It’s Thank you Thursday. Today’s shout out of Mission love goes to Isle au Haut ferry Captain Mike Moffett.
Sunbeam Captain Mike Johnson explains, “The ferry is a lifeline for any island. The Isle au Haut ferry carries passengers and freight from its home port in Stonington to the public landing in the Isle au Haut thoroughfare.
“One of the captains is Mike Moffett,” continues Capt. Johnson. “Mike is superb at the wheel, and is quick with a smile for those around him. As a fellow user of the landing, the Sunbeam works carefully with the ferry service to coordinate use of the facility. Mike is easy to work with, and we share a mutual respect of both organizations.
“Mike has also been seen aboard the Sunbeam as a fill-in first mate. His skills are equally impressive on our ship where he stands watch and mingles with our friends on the islands with a comfortable familiarity,” said Johnson.
BELFAST, ME — With the winds cooperating, Capt. Mike Johnson was able to travel with the Sunbeam back to Front Street Shipyard for refit tweaks.
Capt. Mike sent this photo of the boat, explaining, “The Sunbeam is back at Front Street Shipyard for a few weeks to address a few minor issues that inevitably develop after a major project, and also to install some equipment delayed by the pandemic.”
www.mdislander.com
Sunbeam back home after major rehab
October 5, 2020 by Dick Broom on News, Waterfront
MOUNT DESERT — Following an absence of nearly 18 months for repairs and renovations, Sunbeam returned to its Northeast Harbor home last Friday and will be back in action within a few weeks.
The Maine Seacoast Mission uses Sunbeam to deliver health care and other services to islands and coastal Downeast communities.
It was taken to Front Street Shipyard in Belfast in May 2019 because rust was starting to eat away at the inside of the steel hull. The furnace and two generators needed to be replaced, and the crew’s very small and rather spartan living quarters needed to be reconfigured and spruced up. The galley needed new appliances, and the floor in the salon area needed to be ripped up and replaced because of rust.
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Sunbeam serves a trio of functions.
“We take the nurse around, we take the chaplain around and we are also like a floating coffee house,” [Capt. Mike] Johnson said. “When we show up on Isle au Haut, for example, people come aboard to get coffee and play cribbage and mingle with their neighbors.”
As the ‘Sunbeam’ returns to Northeast Harbor on October 2nd, I am looking for a few boats to commit to joining us in the parade.
If you (or a friend) have a boat and can join us, please let Mission Development Associate Anna Silver know. She can be reached by phone 207-801-6011 or email: [email protected].
If you find yourself free at the last minute – we would still love to have you with us.
The ‘Sunbeam’ leaves Belfast Harbor earlier in the day. The boat parade starts on the final leg of that trip and follows the ‘Sunbeam’ back home to Northeast Harbor.
Here is the parade schedule:
Friday October 2nd:
3:15PM – 3:45PM: ‘Sunbeam’ arrives near bell buoy R#8 off Cranberry Island.
3:45PM – 4:15PM: Boats assemble for parade. Capt. Mike Johnson will organizing this on VHF radio channel #71.
4:15PM: ‘Sunbeam’ and parade depart for Northeast Harbor. 4:30PM arrival.
BELFAST, ME — Following safety measures, Front Street Shipyard carpenters start work on Sunbeam’s main salon. As before, we thank Front Street for their Twitter photo updates.
