September 8: Final Dry Dock for Worldwide Voyage Begins

September 5th was the first day of the final dry dock for Hōkūleʻa before her Worldwide Voyage.

The crew began the final dry dock by removing marine growth that accumulated on the hulls over the past 6 months of crew training and sea trials for the modified voyaging canoe. (For notes on the earlier, much more extensive, 18-month-long dry dock in 2010-2012, during which the canoe was modified, see Mālama Wa‘a 2010-2012.) It was interesting to see the different types of marine organisms that had made Hōkūleʻa’s hulls their home and how many of them had taken a liking to the canoe.

Crew member Liz Zeiger scrubing the hulls to remove growth.

The crew also checked the hull compartments for leaks. With the canoe on land, it was easier to pinpoint where leaks in the compartments were coming from. (At sea, with everything moist inside the hull and the canoe rocking, it’s very difficult to find the source of leaks.)

Students from the Kamaile Academy checking the hulls for leaks.

The canoe will get another coat of bottom paint before she is put back in the water. Projected completion of the final dry dock: sometime before Christmas.

Hōkūle‘a up on blocks.