Robbins Reef Trip Report, Thursday, August 9, 2018

Crew: Megan Beck, Eileen Montanez, Michael Parise, and Erin Urban

Weather: Sun and clouds, 80’s, humid

Access: We left Miller’s at 9:20 AM on the Emily Miller captained by Michael Sabatino and came back at 2:45 PM on the Nicholas Miller piloted by Rob Stumley.

Purpose of the trip: We had to continue to address the deteriorating polyurethane on the doors. We wanted to put a final coat of paint on the stairwell between the third and fourth floors and put another coat of paint on the beadboard base of the Lantern Gallery wall. We also wanted to put a coat of paint on the exterior Lantern Gallery railings.

Tasks accomplished: Megan took down the under-stair closet door in Kate’s bedroom and Erin peeled deteriorated polyurethane from it. Erin, and later Megan, completed one side of that door; the other side is not peeling yet. They then removed the paneled closet door in the sitting room and, with Eileen, began peeling the poly off. They decided not to rehang these doors until the other sides are complete.

Megan put a third coat of paint on the stairwell between the third and fourth floor; it is now complete. Eileen put a second and third coat of paint on the beadboard walls in the Lantern Gallery. After ensuring it was not too windy, Michael went out on the Lantern Gallery balcony and put a coat of black paint on those railings. It looks great. Michael also used a sawzall to remove a spike from the front granite steps, which was a safety concern.

Next steps: We have to continue removing the deteriorating polyurethane from all the interior doors by scraping and peeling it off, and will apply Man o’ War marine spar varnish to them once the humidity breaks. Weather permitting we will paint the interior ladders black. We will determine the procedure for painting the stairwell steps, choose what color to use, prep and paint them. We will reinstall the ventilation disks in the Lantern Gallery. We will continue to address painting the exterior features of the Lantern Gallery. Michael McWeeney offered to make a new threshold for the dog door and when he does we will install and paint it.

Scott Van Campen is making rims for two of the operable port lights on the fourth floor; he will fit them with glass, and we will install them. We have to clean up the Lantern Gallery hatch cover and put it back and address any leakage from the door up there. We have to grind off the rusted hinges on the exterior door to the cellar and weld on replacement hinges. We have to grind the casements on the kitchen windows so that we can paint them and make shutters for them. At some point this season we will paint the exterior walls and railing around the Watch Gallery and Lantern Gallery balconies.

Steve Kalil has completed the cover for the hole in the kitchen wall and Miller’s delivered it to the lighthouse. Scott Van Campen will install it.