Originally Posted by Shipwreck

Thank you, Dick.

More questions if I may :

1. When is the Navy decision due for (I seem to recall something like second or third quarter of 2007) ?

2. What impact will the recent legislation requiring continued use of cathodic protection and dehumidification have ? (e.g. who's going to pay the bills, what will be open to public, etc...)
QUOTE]

First question: I think a 3rd quarter decision is most likely. I wish it would be 2nd quarter then we have some nicer weather to start repairs and modifications.

Second question: This is going to be a tough one. Since it is the government's decision to keep the ship in semi-Class B reserve, we think the government should pay for cathodic protection and dehumidification.

Right now, cathodic protection is using the standard mothballed ship method of hanging impressed current cathodic anodes over the side. But Iowa has her own built into the hull (I personally drew the plans for them).

D/H may be a little rough since many spaces now under D/H will be open to the public and under A/C instead. The plans I have drawn for D/H mods actually takes 3 of the 9 machines and puts them in storage for spares. It also relocates 2 other machines to continue dehumidifying non visitor spaces but gets them out of the way of regular visitor spaces.

There is a ton more items that we have addressed in our proposal and it's going to require a sit down - eyeball to eyeball meeting to hammer out who pays for what.

I may even have to bite the bullet and fly back to DC for the meeting (I hate flying if I'm not at the controls).

Hmmm. If lounge is open, 2 or 3 vodkas will help me get on the plane. While in the air attempt to buy out entire supply of Vodka. Then rent a car ----. Believe it or not, by the time I step off a plane I'm stone sober. Burned it all up in anxiety I guess.

My dream retirement was that of the guy who invented Warp Drive on Star Trek. That was to relax on a South Seas Island with sun-tanned naked girls all around me.

But at my age, I wouldn't know what to do with a naked girl anymore (except hyperventilate) but I still know how to fix a Battleship.