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BEAUFORT, N.C. – Crews in Beaufort have taken on an enormous and unusual task – fixing up a 200-ton replica schooner.

Boats like the Dennis Sullivan are so large they're rarely seen on dry land. In fact, Core Creek Marine in Beaufort is the only facility in 500 miles that can service the ship.

Chief Mate Sam Sikkema said the ship is just about ready.

"We're just finishing up our paint jobs so the boat's all water tight, buttoned up, ready to go," Sikkema said.

Schooners were used in the 1800s to carry supplies around the country doing what truck drivers do now.

"She's intended to be a historical representation of the old sailing schooners," Relief Capt. Benjamin Hale said.

Now, the Dennis Sullivan is used for environmental education programs throughout the country. But the boat also brings another important thing for the local economy.

"Any work in this economy – especially boating, because everything is just so slow – boating has been really slow and it's taking a hard hit," boat mechanic Rodger Sanders said.

The boats are a rare sight in the area, and workers say they aren't the only ones excited to catch a glimpse of the ship.

"People coming by just looking and people are interested in it and just shows that people are interested," Sanders said.

After the crew finishes preparing the ship for the North Atlantic, it will head to Connecticut and eventually Wisconsin.