A historic barge experiences a termite explosion that could destroy any wood on the vessel

LEHIGH VALLEY BARGE #79 IS THE LAST OF HER KIND
PROBLEM: TERMITES
ENVIRONMENT: 1914 BARGE IN WATER
SOLUTION: TIM-BOR PROFESSIONAL

When David Sharps purchased a retired barge for the small fee of $500 in 1985, he knew he was purchasing a project. The Lehigh Valley Barge No. 79 is the last of her kind, built in 1914 to carry cargo from large vessels to shore for rail transport when the NY Harbor was the biggest seaport in the world.

Initially, David had to cobble together repairs to keep the barge afloat, but Sharps wrestled with the damage that parasitic creatures, shipworms and termites had done to the wood on the barge. The thousands of pieces of wood that make up the barge became a buffet for creatures that barely leave a trace for you to see on the outside.

As David replaced the vessel's bottom, bow, sides and stern, he used several methods of protection: Kydex, which provides a protective barrier against shipworms, and Tim-bor, which penetrates the wood, making the food source lethal to termites. Both played a major role in David's ability to successfully maintain the barge as the Waterfront Museum.

Today, the Lehigh Valley No. 79 represents the only surviving all-wooden example of the Hudson River Railroad Barge from the Lighterage Age (1860-1960) that remains afloat and accessible to the general public. Over 100,000 visitors have graced this museum since its opening, and Nisus is proud to
have a product that has helped in its preservation.

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