Author: Oarlock and Sail Wooden Boat Club

The Davidson dinghy is looking better all the time, and is getting close to done!  We painted the seats green, and are now working on the floorboards, which will also be painted to match.

We’ll be fastening the floorboard assemblies with toggles to hold them in place when the boat is stored upside down on the deck of the mothership.

We’re still working on covers for the Button Swan and Vogler.  Here we’re trying out some material that we got for free, but upon reconsideration, decided to buy some proper material that would last a lot longer.

We’ve been enjoying some great sailing on Arnt & Valerie’s boat Anje – she’s such a fun boat to sail!

Arnt & Valerie have put Odin up for sale – if you’re looking for a sweet gaff-rigged double-ender, take a look at https://vancouver.craigslist.org/van/boa/7012783597.html.  I’ve suggested renaming our club as Oarlock, Sail & Diesel Wooden & Aluminum Boat Club and buying Odin, but it hasn’t gained much traction.

We have an opportunity to help our former club member Ed fulfill a dream, and preserve history.  Ed’s message:

We seem to be starting a little project acquiring old Nova Scotian schooners, repairing them, and getting them sailing in a fleet of tour boats, community engagement workshops, day charters, etc…

Here are some links to the project:

https://schoonerrescue.wordpress.com/  –  You’ll find the link to the GoFundMe effort here.

https://www.facebook.com/The-Heritage-Schooner-Rescue-Project-113890396709651/

gf.me/u/wgm7b2

Tell your friends?!

He mentions being interested in an old boatyard where Rob, Georgina & Tom’s boat was built.  Georgina adds:

When Tom and I were in Nova Scotia, we made a connection with a neighbour who lives next door to the now quite broken down boatshed where our lovely Ern was built. Right after making that connection, we went to see Ed Sturgeon, his wife Louise and new baby Beatrix. Tom told him the story of the shed.. at the time I wondered if Ed Sturgeon might just be the guy to do something about restoring that place. He does have the energy, drive and skills. Well…. looks like something might just happen with that.

So, if you’re willing to do so, it would be great to help Ed in that venture – and potentially keeping a historic boatyard alive!

The Davidson dinghy is looking sharp, with a coat of green on the gunwales and below the waterline.  The remainder of the hull will get a coat of cream colour.

To mark the waterline, we put the boat in the water (which was very cooperatively calm), taped a pencil to a chunk of wood, and floated it to mark the hull.  Worked nicely!

Once we had it marked all around, we brought it into the shed, dried it off, taped to follow the line, and applied a coat of green.  We succumbed to temptation for some bright-work, and have started varnishing the transom – sure looks good!  The seats inside may just get green as well, to finish off the look.

We’ve installed an electrical outlet on the outside of the shed, which will help keep cords from getting stuck in the door and out from under foot.  After it was hooked up, we tested it with the sewing machine, which Tom brought to do some more boat cover work.  Too bad the rain prevented us from working on the Button Swan cover though – maybe next week.

We had an inquiry recently about a small row-boat for some kids, so we tested the Fancy Pram for stability/suitability.  We’re not sure it would be appropriate – it really is just a bit too tippy for comfort and safety – you can tell by Kayla’s worried look!

We’ve decided on our next project, for when we complete the Davidson dinghy – we’ll be building a glued lapstrake dinghy.  This will be for Brent, one of our members, to use on his boat Ricochet, which he is restoring.  The design is an Ian Oughtred ‘Auk’.  Brent will be supplying the materials and will be making a donation to the club, which will go toward the next boat – we’d love to hear your thoughts on what that should be!