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Rotting, warped planking on the decks of Taney
Rusted capstan amidships on Taney's starboard side
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Taney is in need of the periodic hull maintenance that, while in service, she received every 2-3 years. Taney was decommissioned by the Coast Guard because of the expense of her upkeep. She may no longer leave the pier, but the effects of salt water, time, oxidation and galvanic corrosion still take their toll. Taney has not been hauled out since 1984, two years before her decommissioning. In 1999, a professional hull survey of the ship was undertaken by the museum. This survey determined that Taney is in need of major hull maintenance to replace badly corroded steel below the waterline, and renew the sacrificial zinc anodes which have worn away over the years. Furthermore, Taney's wooden decks have rotted and the superstructure of the ship is losing the war on rust. Although ticket sales and program fees cover the basic costs of maintaining the ships and running the museum, projects as massive as having Taney repaired in dry-dock require outside assistance. If these repairs are not made soon, it may be too late.
Once in dry-dock, Taney's hull will be stripped of its paint while all of the holes as well as other potential problem spots in the hull are repaired. The hull will then be repainted using water resistant epoxy paints. Also, her rotted wooden decks will be ripped up and new wooden decks put down. This is necessary not just for aesthetic reasons, but also because the rotten wood lets water seep down to the steel substructure of the deck, causing it to rust and further compromise the integrity of the hull. Other preservation projects include rust treatment and painting on the superstructure and masts, interior painting throughout and providing archival protection for donated artifacts. The longer Taney sits, the worse the problem gets.
The challenges of preserving USCGC Taney are tremendous. Unlike other museum collections which can be placed in special climate-controlled environments, Taney and other Baltimore Maritime Museum sites are constantly exposed to the stresses of an actual marine environment. Corporate and individual donations and memberships help support vital ongoing preservation projects.
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