the grey water tank is located.
Everything is going reasonably well with the exception of more extensive rust found on the hull under the grey water tank. That rust is being assessed/addressed early next week.
As long as the weather holds, we should launch as scheduled on October 12th.
STONINGTON, Me — The Mission’s 74-foot steel-hulled Sunbeam V is hauled in annually to keep ahead of its structural integrity and cosmetics. Think of it as the boat’s annual physical. While in dry dock last year the Sunbeam V had a new bow thruster installed, giving the boat better sideways motion when approach certain harbors and docks.
Generally the dry docked Sunbeam V has its paint — top and bottom — renewed. Any rust developed anywhere since last year is sanded and painted. The overhaul work is done or supervised by Captain Michael Johnson and Engineer Storey King.
Island Health director Sharon Daley, and Island Outreach director Douglas Cornman continue their island community work, traveling on other boats, ferries, and planes.
BAR HARBOR, ME — Mission Director of Island Health Sharon Daley hosts an annual elder care conference in support of the elder care work taking place on 14 different islands. Three of the larger islands have small aging in place elder homes. Soon there will be an elder home on a fourth island.
These homes allow elders to remain on the islands they love, continuing to be and important part of their communities.
Meanwhile, the small islands learn ways to support their elders and caregivers.
These films from the Maine islands of North Haven and Islesboro show the importantance of these aging in place elder homes to island residents, their families, and the community.
Aging On An Island – Voices from North Haven, Maine
Telehealth Offers a Vital Resource to Maine’s Island Residents A telemedicine platform and bi-monthly visits from the Sunbeam give the isolated residents of several Downeast Maine islands a lot more than just telehealth. By Eric Wicklund
August 22, 2017 – The success of telehealth has always been closely tied to the idea of bringing healthcare to those who have problems with access.
To the 700 or so residents of several islands off Maine’s Downeast region, that success is tied to a video link with an onshore clinic and the 75-foot, steel-hulled vessel that makes twice-monthly runs up and down the coast.
It’s all part of a “big jigsaw puzzle” for healthcare, says Sharon Daley, RN, a Missouri native who launched the nonprofit Maine Seacoast Mission’s telehealth program some 17 years ago and now directs the multi-faceted program out of Bar Harbor.
“Going off island is extremely expensive,” she says. “So we have to make do with what we have.”
Daley’s network begins of the Sunbeam. Equipped with a telemedicine lab that includes virtual visit technology, it sails out of Bar Harbor twice a month, each three-day journey tracing a route that might take it to Matinicus – at 21 miles out, it’s the most distant island, and only accessible at high tide, and home to about 75 full-timers – Isle au Haut and/or Frenchboro and a few others islands are visited with less frequency). Appointments are scheduled with island residents in need of medical service, and time is left for walk-ins as well. All of these services are free.
