Our final week finished up with a race to "git her done." The program boat was skinned by mid-day on Tuesday, and got her first coat of paint. Wednesday was a bit more relaxed, with mainly painting and cutting and dry-fitting floorboards, but Thursday saw the floorboards painted, rubrails on, a third coat of paint, and then a decorative silver stripe. The stripe went on only minutes before day's end. The final red stripes, as well as aluminum "bumpers" on the keel at bow and stern were done after the end of the program, but the boys participated in every other aspect of the build. A Job Well Done, Boys! Good Work!
At the dedication on Sunday, July 29, parents and church members had only the frame to look at--but of course that's pretty impressive all by itself. Here it is at the side altar.
Sewing up the cloth at the stems.
Skinning the deck, the cloth secured by stainless steel staples.
In the meantime, the boys finished learning about Inuit culture, and took a stab at building Greenland kayak models from tiny balsa sticks--a challenging task!
After the third coat of Rustoleum, a inishing touch: a metallic silver stripe.
The launch in Fairhaven on Sunday, August 5. Only Etson, Nathan, and Emilio made it. Marilyn and her husband again generously offered their lovely waterfront property for the event.
The rides were short: the wind and waves were up, and the boys took quite a bit of water over the decks! The boats performed well, though proper "sea trials" will wait for calmer winds and waves.
