by maineseacoast | May 7, 2020 | Maine Seacoast Mission, News, Sunbeam, Thank You Thursday
BAR HARBOR, ME — It’s Thank you Thursday and today’s shout out of Mission Love goes to Graham Fitch, our steadfast project manager at the Front Street Shipyard in Belfast, ME. For all of you Sunbeam fans, Graham has been the guy on the ground, in the yard, guiding the refit of our beloved vessel for almost a year now! His attention to detail, thoughtful suggestions, skills, and commitment make him a tremendous partner in the work.
When the Sunbeam gets underway again this summer, we know he and his colleagues will miss her in the shipyard but many grateful islanders – and our crew – will be thrilled to welcome her back into her next decades of service.
This is what community looks like.
by maineseacoast | May 5, 2020 | Maine Seacoast Mission, News, Sunbeam
BELFAST, ME — Front Street Shipyard, where the Sunbeam is having a re-fit, posts this May 3 photo of “the new crew cabins on Sunbeam.” Looking good.
Learn more about the Sunbeam, the boat crew, and their work among Maine unbridged islands.
by maineseacoast | Apr 30, 2020 | Maine Seacoast Mission, News, Sunbeam
‘Sunbeam’ main salon during refit.
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.
by maineseacoast | Apr 27, 2020 | Maine Seacoast Mission, News, Sunbeam
BELFAST, ME — Again we thank Front Street Shipyard for providing update photos of the Sunbeam refit. This photo was posted April 24th on the shipyard’s Twitter account. The photo caption: New stainless steel piping work in SUNBEAM’s engine room.
by maineseacoast | Apr 16, 2020 | Maine Seacoast Mission, News, Sunbeam
BELFAST, ME — After spending months addressing design aspects of the Sunbeam not directly related to her operation, I was finally able to get aboard and get a glimpse of my life as an actual captain. Due to [coronavirus] distancing regulations, the yard crew left the marine electronics for me on Friday night. I went aboard over the weekend and began tinkering with the layout.
This is a simple but robust commercial set-up. The large Koden radar on the starboard side is the only remaining piece of equipment from the former helm. In the middle are two Hatteland marine monitors. One is fed from a Furuno radar unit (black box) under the dash, and the second is running navigational software from a marinized PC also located under the dash. Completing the set-up is a standard Furuno depth sounder.
In all of this modern technology, we do not forget the importance of the compass (far port side) which was a gift from the fishermen on Matinicus Island given at the launch of Sunbeam IV in 1964.
Source: Sunbeam Capt. Mike Johnson, April 16, 2020
