Author Archives: Sally

SpringTide – VCB & Harbor School PTA Fundraiser

By Sally on May 7, 2018

Village Community Boathouse and Harbor School PTA joined forces for the first time in hosting the SpringTide Fundraiser held in the belly of historic lighthouse ship Frying Pan at Pier 66. The fundraiser was a great success. Between the ticket sales, raffle tickets, silent auction and drink tickets we raised lots of money. The band, Casa Mantequilla, was the best part!

The Poster

The Band – Casa Mantequilla

Raffle Prizes

Raffle Ticket Crew

Choosing a Winner

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Opening Day Launch of Zoe

By Sally on May 7, 2018

Opening Day Crew with Zoe, the traditional design cedar strip canoe built last winter in the VCB shop under the direction of boatbuilder Lorne Swarthout.

 

Zoe and her namesake

Lorne & Luke Swarthout leaving the dock after the launch

 

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VCB Community Rowing Opening Day 2018

By Sally on April 23, 2018

At last Spring has sprung. VCB is once again offering Community Rowing at Pier 40 starting Sunday, April 29 at noon. Please join us on Sunday for a row on the Hudson River followed by a celebratory BBQ.


VCB Summer 2018 Pier 40 Schedule:

Community Rowing – Sundays at noon & Tuesdays at 6:00 PM

Community Boatbuilding – Sundays at noon & Wednesdays at 3:00 PM

 

 

 

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Spring Boatbuilding Update

By Sally on April 14, 2018

BY
Marcel Dejean
 
 
Spring is (theoretically) here, so it’s time to recount what has been accomplished at VCB’s Community Boatbuilding this past winter!
 

The Banneker Boat

On Sunday, March 11 we launched the Banneker, a 13-foot Whitehall rowboat that was started two years ago by students at Benjamin Banneker High School for Community Development near the Brooklyn Navy Yard. When it was moved to Pier 40 to be completed it had three planks. Volunteers at Pier 40 added the fourth plank, the gunwales, and seats.
 

The Canoe

 

The cedar strip canoe that was started last summer is almost done. We are waiting for a warm spring day to put the coating of varnish on it.
 

A New Gig

 
Work has begun on a new Whitehall Gig. This gig will be named for David T. Heim, who helped build many of the Whitehall Gigs at Pier 40. In the past few weeks we have constructed the strongback and the temporary frames on which the boat will be built.
 

This “upside down” strip-planked build will be very different from what we have done in the past, and we are excited/curious/cautious about how it will compare to building a boat “right side up”. 
 
 
Boatbuilding at Pier 40 continues Sundays 12-3 and Wednesdays 3-6pm.
 

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New Gig – David Heim Thorleif

By Sally on April 6, 2018

BY
Lorne Swarthout
 
 In preparation for building our new gig we have assembled a new strongback in the boat shop. This strongback is a  reinforced plywood “tube” 12 inches x 24 inches x 24 feet long. It is very rigid, and we have leveled it to the concrete floor.  We expect it will give us a solid, level base on which to set up the 12 station forms that the hull of the gig will be shaped around.
 
This “upside down” build is different than what we have done in the past, and we are excited/curious/cautious about how it will compare to building a boat “right side up.” A possible alternate use for this strongback has been suggested: as a runway for clothing models during the next Fashion Week.

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