The Mayflower II, an aging ship buffeted by weather and plagued by wharf-boring beetles, has received a boost in its bid to be seaworthy by 2020, the 400th anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims in Plymouth.
Plimoth Plantation, which operates the 60-year-old replica, has received a $149,000 matching grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a federal agency, to help buy equipment to prepare and replace the rotting planking on its hull.
“This is great news,” said Kate Sheehan, spokeswoman for Plimoth Plantation, who added that the nonprofit organization is confident it can raise the funds to match the grant.
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Restoration work is planned to begin in November in Mystic, Conn., where the Mayflower II received a previous round of extensive repairs before returning in June to its berth in Plymouth Harbor.
Still, about 60 percent of the planking below the waterline needs to be replaced, according to Plimoth Plantation officials. New framing also is needed, as well as repairs to much of the decking.
Unless the repairs are done, those officials have said, the popular tourist attraction might not be safe for visitors in several years. Even with the grant, a $7.5 million fund-raising campaign for the work remains about $3 million short of its goal.
Reaching that mark by Nov. 15 would trigger an additional $1.5 million from an anonymous donor, which would close the gap toward an overall $12 million target to help pay for future operating costs and maintenance.
“We certainly still need plenty of support, sooner rather than later,” Sheehan said. “Receiving federal grant money is so important to our overall campaign, so we’re really grateful.”
US Representative William Keating, a Democrat from Bourne whose district includes Plymouth, supported the grant application.
“This funding will help see the Mayflower II brought to its full operational capability,” Keating said. “Visitors from around the world can continue traveling to the Ninth District for the immersive American experience the Mayflower II and Plimoth Plantation have to offer.”
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Mayflower II, which remains open for tours, has attracted 25 million visitors since the 106-foot ship arrived in Plymouth in 1957. The replica was built in England using 17th-century techniques and sent across the Atlantic as a gift, partly in gratitude for US support during World War II.
Brian MacQuarrie can be reached at brian.macquarrie@globe.com.