When the Boy Scouts of Troop 35 arrived at Baltimore's Clinton Street dock on Feb. 25, the Pride of Baltimore II, wrapped for the winter in white shrink wrap, resembled a cocoon.
But soon the deck of the topsail schooner privateer was alive with activity and the air was heavy with the smell of polish as the Towson-based troop coaxed the sea-faring vessel from hibernation.
In preparation for a busy spring season, the Scouts dusted and washed the Pride from top to bottom.
"This is definitely something different than what we usually do," said Craig Dougherty, 16, of the work. "We do all kinds of things, but usually landscaping or something like that."
As project manager, Mac McGuffin, or "Muffin," as his crew called him, made sure all tasks were completed to the satisfaction of the Pride's captains.
The 15-year-old also brushed up on his history and learned the importance of the Baltimore-built schooner Chasseur to the War of 1812.
"The Chasseur was a clipper ship that ravaged the British (in the War of 1812)," said McGuffin, a sophomore at Towson High School. "As it came back, people said 'Here comes the pride of Baltimore.' (The original Pride) was built in honor of the Chasseur."
The first Pride of Baltimorewas built in 1977 and sailed more than 150,000 nautical miles before it sank during a storm off the coast of Puerto Rico in 1986. Today, the Pride II, built as a replica, sails around the world as a goodwill ambassador for Baltimore and Maryland, said Capt. Jan C. Miles.
"She is the most well-known traditional American sailing vessel today," Miles said. "No other has the same degree of recognition."
For Jack Kidd, Scout leader for Troop 35, working on the Pride II brought back memories of his childhood, when his dad used the Pride for business and was a board member.
"It was fascinating growing up around the Pride," Kidd said. "I like to stay involved. When I saw the Pride was looking for volunteers, I thought it would be great to take the Pride and Scouting, two things I love, and put them together."
Kidd pitched the idea to the troop, and McGuffin took the lead on it as his Life Scout project.
"They get to see how things really work," Kidd said of the experience. "It's hands on. They get to say to friends, 'I had a part of getting her ready."
Both of the Pride's captains, Miles and Capt. Jamie Trost, were onboard to supervise and lend a hand.
"This is a great benefit," Miles said of the help. "When the crew comes, they won't have a dusty environment and have to spend a day doing it. It gives us a boost by making the ship livable. They (the crew) can get right to work."
Though wind buffeted the ship, and eerie moans filled the air – one Scout compared the sounds to whale moans – the Scouts were all smiles as they pieced the ship's "sole," or floorboards, together and were told by McGuffin that the bunks needed to be redusted after a finger swipe by Kidd revealed traces of dust.
"It means a lot," McGuffin said of the job. "It is a really cool place to work. I'm really glad I got the chance."