Readying FV Thelma C Will Need Community Help

Jennifer Canfield/KMXT

The Kodiak Maritime Museum is looking for help from residents to move forward its plans to revive the historic fishing vessel Thelma C. Earlier this year the museum received nearly $300,000 as a grant from the Alaska Legislature to restore the old boat and to develop an interpretive exhibit. The museum’s executive director, Toby Sullivan, explains how the boat­- and dozens like it- was instrumental during the aftermath of the 1964 earthquake that wiped out the Kodiak harbor

Sullivan says the museum is reaching out to community members to be stakeholders in the boat’s repair. The boat’s previous owner, Brian Johnson, is heading up the reconstruction of the Thelma C and is eager to teach people basic boatwrighting skills.

The museum is also looking into developing a smartphone application that visitors can download as a supplement to the displays they’ll find on the Thelma C.

Sullivan says they hope to start the project in the spring and finish by May. The museum is holding a public meeting to recruit volunteers and discuss details on September 30^th at 7 p.m. at the Kodiak College.