URGENT: Sea Dart Haul-Out & Program Aid Fundraiser

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