Imagine if you can, a 118-foot, 12,000-pound tree lying on the ground with all sorts of branches dangling from the top one third of its length. Now, visualize lifting that tree from the ground, by its top, to a totally airborne vertical position. Then take that tree another 50 feet into the air so it can be aligned perfectly to fit in a hole just under two feet in diameter. It's an almost incomprehensible process. Then, once that tree is in place, do it all over again with another tree!

Watching masts being lifted and placed (stepped) is breathtaking, especially for someone like me with very limited experience. Enter an extraordinarily skilled and masterful crew of diverse backgrounds. Sample's Shipyard/Bristol Marine workers were everywhere, some working on dismantling the protective cover under which Niagra lived throughout the winter months, others preparing stored vessels to go back in the water, many assisting with mast placements. Many hands make light work, but there is much heavy work as well.

Much of the rigging for the masts was addressed by master rigger Jose Hernandez-Juviel of So’Wester Rigging in Edgecomb. Repairing, replacing and overseeing ropes, lines and cables was a very labor-intensive project which required many hours. The work, to me, seemed endless. On the day the masts were lifted, Jose helped to set the proper placement of lines and attaching gear for properly balanced maneuvers. There’s no looking back with six tons of stick floating from a crane hook boomed fully out! The Cote Crane and rigging crew from Auburn managed the move precisely with Captain Mat at the controls. It was a well-orchestrated, successful team effort.

Niagra has been hauled at Sample's Shipyard/Bristol Marine over the winter for some fairly substantial repairs and updating in preparation for the trip back to Lake Erie in the near future. Niagra will go back in the water soon with plenty of time for sea trials and final prep before heading back to Pennsylvania via the St. Lawrence Seaway.

The ship has returning crew but there is a need for additional personnel. If there are other folk interested in the trip of a lifetime, please contact Sample's Shipyard/Bristol Marine for more information. The ship is scheduled to depart June 1 with a transit time in the vicinity of 21 days, depending upon weather and seas. The vessel’s power plant has been upgraded with two new Caterpillar engines and lots of new accessory equipment. No sails are available for the return trip. Final rigging will occur once Niagra is back to homeport in Erie.

As you might imagine, there is ample activity now at Sample's Shipyard/Bristol Marine as boats are being readied for the summer season and placed back in the water or delivered to owners. New big jobs are in the works for later this year and next, with some very interesting modifications to the shipyard property. Continued upgrades and modifications will further expand use of the facilities and create additional new educational programs to accommodate expanding interest in the maritime culture.

Stay tuned for new information about the Niagra’s role in the 250-year celebrations this summer.