Building the Pacific Grace

A Construction Archive Gallery

In the late 1990's, a massive construction project was underway at SALTS as the Pacific Grace was being built. This project involved many volunteer and donors (the group picture shown below is only a fraction of those who contributed to the project). It was a colossal undertaking with a very clear goal in mind: to build another ship so that more young people could embark on the life-changing voyages at the heart of the SALTS program.

Colin Turner, a longtime supporter of SALTS, was part of the Grace’s building process during this time and documented many moments from the construction. Sadly, Colin passed away in August 2022, but before that he made two significant contributions to SALTS. He established SALTS as a beneficiary in his will, and he shared his collection of construction photos. These are some of the best photographic records we have of the construction of the Grace, and this gallery showcases a few of them. These photos span from 1997 to mid-1999, and show much of the process of planking the hull and installing decking. To read more about the final stages of the project and the Grace's launch, you can also visit the history page about the Pacific Grace.

One of the early parts of the project was Frame Raising Day - it was quite an occasion, with all of Victoria invited to help!


These photos starting in January 1998 show some of the work of planing and preparing hull material for planking (including pre-steaming and bending hull planks). Over the course of the project, approximately 30,000 board feet of planking stock was planed!


Preparation also included battening off the shear line (defining the profile shape of the hull) and patterning for planking.


In these photos from March 1998, hull planking is well underway.



Preparations for interior planking and stabilizing the hull longitudinally can be seen in these photos starting in April 1998. During that time, the hull planking also continued.



These photos from June 1998 show the deck framing construction starting.


And by July 1998, the deck framing was being completed.


These photos show deck stock being planed, as well as part of the process of plugging fastening holes.


In these photos from October 1998, deck house sills were being constructed and the work of caulking the hull had begun.


Here, construction and caulking of the transom were underway.


These photos from December 1998 show the scuttlehatch construction, and in particular the laminated fo'c'sle hatch frame. Multiple layers of fir were glued together to increase strength and create the curved shape. In the second photo, the laminated frame is installed as part of the deck house framing.


In January 1999, deck work continued with installing the deck locking strake and more planking work.


Photos starting in March 1999 show a casting mould for the rudder faring block being prepared as deck construction continued.


By June 1999, in one of the latest photos we have from Colin, hull faring complete with first undercoat of paint can be seen.

The Grace was built to provide life-changing voyages for young people, and Colin’s volunteer assistance with her construction, as well as his estate gift, will help positively impact youth for many years to come. To learn more about leaving a legacy through an estate gift, you can visit our page about estate giving (bequests). Photos by Colin Turner

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