From its inception, the Skipjack Restoration Project has been breaking new ground by always striving towards innovation, leadership, and partnership building. Rapidly moving beyond the typical museum academic mode of strict acquisition, preservation, and interpretation, this project has instead aligned itself with the privately owned commercial dredging fleet and the indigenous working waterfront population. Rather than acquire, we accept these active historic vessels on loan. Rather than merely preserve and display, we return each boat to work. Rather than just interpret, we integrate the waterman and their culture into the program to provide "living history" for our visitors to experience. Through these efforts of inclusiveness and respect, we are building long-term relationships of trust with those whom we serve.

What has evolved is an on-going, spontaneous exchange of skills and stories between watermen, boat building apprentices, museum visitors, members, volunteers, staff, and community leaders. This rich, multifaceted culture is being handed down to the larger community in a natural and effective way. The extraordinary mix of participants is what makes this program effective and provides credence to its mission.

The Museum's efforts are local, but the impact of our accomplishments provides a clear and powerful model for other maritime heritage organizations throughout the world. I invite you to follow our progress here online or in person at the Boat Shop on Navy Point. We welcome your involvement and support.

--Captain Mike Vlahovich, Boat Yard Manager

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