By
Lorne Swarthout
On Sunday the VCB boatshop was rocking like it was February 2020. Of course, on this second anniversary of the first great 21st century pandemic, everyone was vaxed and boosted and masked. Things are not yet—and may never be—the same. Nonetheless, out there on Pier 40, beneath the roar of the gas heater, a dozen volunteers were hard at work building and repairing boats. They were sanding, planning, gluing, painting and fiber-glassing with focus and camaraderie: it felt like old times.
Our boatshop has been slow to reopen this winter. Like everyone else, we have hunkered down as the blizzard of delta and omicron has swept through our region. Now that it seems the worst is past, we are cautiously putting out the welcome mat on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons for volunteers who want to help refurbish our gallant fleet of Whitehall gigs or lend a hand with a new project, a 14’ Maine peapod.
In addition, on Fridays after school, a clutch of VCB high school rowers are learning new skills as boatbuilders. They are tackling an 8’ Opti row/sail pram which is a continuation of a winter 2020 project. This crew is making good progress and having a good time in the process.
from 4:00 to 6:00.
be scraped and sanded inside and out before we put on three fresh coats
of varnish.
We replaced the old ones with white oak.
Some people wanted to paint the whole interior, but Sally is very partial
to the all-natural look. (We don’t always agree on everything)
butt-block inside and fiberglass outside.
back, you can see Frank working on the new electric lines.
be laminated for the stems need about an hour of hot steam in order
to be flexible enough to go around the form in the back.
we want them calls for all hands on deck.
but it assures a better fit and less chance of wasting expensive wood.
to be shaped to accept the planks.
