Boatshop Blog

Today Woolwich students finished building their half models, a three week project which entailed carving a scale model of a susan skiff and affixing it to a shaped backboard. A brief survey of the kids yielded the most difficult part of the project – learning all the new vocabulary. The task was to take a set of blueprints (‘lines’) and transfer these to a three dimensional block of wood. A few short hours of sanding later, and the models were ready for a coat of oil.

This year’s class finished their half models before it was time to go, so we decided to make Christmas tree ornaments. Sailboats and sleds were in order, with some pretty colorful variations on a theme.

A gaff rigged sloop!

Both Woolwich boats are just about ready to launch, which means it’s time to paint! One skiff will have the traditional museum colors of white topsides, red bottom, and cream interior, while the school’s boat will have maroon topsides, a black bottom, and a buff interior.

Painting is serious business, because if it goes on too thick, all the runs and sags will have to be sanded and scraped by hand, which is NOT what any of the boatbuilders want to do next week…

With only a few parts and pieces left on the skiffs, Woolwich students are finishing up the seats, outer stems, and oarlock pads. Below, a 7th grader is shaping the outer stem, which will protect the plank ends from water and collisions with immovable objects.

Here, another 7th grader is cleaning his pine seat, which will eventually be varnished.

Today our other boatbuilding class, the 8th grade from South Bristol School, flipped their skiffs. There’s not TOO much time left for the interior, but everyone was confident they could get the job done.

Tepid enthusiasm for the work ahead…

Today the keel and skeg went on. Both made out of oak, they provide directional stability and must be installed directly on center.

Today we flipped both boats and began working on the interior. Taking a boat off of its jig is a moment unlike any other in the building process, save for when it goes in the water. It’s sometimes hard to really understand what the boat will look like when it’s upside down, and our imaginations can only take us so far. Usually the hull looks bigger when it’s upright, and one can immediately see any and all mistake that may have been made in the planking process. It also allows more elbow room for cleaning! In a boat like these, completing the hull constitutes about half the work, and fitting each individual interior member takes a bit of time. Of course, that doesn’t include painting and varnishing. With a launch date set for June 14, there’s no time to relax!

As of the end of the workday, both Woolwich boats are completely planked! In addition, one has a bottom and is ready to take off the jig. This is always a key moment in the process, when the hull takes form and it actually looks like a boat. This year’s crew is actually ahead of schedule, so if we have time at the end, we’ll make our own oars for the launching.

Today the boatshop opened its doors to the community (although the shop is ALWAYS open and anyone is welcome to come in at any time), specifically to show off the Discovery Boatbuilding Program. The program was funded this year through the generosity of of Museum trustees, private donors, and a large donation from the Savings Bank of Maine. The bank has pledged $5,000 both this year and next for Woolwich. We tried to invite everyone we thought would be interested, including students’ parents, school board members, Woolwich Selectmen, our elected representatives, and school administrators.