SV May Queen

Australia’s oldest floating wooden sail trading vessel

Keep the May Queen Afloat

May Queen Volunteers

The role of the volunteers is to ensure that the May Queen survives into the future as an authentic floating example of the sailing craft that were so important to the early coastal settlements of Australia. Volunteers with a wider range of skills are involved in the group. Some have skills in ship maintenance, wire and rope work, carpentry, painting and some, have very little knowledge in any of the above but are willing to learn and communicate part of the fascinating history of the vessel to visitors that come on board.

The other important role undertaken by volunteers is the overseeing of the entire project by the May Queen Pty Ltd Board.

The raising of funds and administration of this not for profit group is undertaken on a voluntary basis, so that all funds raised are directed towards the May Queen.

May Queen Volunteers Events

  • 5th April 2009 End of summer season BBQ
  • 3rd October 2009 Summer opening

how can you help?

The May Queen is maintained entirely by volunteers. Throughout the year, but particularly in the summer months volunteers are on hand to show visitors around the vessel. If you like meeting people and have a passion for old sailing vessels or the history and times in Tasmania when the May Queen was working, you may be interested in being a May Queen volunteer.

May Queen at Constitution Dock, Hobart, October, 2008

Sponsors, Individual Donors, Shipwrights and Volunteers

Individual Donors

Adrian Dean, Andrew Kemp, Basil Hickey, Bert Smart, Bill Foster, Bill Means, Bob Chesterman, Bob Grundy, David Gough, Dennis Tuffin, Doone Kennedy, Duncan Kerr MHR, Geoff Wells, Gerald Loughran, Graeme Phillips, Huon Ridgeway, Irene Tuttle, John Kennedy, John Muir, Jonathan Davis, Jocelyn Fogagnola, Judy Wallace, Laura Clements, Michael Hunn, Michael Kent, Mike Bingham, Peter Rowsthorn, Robert Rockefeller, Roger McNeice, Rona Hollingsworth, John Wedd.

Shipwrights

Ken Jones, Mark Singleton, John Harrod

Volunteers

Adrian Chesterman, Amanda Stark, Andy Crawford, Bill Bastick, Bill Foster, Bob Chesterman, Chester Pearson, David Coleman, Des Hutcheon, Frank Brown, Graeme Dudgeon, Joe Bates, John Kennedy, John Ziegler, Neil Coates, Noel Hall, Peter Hall, Peter O’Doughue, Phillip Calvert, Rex Cox, Richard Ware, Wayne Behrens, Wayne Watson, Mary Marsh, John Wedd.

Sponsors (Past and Present)

Without financial and volunteer support and input from many corporate and individuals the SV May Queen would have joined the many other vessels of her type at the bottom of the ocean. Many of the groups and individuals are listed below. The list is by no means comprehensive and for those we have omitted, our apologies.

Maintenance Schedule

This guide provides a list of the basic maintenance and safety checks.

  • While boarding check:

    • Waterline draught
    • Trim
    • Mooring lines ashore
    • That power is ON

  • On board check:

    • Mooring lines aboard
    • Standing rigging
    • Running rigging
    • Bilge water level
    • Electrical
      • Lights
      • Bilge pumps
      • Battery charger light ON
      • Exhaust fan
      • Deck wash pump
      • Torch battery

  • On going ashore:

    • Check hatches
      • Cabin
      • Forecastle
      • Hold cover and wedges
  • Check out the craftsmanship of the May Queen’s preservation works (Click thumbnails to view larger images.)

  • Monthly Tasks

    Check…

    • Rigging lanyards
    • Hawse pipes
    • Paint surfaces
    • Deck joints

  • Quarterly Tasks

    • Lubricate and operate keel winch and chains
    • Wheel bearings and chains
    • Dress belaying pins
    • Pilot ladder and fittings
    • Secondary battery check
    • Hatch covers, battens and wedges

  • Annual Tasks On the Slip

    • High pressure water clean down and Inspection
    • Strip one fifth of hull back to bare wood prime and anti-foul below waterline (4×4L tins of antifouling paint required)
    • Check/renew zinc anode blocks
    • Check red waterline paintwork and touch-up as required
    • Check planking and sternpost for cracks and worms
    • Check steel rudder blade for pits and corrosion. Prime and repaint.
    • Check hydroseal level around steel slipper and coach screw heads and top-up as required
    • End-for-end in moorings
    • Strip, inspect and lubricate blocks

  • Other Annual Tasks

    • Bow sprit netting
    • Keel winch handle lanyard
    • Main throat halyard
    • Main peak halyard
    • Main topping lifts
    • Mizzen topping lifts
    • Mast boot deck fastenings
    • Spline and caulk keel box

  • Other Maintenance

    • Seal and refinish fiddle head joints

  • OH&S Items

    • Fire extinguishers:
      • 2 off water 240AS inspect
      • 1 off foam B456AS not tagged
    • First Aid Kit

  • Long-Term Projects

    • Remove masts, spars and rigging for refurbishment and then reinstall
    • Replace existing steel rudder blade with wooden rudder blade
    • Replace selected underwater planks