USS Constellation back in shipshape condition after hull repairs

When the USS Constellation began leaking 3,000 gallons of water an hour more than two years ago, Chris Rowsom knew repairs were needed — and urgently. As a stopgap measure before they could get the 19th century tall ship into dry dock for repairs, divers began making emergency patches about every six weeks. “Ideally, a wooden ship needs to get out of the water every five years for repairs,” explained Rowsom, executive director of Historic Ships in Baltimore. It’s taken seven years to raise the money for this drydock visit, which has just been completed at a cost of roughly $1 million. “Visitors keep the lights on and pay staff, but don’t pay for big-ticket items,” Rowsom said. State and city funding totaling nearly $2.8 million also will cover other major repairs to the sloop-of-war, which is considered a National Historic Landmark, at its berth in the Inner Harbor.