Grace's Logbook #6 - The Skeleton
The Grace Rebuilding Series
Reimagining the Canopy Structure
When the storm violently swept through on September 26, 2024, it didn't just damage Grace – it decapitated her. The elegant canopy that had sheltered passengers was brutally ripped away, its sturdy mounts torn from the deck as the entire structure was catapulted upside down onto the very dock pilings where Grace had been securely moored. What remained was a twisted graveyard of canvas, cables, and stainless steel tubing that eventually required cutting apart just to be removed.
This destruction, however devastating, presented an unexpected opportunity during the redesign phase at Thunderbolt Marine. The team began questioning whether stainless steel – the material of the destroyed canopy installed by Palmetto Bluff in the early 2000s – was truly the best choice for Grace's restoration.
Looking back to Grace's origins in 1913 (when she was known as Sispud II under owner JB Cousins), stainless steel had just been invented but wouldn't become commonplace for another two decades. Most likely, Grace's original structure featured bronze – an authentic detail worth honoring, if not replicating exactly.
Pure bronze proved prohibitively expensive, but the OMG! team discovered an elegant solution in copper-nickel (cupronickel). This modern alloy offers multiple advantages: it's strong yet lighter than stainless steel, remarkably resistant to salt water corrosion, and most importantly for Grace's restoration, it bears the warm, distinctive hue and patina reminiscent of traditional bronze – a perfect bridge between historical authenticity and modern practicality.
The redesign didn't stop with material selection. Rather than recreating the all-tubing approach of the destroyed canopy, the new structure incorporates mahogany battens between crossing tubes – a design element far closer to Grace's original construction. These battens aren't merely decorative; they run fore to aft, helping tension the canvas, reducing the structure's overall mass, and paying silent homage to traditional boat-building techniques while adding undeniable beauty.
Function follows form in this thoughtful reconstruction. Concealed beneath the elegant framework, a mahogany chase will house indirect LED lighting and create a protected conduit for navigational wiring and radar equipment. The finishing touch will be a custom-designed canvas top with clear eisenglass windows, allowing passengers to control airflow while remaining protected (a particularly poignant replacement, considering the storm had destroyed Grace's previous canopy and windows when they were merely six weeks old).
Grace's canopy isn't just an architectural feature – it's essential to her character and the experience she offers. It shields guests from harsh sun and unexpected weather while allowing the refreshing breeze to flow freely through her decks. The storm may have violently torn away this defining element, but thanks to Thunderbolt Marine's meticulous restoration, Grace hasn't just regained her crown – she's reclaimed her heritage.
