Sea Dart II, Inc.

• renewal of the rudder tube ($15,000)
• replacement of the steering cable ($250)
• steel work in the void below the wheelhouse and in our galley ($7500)
• installation of new handrails on the boat deck ($2500)
• completion of a new fire detection system instillation ($250) and
• installation of new equipment for safe navigation ($2000)
• purchase of 2 outboard motors for our mosquito fleet ($5000)
• repairs to our 28’ sailboat ($2500)
• repairs to our lifeboat ($2500)

Sea Dart II, Inc. provides support to facilitate the program of Sea Scout Ship 228 of the Boy Scouts of America.  It provides a unique platform for the use of Sea Scouts from Ship 228, the historic training vessel Sea Dart II, as they endeavor to instill good seamanship practices as well as prepare today's youth to make good ethical and responsible choices as set forth in the Scout Oath, Scout Law, and Sea Promise.

This year we are facing new challenges as we prepare for our cruising season.  Fuel prices have gone up significantly ($4,000) and our insurance rates are expected to jump to as much as $8,000 this year!   In addition to that are our regular start-up costs like our annual fire extinguisher inspection ($500), our liferaft inspection ($1,000), lube oil/filters for our engines ($700), etc. We are also in the middle of a capital campaign to rebuild our main engine in the fall.  We’re asking for your help to get us get underway this season with our annual season kickoff fundraiser!

Please help make a difference by supporting our cause!  See our specific needs and suggested donor levels below.  Any donation will help make an impact, though. Thanks in advance for your contribution; it truly means so much to us.  Sea Dart II Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit (EIT/TIN# 22-2941792) and all donations are tax deductible.

Specific Needs:

Insurance- $8,000
Fuel- $4000
Courageous hauling & aux boat maint.- $2000
Additional Air-conditioning parts- $1,500
New hot water tank- $1,300
Liferaft/Safety Equip inspection- $1,000
Paint & supplies- $1,000
Lube oil & Filters- $700
Fire Extinguisher Inspection- $500

Suggested Donor Levels:

Crew member- $50
Boatswain- $100
Mate- $250 (complementary Sea Dart hat)
Skipper- $500 (complimentary Sea Dart t-shirt)
Commodore- $1000+ (complimentary 2021 yearbook)

On Thursday 3/4 we were finally able to get the Sea Dart hauled out of the water for inspections and maintenance so that we can re-start our program in the wake of COVID-19.  Unfortunately we discovered three sections of hull plating that require immediate repair.  

We currently don’t have the funding to complete these repairs in addition to the planned shipyard costs, so we need to raise additional funding ASAP.  If we don’t we might at the very least lose our certificate of inspection, or worse, have to sell the boat to pay the yard bills.   As it stands we may have to exhaust our treasury just to get the boat back in the water but that might not guarantee we will be able to meet our USCG specs for operating.  We are in an urgent situation and need help to raise funding as soon as possible.  Thank you for your support 

More information about Sea Dart II, Inc.: The Sea Dart II, Inc. is an organization setup to support Sea Scout Ship 228 of the Boy Scouts of America and provide a unique platform for the use of Sea Scouts from Ship 228 as they endeavor to instill good seamanship practices as well as prepare today's youth to make good ethical and moral choices as set forth in the Scout Oath, Scout Law, and Sea Promise.

Check us out at www.ship228.com

Friends,

 

We hope this communication finds you healthy and well during this unprecedented time in our nation’s history.  The Sea Dart II and Sea Scout Ship 228 have continued to persevere despite the pandemic by addressing necessary work items and holding on-line meetings via Zoom focusing on keeping the Scouts on track with rank advancement.  However, like many small businesses and non-profits we have not been immune to the effects of the pandemic and the resultant economic uncertainty and we urgently need your help. 

 

Some of the organizations that have been our greatest benefactors are feeling the effects too and may not be able to support us as generously as they have in the past. On top of that, our planned spring fundraising and recruiting efforts have been stopped in their tracks and we have had to cancel all planned cruises on the Sea Dart indefinitely.  We still need to meet important USCG inspection deadlines and cover other expenses, though.  This has all come at a time when we are already in the midst of some challenging projects, which include preparations to relocate our base, a planned top-end rebuild on our main engine, and a scheduled haul-out for important safety inspections and maintenance.  The haul-out, which we hope to complete in June or July, is currently our biggest looming expense at an estimated $15,000.

 

Despite these challenges we have been making slow and steady progress forward.  We have recently installed two brand new Kohler generators, which were a generous gift of the Liberty Historic Railway and we have been able to get three heads for the main engine rebuilt so that we now have the parts & materials to complete work on the engine.  We have also invested into our small boat fleet this year, including obtaining more modern outboards with important safety features and we’ve invested into our sailing program to ensure that, while work proceeds with the Sea Dart, we can offer a diverse and dynamic program to serve our youth and Scouts across the Northeast who sail with us.

 

Although progress has been slower than we had hoped we are, without a doubt, making progress.  In order to ensure we can make it to the next step and continue our work to provide a training platform for Ship 228 after this pandemic we urgently need your support, though.  We are currently striving to raise $20,000 to meet all our expenses so that we can get back on the water at the end of this pandemic.  Our most urgent expenses in priority order are as follows:

 

Haul Out: 15,000

Fuel: $1,500

Annual Inspections & start-up costs: $3,000

Crews Quarters bunk modifications (USCG requirement): $500

 

Please see our pledge levels below, but we are asking that you consider a donation of at least $50 if you can. If you are unable to pledge $50 any amount would greatly help, though.  You can also help by sharing this appeal with your friends and family.  Sea Dart II Inc is a 501C3 tax exempt non-profit organization so your donation will be tax deductible.  Thank you very much for your support and be sure to check our Facebook page and website (links below).

 

Funding Levels:

$25 Supporter

$50 Crewmember

$100 First Mate (includes ship’s ball cap as a “thank you”)

$500 Captain’s Club (includes ship’s t-shirt as a “thank you”)

$1,000 Commodore’s Club (includes a 3 hour VIP thank you cruise aboard the Sea Dart II to the Statue of Liberty and back for 2 people.  Date TBD)

 

Checks can be made out to Sea Dart II Inc. and mailed to the following address

Sea Dart II

C/O Capt. James Zatwarnicki

829 Willow Ave, Apt 1

Hoboken, NJ 07030

Ship 228 Website 

On Facebook

Sea Scouts from Ship 228 operate the 65’ vessel Sea Dart II, one of the largest Sea Scout vessels on the east coast, along with a fleet of smaller vessels (including sailboats) from their base located in Linden, NJ. Sea Scouting (Part of the Venturing Program of the BSA) offers young adults the opportunity to travel and learn skills that could be useful in future careers.
This year's 10 day summer cruise is in jeopardy of being canceled. We were just informed that we are not going to get the fuel donation that we need for this trip. This is a unfortunate turn in our planning.  19 scouts and 6 adults have completed their applications and taken time off of work and are ready to take the trip at the end of July.  All money raised from this fundraiser will go directly to the purchase of fuel needed to complete this trip , any money left over will be used for the continued operation of the Sea Dart II Ship 228.
Please help, this young crew has worked so hard to prepare the ship for this trip.