him food when he becomes so absorbed in his craft rhar he forgers ro ear. Uranker resrored a 19th-century figurehead for rhe Edgartown Yacht C lub a few years ago. In 2001, Eunice Kennedy Shriver commissioned him ro carve an eagle for her son-in-law as a Christmas present. The recipient, of course, was her daughter Maria's husband, Ar nold Schwarzenegger. Lasr year, the US Coast Guard contacted Uranker regarding the Eagle's ship carvings. He was recommended by the National Woodcarvers Association. "They contacred me on June 18, 2002. I was asked ro go ro Fon Lauderdale ro survey the ship. My wife and I went down for the weekend. The ship was in port," he recalls. "I wrote up a report of what was wrong. T hey wanted me ro recarve rhe srernboard, rope and dolphins rhat run along the srern." Builr in 1936 at the Blohm and Voss Ship yard in Germany, the ship was launched wirh carved dolphins adorning her rransom-a sign of luck from rhe god Poseidon . Uranker scarred work Ocrober 2002. Eagle was in drydock in Curtis Bay, near Balrimore. H e retrieved the pieces of rhe old sternboard, much of ir rorten and decayed . A good portion was patched with body filler. Uranker started with a huge piece of laminated mahogany measuring ten feet long and six-ro-eight inches rhick. A lot of wood had robe raken off, for rhe stern board wraps around the curves of the transom . In retrospect, Uranker feels he did nor give himself enough time for the job. Ofren he worked 14-hour days-curring, rhen sanding. He and his wife recall how even in the winrer's cold , much of the work was done ourdoors. He used a sander ro bring much of rhe wood down ro rhe proper dimensions ro march the old one. Snow in the yard around the woodshop became discolored bythesenlingsawdust, taking on the color of mahogany. Uranker finished resroring the twentyfoot-rall figurehead in December at the Baltimore shipyard. He completed all the pieces for the stern by late January 2003 SEA HISTORY 105 , AUTUMN 2003
will be on her. When yo u do something like rhis, ir is a great privilege. " ,.!, For more information on Joseph Uranker's work, see www.jpuwoodcarver.com. His work is displayed at Willoughby Art Gallery and Edgartown Scrimshaw, both in Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard and at Kahn Nautical Antiques & Maritime Works of Art in Chatham, Massachusetts.
USCG Barque Eagle and installation rook two days the nexr month. Assisted by a team of shipyard workers, Uranker climbed fifry feet up the scaffolding ro posirion himself directly under rhe counter. The work was secured to the transom , bolted to the bulkhead from inside. "This is a great honor. I know that many years from now, the vessel will be sailing and representing our country, and my work
USCG Barqu e Eagle's homeport is at the USCG Academy, New London, CT. At 295feet in length and carrying over 20, 000 squarefeet ofsail, Eagle serves as a training vessel and ocean-going classroom for USCG cadets. For more information, see www.cga.edu or call 1-800-883-USCG. Mark Alan Lovewell is a Martha's Vineyard writer and photographer. A fall-time journalist for the Vineyard Gazette, he has been covering the waterfront for 2 0 years.
Sendyour 9reetif19S in true nauticaf So/CeJ with NMHS's 2003 fw(iday card! This scene by marine artist William G . Mull er shows a 2-stack tug on the Rondout Creek, Hudson River, NY. 1923. Greeting: "With every good wish for the Holidays and for the coming year." Also available as a blank note card.
Sales of these cards benefit the National Maritime Historical Society. Box of 10: $ 13 .95, or $ 12.55 for NMHS members. All orders add $4 s/h . Specify greeting or plain cards. Send check or credit card information to :
NMHS, PO Box 68, Peekskill NY 10566 Or order by credit card by phoning:
1-800-221-NMHS
(6647) ext.
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