Future of Mayflower II in jeopardy if repairs aren’t made

PLYMOUTH, Mass. – The owners of the Mayflower II say the 60-year-old replica vessel may not be safe for visitors in the coming years if their fundraising goal to finance a restoration isn’t met.

The Boston Globe reports (http://bit.ly/2cbCnC4 ) the wharf-boring beetle has invaded the wood of the Mayflower II and much of the Plymouth-based ship’s hull is rotting.

Officials with Plimoth Plantation, the non-profit that operates the vessel, say about 60 per cent of the ship’s planking below the waterline must be replaced. The replica of the ship that carried the Pilgrims to Plymouth also needs a sizable portion of its deck restored.

The fundraising campaign is $3 million short of its Nov. 15 goal of $7.5 million.

Plimoth Plantation officials say the ship’s days are numbered if the necessary repairs aren’t made.

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Information from: The Boston Globe, http://www.bostonglobe.com

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