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SHAVINGS S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R •2004
The 28th Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival Three days of action, adventure and rollicking fun!
Clockwise from top left: These patriotic twins came to the Festival and with the determination of our founders, built a pair of toy boats. Many future wooden boat builders have gotten their first experience of the process at our Festival. • Baywatch II, designed and built by Tiare Gras and Hillary Witte, took second place in the Quick & Daring Boatbuilding Contest. The Festival is a hands-on event but visitors also find watching boats built in a few hours and then raced as a great spectator sport. • (Inset) It was yoho-ho every day aboard the schooner Mallory Todd. One could learn to tie sailor’s knots, listen to pirate stories, or both! • The Ed Clark Race is another special feature of the Festival. Here are two of the vessels matched up in a light breeze. Sarah Howell’s Yankee One Design Venture is on the left, with Sarah in silhouette. The Dragon Class Sommerflugel of Chris Henderson is beyond. The lake is a great theatre for boat watching. • Photos by Shawn Murphy.
Inside This Issue:
FOUNDER’S REPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 AWARD WINNER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 NEWS FROM SOUTH LAKE UNION . . . . . . . . 3 NEWS FROM CAMA BEACH. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 EL TORO YOUTH PROGRAM. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 MARITIME SKILLS WORKSHOPS . . . . . . . . 6-7 CONTRIBUTIONS 2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11 UPCOMING EVENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 September 2004
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Volume XXV Number 4
ISSN 0734-0680 1992 CWB
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Founder’s Report
The Center for Wooden Boats
Shavings is published bimonthly by The Center for Wooden Boats, 1010 Valley Street, Seattle, WA 98109 phone 206.382.2628 fax 206.382.2699
To learn more about CWB, please visit our Web site at www.cwb.org
Our Mission
To provide a community center where maritime history comes alive and our small craft heritage is preserved and passed along to future generations.
CWB Staff
Betsy Davis Executive Director Dick Wagner Founding Director Jake Beattie Youth & Sailing Program Director Nita Chambers Facility Rental Coordinator Patrick Gould Dockmaster & Boat Sales Manager David Kennedy Information Systems Manager Lauren Kuehne Volunteer Coordinator & Office Manager Laurie Leak Bookkeeper Julie Mae Muiderman Development & Public Relations Edel O’Connor Boatwright & Workshop Coordinator Jean Scarboro Visitor Services Manager & Registrar Heron Scott Lead Boatwright Doug Weeks Steamboat Program & Facilities Manager
Board of Mindy Trustees Alex Bennett Koblenzer Caren Crandell David Dolson Brandt Faatz George Galpin Ken Greff Gary Hammons Andrea Kinnaman Stephen Kinnaman
Lori O’Tool Janet Martin Pike Powers Denise Snow Eric Sorensen Bill Van Vlack Trip Zabriskie Kate Holmes, Intern
Design and production of Shavings by CWB volunteer Heidi Hackler of Dolphin Design, www.dolphindesignstudio.com. Printed by Olympus Press, www.olypress.com.
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I arrived at my office in the chilly dawn of September 6, at 6 a.m. A big fire was already blazing on the bare ground near the Haida canoe Spirit of Peace. Saaduuts and a band of volunteers had been stoking the wood since 4 a.m., heating the volcanic rocks, recycling them into the canoe to heat up the salt water, to soften the lignin binding the cellulose fibers of the 700 year old red cedar log, to gradually spread the beam about 30% and at the same time flatten the canoe’s bottom from a concave to straight line. This is a typical happening at CWB, a place where history is an experience, not a static object. History as an activity is always happening, even at 4 a.m. The only thing wrong with this picture is that history as an experience is not happening at every urban center. Or, more specifically, maritime history. After all, water and boats are a dream that is shared by everyone. It’s part of the myths, folklore, literature and music of all cultures. There is a moral and ethical imperative to provide access to the shoresides of all urban centers! Lightening will strike if a community is shut off from their water and from experiences on traditional boats. What should the wording be for the new amendment to our Bill of Rights? It’s a right that is already in our hearts.
Dick Wagner
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By the late 1950’s traditional wooden small craft were virtually extinct in the U.S. Boat shops had gone out of business due to the “maintenance free” fiberglass boats that had flooded the market. The master boatwrights had retired, leaving no apprentice program to carry on. There were only two boatbuilding schools, both stuck in the northwest corner of continental America, Seattle and Tacoma. It was tough to even get designs of traditional small craft, or traditional tools. Then came John Gardner, Maine coast bred, Columbia University educated. He began writing about traditional boats, taking lines of proven classics and teaching boatbuilding. From his passion, articulate essays and Yankee persistence, a movement began and grew. John Gardner put traditional small craft in the spotlight as a significant part of heritage that should be preserved, exhibited, interpreted, replicated and used. Gardner showed us how historic boats should be valued as icons of our social, economic and technological evolution. CWB initiated the John Gardner Award as a recognition of those who carry on John Gardner’s torch. The award is given for one who has, over a long period, to a wide constituency, given effective instruction and encouragement to build and use traditional small craft. This year, at our Wooden Boat Festival, the award was given to Corey Freedman, of Anacortes, Washington. Corey has taught hundreds the joy, teamwork and sense of history in building traditional skin boats of the arctic regions. See Page 7 to read about the Ed Monk Grant Award.
March/April Shavings Contributors: Jake Beattie Cama Beach State Parks Alex Chun Temple Dent Eric Elzinga Seaton Gras Lee Hoffman Melissa Koch Shawn Murphy Jean Scarboro Dick Wagner September 2004
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As exciting as CWB is, with our multilayered programs for the rainbow of our community, we are only a part of a dynamic neighborhood in the process of a total makeover. South Lake Union has changed before. Prior to the arrival of Seattle’s founders, it was a landing place for canoes of all tribes, attending the ceremonies in the longhouse about 300’ Southwest of CWB. By 1870, coal from Newcastle, on the Southeast corner of Lake Washington, was being carried by tug and barge from the isthmus separating Lake Washington and Lake Union, to our site and transferred by railroad to ships in Elliot Bay. The coal landing became the terminal for the City of Latona, a 26’ steam launch, which carried passengers to the villages around Lake Union and Jensen’s Beer Garden. By the early 1900’s a residential community with schools and churches had arrived on the upland side and industry on the shore-side, including a lumber mill. Then came the Seattle Times, Troy Laundry, Richmond Laundry, The Ford Assembly Plant, auto dealers, an asphalt plant, a concrete plant, the Naval Reserve, and a freeway whose main artery to the waterfront cut the main neighborhood off from the lake. Today, the City and South Lake Union stakeholders are cooperatively planning freeway improvements, a streetcar connection to downtown, pedestrian connection to the Seattle Center, residential and commercial structures, road and streetscape improvements, historic preservation, environmental stewardship and a park that will be the jewel of our new South Lake Union. CWB has been vigorously involved with the planning because we are a neighborhood amenity that needs to be connected and integrated with this fast-changing community. It’s a long and challenging process, but it will be a worthwhile investment. It was fun to be the first kid on the block to make our waterfront accessible for recreation and education. It’s more fun to be part of a dedicated team pulling together to rehabilitate and revitalize a whole neighborhood. September 2004
Haida Canoe Is Underway by Many Hands The Center for Wooden Boats is pleased to host Haida Carver Saaduuts as Artist in Residence in South Lake Union Park. Saaduuts’ last canoe project was completed at Seattle Alternative School #1, and gifted to the village of Hydaburg, Alaska this last April. Temple Dent, 12, was one of the students who traveled to Alaska to make the gift to the Haida people. Temple is currently working with Saaduuts on The Spirit of Peace.
INTERVIEW WITH TEMPLE DENT How did you get involved? I started getting involved when I saw other kids working on the canoe at AS#1. Then one day I saw my mom working on it and it made me want to work on it too. After the canoe was finished we took it to Hydaburg. I made lots of friends there. It was a great experience, the food was great and there were bald eagles everywhere. We also did lots of fun things like clamming and exploring. After all of that I wanted to become a part of the second canoe. What are you learning? I’m learning lots of things like learning to use tools and to take care of them. I’m also learning how to measure, but I’m most excited about learning how to adze.
time” vs. “white-man’s time”), connections to a Northwest Native culture, appreciation of a slower more careful pace, a chance to heal wounds between cultures and within people. The experiences given to Temple by the canoe, “Ocean Spirit”, will be with him for a lifetime. Exposure to Haida values of respect: for elders, for mother earth, for culture were profound lessons for him. The food, all straight out of the ocean and graciously offered by the villagers set a new standard for all travelers. The entire group made new connections, to northwest native children, elders, carvers and dancers. And the Haida people and their families now have friends and connections that would never have been otherwise. This new canoe, “Spirit of Peace”, will likewise fulfill its traditional purpose: transporting people across seemingly impossible distances to make connections and exchange valuable gifts. See Page 8 to read about Teens of Tomorrow Visiting the Spirit of Peace.
What is an adze / how did you learn to use it? The adze is a sharp tool used for carving. It can be used to chop, or be pushed to carve out long grooves or short chips. It is fun but hard to use. You have to work very slowly and you have to hit the same spot every time. Has anything surprised you? It’s surprising how making a canoe is a lot more than carving.
INTERVIEW WITH TEMPLE’S MOM
Our family’s involvement with these traditional canoes has brought us unexpected gifts: a new understanding of time (“canoe
Temple working on Canoe with Saaduuts. Shavings 3
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The Cama Beach State Park will be measured by a different scale than its acreage. Cama Beach is a new beginning in park design and planning. It will be Washington’s first park that has a business plan, archeological plan, an advisory committee of Parks, the former owners and the anchor tenant, a tenant-parks agreement that is an “Enduring Partnership” and three architectural firms. The Retreat Lodge is designed by David Leavengood. The Commons (dining hall) and Bathhouse are designed by Miller-Hull and Krei has designed the Park Entrance, Welcome Station, Administrative Building, Maintenance Building, Storage Building, Parking Lot shelters and rehabilitation of the existing buildings. Review of the working drawings is underway by Island County Department of Construction. One contractor will handle the whole package of designs. Requests for bids will be advertised this SeptemberOctober. This means Cama Beach will be a construction zone from fall-winter 04-05 to winter-spring 06. It’s time to start planning for your visit to Cama Beach. There will be more to do and see than you can accomplish in one visit: classic boat livery, maritime skills instruction, sailing instruction, beach, forest and wetland walks, Native American heritage talks, whale watching (Gray whales in the spring, Orcas in the fall), bird watching (it’s on the migration flyway) or just relaxing in a primeval Northwest oasis. I’ve got my reservation in already.
Volunteer Summit Washington State Parks had seen nothing like it. There is no other Park in the state that has as many volunteer groups contributing to planning, organizing, maintaining and teaching as Cama Beach. On June 19th, Jeff Wheeler, Cama Beach Area Manager, his staff and the Washington State Parks and Recreation Committee hosted a Volunteer Summit to acknowledge and thank, as Jeff wrote in the program, “all the wonderful Cama Area volunteers. We couldn’t do it without you…” There was a potluck lunch followed by brief presentations. Park Ranger Susan Kratochvil told us about the volunteers archiving all the Cama Beach original materials. The Camano Island community has enthusiastically embraced the concept of Backyard Wildlife Habitat. Val Schroeder gave a report on their accomplishments and goals. Scott Chase told us about the purpose of Beach Watchers, a well-trained volunteer corps organized by Washington State University. The volunteer Camp Hosts who act as ambassadors and night watch was explained by William Wallace. Dick Wagner and Betsy Davis gave a review of CWB’s mission, its current volunteer projects and its vision for future programs at Cama. Friends of Camano Island Parks (FOCIP) does maintenance work and education programs. Their leader, Carol Triplett gave a report on their long term support of Cama and the other Camano Island parks.
In August, The Center for Wooden Boats display at the Stanwood Camano Fair earned the Best of Show award for an Educational Exhibit. Thanks to volunteers from both Camano Island and Seattle (and ports in between) for making the event such a success. 4 Shavings
The volunteer-lead nature programs of Camano was explained by Cama Beach staffer, Mealanie Ford. Traditional quilts are being made for all the Cama beds, freely made and donated by a dedicated group of quilters. The tale of how it happened was told by Audrey McEwen. Karen Prasse, the Director of Stanwood Area Historical Society reported on volunteers identifying and documenting the Cama photos in their collection. The what and when of waves is the graduate thesis of Dave Finlayson, University of Washington. Dave old us about the valuable scientific information he is acquiring off the Cama Beach and the permanent monitoring display and anemometer he will leave behind. All the original Cama tables and chairs are being reproduced by a bunch of Camano woodworkers. Nick Van told their story. David Ne wcomb revie wed State Pa r k s p r o c e s s a n d t i m e t a b l e f o r rehabilitation of the original buildings and construction of the new ones. The history of Cama Beach and its future as a State Park was presented by the sisters whose grandfather built the resort and whose parents ran it: Sandra Worthington and Karen Hamalainen. Senator Mary Margaret Haugen, lifetime Camano resident, touched us all with her feelings about “why Cama Beach State Park.” The lobbyist for Citizen’s for Parks and Recreation, Jim King, offered the inside view on how Cama Beach garnered support of the legislators and he gave a thank you plaque to Senator Haugen. Each group had a display of their contributions and CWB also provided some of our student-built skiffs for rides for the attendees. It was a beautiful day, made even more perfect because the speakers finished early, leaving more time to network, stroll and go out in a good little skiff.
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CWB Youth Programs! El Toro: The Little Bull Ship B Y
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Length: 7 ft. 11 in. Sail Area: 49 sq. ft. Beam: 3 ft. 10 in. Hull: Wood or Fiberglass Weight: 60 lbs. (hull only) Spars: Wood, Aluminum, or Carbon Fiber 80 lbs. (min. wt. Equipped) Crew: One
Photo of Fred Smith and son building an El Toro taken by CWB Boatwright Jeff Carmichael. Fred agreed to show Jeff how they build El Toro’s, so Jeff could pass on the knowledge to future boatbuilders at CWB. In the summer of 1932, twelve young sailors met in a tin shed belonging to the Outboard Motor Club in Richmond, California and founded the Richmond Yacht Club (RYC), alternately known as “The Poor Man’s Yacht Club.” During the Richmond boatbuilding boom of 1940, members had an extensive “bull session” concerning the need for a small dinghy to keep their children occupied while they were out racing. Based on the MacGregor Sabot plans found in a 1939 issue of Rudder Magazine, Bud Coxhead and Bill Warner designed the El Toro, named in honor of their “bull session.” The sail emblem was a no-brainer: a shovel for the bull shipper, whose job is to shovel manure. Bud, Bill and RYC did not predict the future appeal of their modified skiff design with its witty name and insignia. September 2004
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Today, the El Toro has become a recognized class of over 11,000 one-design yachts and is the most popular ‘dinghy’ on San Francisco Bay. Last year the RYC held its 50th annual El Toro Bull Ship Race, where 70 El Toros raced from Sausalito to the San Francisco Bay Marina. The wind and water conditions of the Bay Area are far from mild. Imagine sailing a 7 foot 11 inch boat in 25 knots of wind on rough water! A Center for Wooden Boats’ visitor relayed his experience of racing the Bull Ship in wind so strong he pitch-poled (capsized over his bow) into San Francisco Bay. El Toros hold history in the Northwest as well in California. The Smith Brothers have been building made-to-order El Toros for 35 years on Samish Island. During their prime it took them only a day to complete a boat, minus the hardware and paint. In the spring of 2004 CWB had the privilege of sending Boatwright Jeff Carmichael to build an El Toro with Fred Smith (Don Smith, at 80-plus has retired. Fred, still in his 70’s, is down to half-time). Jeff will be finishing his El Toro this summer and adding it to CWB’s collection.
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It happened all the time: “They are so cute!” they’d say from the dock with a slight shake of the head and a slack jawed grin that hinted of nostalgia. Depending on the person, they were either talking about the CWB’s new fleet of brightly colored El Toro dinghies that were buzzing about the lake, the young sailors ages 9-15 who were sailing them, or both. In any case they were right. This summer, for the first time, The Center for Wooden Boats offered dinghy sailing as part of its summer classes for kids, and it was a phenomenal success. As much as adults were enjoying watching from the dock the kids were enjoying sailing on the water. Fun was a deliberate theme in the design of the experience. “It was our goal to have as much fun in the mistakes as we had in the successes,” commented instructor Courtney Bartlett, a SailNow graduate, certified US Sailing Instructor, and grade school teacher during the rest of the year. A sense of humor was evident throughout the summer, from good natured guffaws as students capsized prior to leaving the dock, to the t-shirts students received upon graduation reading
Coming soon: El Toro Boatbuilding Classes. Information in next edition of Shavings. In addition to El Toro boat building in the Northwest, we have a pastime of El Toro racing here in Seattle. During the 1960’s and 1970’s Jean Gosse ran El Toro races on Green Lake with the Seattle Sailing Association, a sailing community center that flourished before Seattle Parks began offering their own small craft sailing lessons on Green Lake. The races were typically filled with families, one El Toro per kid, often more than sixty boats per race. Today it is un common to see bunches of El Toros zipping around Green Lake, but if you come down to the
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Maritime Skills Workshops This is a partial listing of workshops scheduled in the next few months. We are constantly adding new workshops to our program. Please check our website at www.cwb.org for the latest workshop listings and information, or call us at 206.382.2628 to request a printed copy.
Native Armerican Paddle Workshop
Site: Marysville Boatshop October 2- 4, 2004 (Saturday - Monday) 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Fee: $150 members, $165 nonmembers Instructor: Rich Kolin
Students will carve from Alaskan Yellow Cedar their own canoe paddle using a traditional design used by Northwest Native Americans in their canoe journeys. Students will learn to sharpen and use spoke shaves, draw knives and planes. This paddle looks g ood paddling a canoe or as a wall decoration. Limit: 6 students.
Knot 6: Ditty Bag or Canvas Bucket
CWB, Lake Union October 9, 2004 (Saturday) 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Fee: If not pre paid for the series of 8, $50 member, $60 non-members Instructor: Dennis Armstrong
Canvas ditty bags or a canvas deck bucket are very handy to have aboard to store tools, particularly while working aloft. When not in use, the bags or bucket can be folded and stored out of the way. Hand stitching also gives one an opportunity to learn the different techniques of sail repair. Limited to 10.
Tool Making Workshop
Site: South Lake Union October 9 & 10, 2004 (Saturday & Sunday) 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Fee: $140 members, $155 nonmembers Instructor: Rich Kolin
Under the guidance of a master boatwright, students will build their own smoothing plane and a carving knife that will provide a lifetime of use. Students will shape & heat-treat a piece of tool steel into a blade that will hold a razor edge. They also will learn to sharpen, use and maintain their masterpieces. Limit: 6 students.
Sam Johnson teaches Sandcasting & Foundry Techniques. Photo creddit: Colleen Chartier. 6 Shavings
Half Model Workshop
Site: South Lake Union October 16 & 17, 2004 (Saturday & Sunday) 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Fee: $140 members, $155 nonmembers Instructor: Rich Kolin
The old way of designing a boat or ship was to shape a half model of a hull and, from those lines, scale up and build a boat. Countless schooners, skiffs, smacks and others were thus crafted. For this class the students will take the lines off of a plan and carve a half model which will be mounted on a board ready to hang on your wall. This class is important to new boat builders as it teaches how a two dimensional plan can be converted into a three dimensional boat. Students will learn how to read a boat plan. In addition the students will learn to sharpen and use chisels, knives, spokeshaves and small planes. This is a good introduction to the lofting and marine carving classes. Limit: 6 students.
Sandcasting & Foundry Techniques
Site: CWB, Lake Union October 16 & 17, 2004 (Saturday & Sunday) 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Fee: $100 members, $120 nonmembers Instructor: Samuel Johnson
Basic foundry know-how will be covered in the first day. Students will set up the furnace & cast simple forms. The second day will involve more complex casting. Students will learn to build a simple but effective foundry and go home with their own sounding lead and bronze cleat. Limit: 6 students.
Family BoatBuilding
Site: Camano Island State Park October 23 & 24, 30 & 31, 2004 (Saturdays & Sundays) 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Fee: $800 members, $850 nonmembers (price is per boat/family)
Families will build the Union Bay Skiff, a simple but great plywood sailboat designed by local boatwright Brad Rice. The boat is capable of carrying two adults or an adult with 2 children. Participating families will build their boats together over the course of 2 weekends at The Center for Wooden Boats, under the guidance of a professional boatwright and assisted by CWB’s volunteers. We’ll supply everything needed to build the boat and we’ll launch all the boats at the end of the event! Limit: 12 families.
Lofting a Lapstrake Boat:
The Ranger Class Sailboat Site: Marysville Boat shop October 23 - 25 (Saturday, Sunday & Monday) 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Fee: $210 members, $235 nonmembers Instructor: Rich Kolin
Students will loft the 10½ foot Ranger Class sailboat designed especially for the Center for Wooden Boats by Rich Kolin. They will learn the mysteries of waterlines, buttock lines, and diagonals. Then they will learn how to develop the patterns for the boat’s key parts and how to set up a boat using the lofting as a guide. This is a key class for those who want to learn boat building and is recommended for those who wish to take the Lapstrake boat building class. Limit: 6 students.
Building a Lapstrake Boat:
The Ranger Class Sailboat Site: Marysville Boat Shop November 1-5, 8-12 (Mondays – Fridays) 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Fee: $850 members, $875 nonmembers Instructor: Rich Kolin
Students will build the 10½ foot Ranger Class sail boat designed by Rich Kolin especially for the CWB for its sail training classes at our new campus at Cama Beach State park on Camano island. The design is based on the 1910 Columbia lifeboat model tender by Nathaniel Herreshoff. It is fast, able, and seaworthy. Its easy plank runs make it an ideal boat for student builders and best of all, students can try out their new boat at a variety of events scheduled by the CWB throughout the year. Students will learn to template planks, bevel laps, steam bend frames, and install seats. Key to this class September 2004
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& on the Water Events will be learning to sharpen and use a variety of hand tools. This is a great opportunity to practice the shipwright’s arts learned in oar making and model making classes. Limit: 6 students.
Knot 7: Fenders
CWB, Lake Union November 13, 2004 (Saturday) 10:30 a.m. –2:30 p.m. Fee: If not prepaid for the series of 7, $40 member, $50 nonmembers Instructor: Dennis Armstrong
Students will make their own fender, the spherical pad that protects your boat. This will be a 4-hour class. Limited to 10.
Building A sail rig
Site: Marysville Boat shop November 20 – 22, 2004 (Saturday - Monday) 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Fee: $210 members, $235 non-members Instructor: Rich Kolin
In this class students will build the sailing rig for the carvel planked sail boat built in the previous class. This will include building spars, rudder and dagger board. Limit: 6 students.
Marine Carving
(Nameboards, Banners & Nautical Details) Site: CWB, South Lake Union December 4 - 6, 2004 (Saturday - Monday) 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Fee: $210 members, $235 nonmembers Instructor: Rich Kolin
Under the guidance of instructor Rich Kolin, students will learn to design, layout, and carve name-boards, banners or seat rests for a boat or home. Limit: 8 students.
Knot 8: Chest Beckets
CWB, Lake Union December 11, 2004 (Saturday) 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Fee: If not prepaid for the series of 7, $40 member, $50 nonmembers Instructor: Dennis Armstrong
For a graduation project that will encompass many of the things learned in the previous series of classes, students will make a pair of traditional chest beckets. The class will be 4 hours, but the beckets will be completed in added sessions as needed. Limited to 5.
Class locations are listed directly beneath the class heading. Most classes are held at the South Lake Union CWB campus. When the Cama Beach State Park campus opens in 2006 we will be holding many workshops there. In the meantime, some workshops will be held at the Tulalip Bay shop of instructor Rich Kolin (about 40 minutes from Lake Union CWB) and one at Camano Island State Park (about 80 minutes from Lake Union CWB). The appropriate map will be sent to students after they register. NOTE: A $200 non-refundable deposit is required to register for all boatbuilding workshops; the balance is due no later than two weeks prior to the workshop. For all other workshops, pre-payment in full reserves your place. Classes may be cancelled or postponed due to low enrollment.
CLASSIFIEDS
British Seagull 6 horsepower longshaft outboard motor with low hours, exellent condition. $1250 obo. Phone: 206.363.5061. The Catherine, 14’ Whitehall type lapstrake rowing and sailing boat. Built in 1997 by Rich Kolin, cedar on oak. This boat was featured in Rich’s book: Traditional Boat Building Made Easy: Building the Catherine. The Catherine has a carved backrest, lug sail, spruce custom built oars, galvanized trailer, and weighs 150 pounds. Excellent condition. $6500. Contact Rich Kolin, kolin1@gte.net or 360.659.5591 Classified ads are available free of charge to CWB members. For nonmembers, the fee is $10/month. Ads will appear space permitting. If you would like an ad to appear in Shavings e-mail it to cwb@cwb.org attention Shavings Classifieds, or fax it to 206.382.2699. Make checks payable to The Center for Wooden Boats, and mail to 1010 Valley St., Seattle, WA 98109.
September 2004
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Ed Monk Grant Through the generosity of the John M. Goodfellow Fund an annual grant is given to a professional boat builder to further their knowledge through study of the traditional marine skills of other cultures. The grant winner of 2004 is Corey Freedman of Anacortes, Washington. Corey is a nationally known builder and teacher of arctic skin boats (see article on the John Gardner award). He will go to Brazil and work with a master builder of traditional wooden fishing boats on the Atlantic coast. The grant will allow Corey to widen his information bank of boat construction using different materials and designs based on different functions. Corey will give a talk on his experiences to CWB in 2005, date to be determined. The 2003 grant recipient, Marc Daniels of Bolinas, California, will present his experiences on Atka Island, Alaska on Friday, September 17, 7 p.m., at the CWB Boathouse. For more information about applying for this grant contact Dick Wagner at CWB.
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Center for Wooden Boats (CWB) during the summer, chances are you’ll see kids sailing, bumping and capsizing El Toros all over Lake Union. CWB began collecting and restoring its fleet of El Toros in the Spring of 2004 thanks to Jake Beattie, our new Youth and Sailing Program Director. We have 10 El Toros to date and hope to expand the fleet further through donations and boatbuilding programs. The El Toro fleet has enabled CWB to offer comprehensive youth sailing programs for beginners and intermediates on small, simple, durable sailboats. El Toros are ideal for young sailors. They are quick to respond, easy to maneuver, and easy to single-hand. We are hoping to further incorporate El Toros into the CWB curriculum and into the lifestyle of Lake Union by offering El Toro boatbuilding and restoration workshops, more youth sailing programs throughout the year and possibly re-introducing El Toro regattas to Seattle. ElToros hold a lot of possibility; they are fun for kids, adults, learning, racing, in low winds and high winds. They are easy to build and stick to no modus operandi. Back in the late 60’s El Toro Owners inVancouver B.C. rigged their boats as tiny square riggers and held weekly gun battles. Any ideas? Shavings 7
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El Toros at CWB Continued from Page 5
“Certified Bull Rider”; homage to the ridiculously lofty name “El Toro” bestowed on a boat that’s not quite 8 feet long. The sailing classes ran rain or shine, five days a week, three hours a day with both morning and afternoon sessions. All six Beginning Sailing classes were sold out, two more were added, and those sold out. “We eventually ran out of summer, instructors, and boats otherwise a lot more kids would have come,” said Bartlett. The first week of classes began with familiarization with the basics of sailing: vocabulary, tiller skills, trimming the sails. Students who were able to continue on for the intermediate class involved themselves in refining the skills they learned the week before, with the added challenge of single handling their boat on and off (and sometimes inadvertently back on again) the dock.
We’re still adding El Toro’s to our fleet. For a donation of $1200, we will add a boat to the fleet with the boat name of your choice! The courses were so well received by students and their parents that CWB is offering youth sailing this Fall in partnerships with local middle schools as part of both in-school and after-school classes. TOPS middle school, AS #1, and Edmonds Home School Resource Center are all participating. While kids in El Toros were flitting about the lake, other students were hard at work rebuilding the Center’s Umiak as part of the Youth Apprenticeship program. During two separate weeks this summer, students learned the woodworking and marlin spike seamanship skills necessary to rebuild a skin on frame boat. Students started the whole week by hauling out the boat on a human powered marine railway, re-lashed approximately 80% of the boat’s 300+ lashings, built a dagger board box for better sailing performance, and re-skinned the boat. In the end, we taught some kids how to sail, and some others how to rebuild a boat, but more importantly we taught them to have fun while doing it. Like it says on our brochure “At CWB, we believe that maritime experiences teach selfconfidence, teamwork, patience, responsibility, and are more fun than sitting on your couch.” Look for expanded offerings next spring and summer, as well as El Toro starts at the upcoming Norm Blanchard regatta. 8 Shavings
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Teens of Tomorrow visit Haida Carver at the “Spirit of Peace” Canoe Project B
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On a beautiful sunny day in Seattle, August 5th 2004, a group of 40 young men and women,(from challenging backgrounds) ages between 15-18 years old, and from diverse cultures, Native American, African American and Latino, visited Saaduuts at the canoe project, Spirit of Peace, housed at the south end of Lake Union. Saaduuts began the morning with a ceremonial entry with a Haida mask and regalia and began talking to the group about “Taking off our masks before we enter the long house, revealing who we truly are”. The canoe and Saaduuts’ entry amazed and stirred these young people and their instructors, counselors etc. and the kids began to relax and focus intently upon his words. Saaduuts talked at length about his Native culture and the necessity for reverence and respect for all. He shared Haida songs and stories. Then sand paper was passed around and everyone had a hands-on - experience working on the canoe -- “working together as family side by side.” Students individually were invited to try out the adze at the bow end of the canoe, as Saaduuts talked about confidence and how our attitudes influence the outcome of what we do in life. All in all it was a memorable morning of old wisdom, revelation of self, fun, breakfast yummies and silkscreen t-shirts designed by Saaduuts handed out to everyone as a gift.
Pam and her husband Steve Cochran. Photo by Lee Hoffman. It is with great sadness that I tell of Pam Cochran’s passing. I first met Pammie in August of 1990. She & Steve had been on their honeymoon in Oceanside, California; I was living in Santa Barbara at that time. Well, Steve had been going on about how wonderful this “mermaid of the sea” was; well, you all know how Steve is… Pam struck me immediately; she WAS the mermaid Steve had spoken about. She was full of life, energy and playfulness; her grace struck me like a gale! Over the years I got to know Pam well, Christmases and other holidays. But it was not until I had the chance to live with Pam & Steve that I really got to know her. For the next 5 months I lived every day with them; shared a house, went grocery shopping, did chores, played croquet and got to know Pam extremely well. During this time her illness became more and more apparent to me. Her spirit was strong, and I was impressed to see that through it all she was able to express herself through her art and zest for life. She always retained her grace, playfulness and humor. It was a real blessing to know her and to be a part of her life. - Lee Hoffman
CWB Volunteers help Saaduuts move “Spirit of Peace” to the newly built carving shed constructed by Seattle Parks and Recreation. This new venue enables youth groups to experience working on the canoe and hear Haida songs and stories.
Pam Cochran was 2 lessons from graduating from SailNOW! when she passed away. At her family’s request, a scholarship fund has been set up in her name to support a program to teach sailing lessons to women and girls. Donations can be sent to The Center for Wooden Boats, attn: Pam Cochran Scholarship. In honor of “Green Legs & Pam” Cochran, CWB members, students and volunteers will soon have the pleasure of sailing on our newly named green Blanchard Junior “Pamela”. September 2004
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The Mojean Skiff and Sterling G
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Discovering the CWB
We moved to Redmond from Florida and began to get our bearings in this maritime and sometimes damp region. We drove past the Center for Wooden Boats for at least two years before venturing in sometime in 1999. We walked around and thought it was really cool to look at all the boats, and almost everyone said hello and smiled. A few months later we found ourselves there on a Sunday afternoon and took a ride on the “Betsy D” for the free public sail. My whole family was there, my wife Sue and our three children Savannah, Sterling, and Shelby. It was a very nice day with a good breeze, and some of us got to handle the tiller and lines! We were almost hooked! Several months later after a few more drop-in visits, we attended our first Wooden Boat Festival where we plunked down the membership fee; we knew it was a good investment in a community center only a short distance from Redmond. We were really hooked now! Volunteering
My fabulous spouse, Sue, suggested that Sterling and I become volunteers. Sterling at the time was 8 years old and fascinated with boats of all kinds and I wondered, “What could we do as volunteers?” Would we be a bother to this fine hands-on museum? We decided to give it a shot. Turns out, there is plenty to do for an 8 year old who loves boats, and dad can participate too. We went to orientation where Dick Wagner told the wonderful story of the Center’s creation and its mission. We couldn’t wait to get started so we signed up for Livery duty the following week. It was January with the cold and rainy season upon us; not the standard boat rental weather. We showed up for Livery on Saturday, and it was snowing! Well, flurries followed by drizzle, followed by damp cold. But that didn’t stop this little guy who was determined to hang out on the boat dock! Sterling and I pumped boats, tied up spring lines, did a few other chores and had a great time. Patrick (the fabulous dockmaster) asked us to help move docks and boats around. After a few hours of line handling and boat riding, the docks were in order and Sterling was thrilled. He called Patrick his “boss” and announced to his friends at September 2004
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school that he had a real job! This was looking like too much fun. Every week is filled with talk of “when we go to the CWB next week…” The hook was getting deeper and harder to get out!
Sterling and his sister Shelby enjoy a pedal-boat ride at CWB. Over the next few months Sterling and I came to volunteer as Livery workers. (Thanks to Sue who participates in the CWB every time we do, by staying home and doing all the chores.) Sterling is an energetic boy who is not satisfied with boat pumping, and I know he wore Patrick out with constant questions and inquiries about what he could do to help. Patrick is very patient and always found a project to keep Sterling’s interest alive. Most projects were accompanied with Cap’n Pete points, the coveted reward. A ride on the tug Captain Pete was the finishing touch and a dream-come-true (always working rides of course, no joy rides here). What more could a little guy want than this?! The Mojean Skiff Project
Finally, I believe Patrick couldn’t take it anymore and realized Sterling needed a focus. Sterling was now approaching 10 years old and knew his way around the CWB very well. We needed a project that would keep us busy for at least the summer. A historic row boat was donated and needed to be spruced up. It was a Mojean Skiff , a locally built flatbottomed work boat. It was in need of what seemed to be some simple board replacement, scraping, sanding, primer, and paint. Patrick promised that once it was complete Sterling could take it out by himself! Sterling was hooked again with this carrot that dangled before his eyes! It turns out that wooden boat projects can
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take longer than you ever imagined. It has been two seasons that we have worked on the Mojean Skiff. The delays are typically due to our erratic schedule and the fact that we often get side-tracked with other fun CWB events. We should be done by the end of this summer (or at least I hope we will be done!) Sterling is Growing Up
Sterling will be 12 years old this coming December. He has become the youngest senior volunteer! The Center for Wooden Boats has helped him grow in many ways. Those Cap’n Pete points added up, and he has become an expert small boat driver. It is also fun to watch others admire his fine skills at docking the motor boats. The CWB staff and volunteers can trust him with many projects, and Sterling has become a skilled dock hand. At the 2004 Wooden Boat Festival he spent hours on the race committee boat, the Quickn-Daring chase boat, and the Photographer’s boat. Patrick, Vern, Lauren, Steve, Martin, Jake, Rory, Michael, and many others have all become Sterling’s favorite friends. Sue and I thank the staff, volunteers, members, and guests for their help in one of the most challenging tasks - raising a fine young boy who loves to be around people that love boats as much as he does. It has been a wonderful experience for all of us. The lessons learned and memories captured at the Center for Wooden Boats will last a lifetime bringing a smile to our faces every time we mention CWB. Sincerely, Erik Elzinga and Sue Hines-Elzinga
CWB Wish List Thank you for your recent donations! ✔ Wooden filing cabinet ✔ New rug for our library ✔ Children’s books for our library ✔ Firewood for Canoe steaming event ✔ El Toro Dinghies ✔ Flat panel computer monitors ✔ Small TV/VCR However we still need : ❑ Wooden Boat Magazine Issues # 1-12 ❑ Copies of Microsoft Office 2003 ❑ More flat panel computer monitors ❑ Cordless hand drills ❑ Bench vises ❑ Silicon bronze fasteners Shavings 9
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CWB does not follow the standard museum textbook. We do not charge for admission, we do not receive subsidies from city, county, state or federal governments. There is no tycoon living in a big house on a big hill who gives sea-chests of charity to CWB. Our earnings pay for much of our basic operations, including salaries, benefits, insurance and utilities. Earnings include livery, sailing instruction, workshops, boat festival, sale of donated items and merchandise sales. But earnings alone don’t allow us to expand or enhance our programs. Visitors to CWB are active participants in CWB programs, not passive observers. People who learn maritime heritage at CWB by rowing or sailing our classic boats or building them, tying knots, casting rowlocks, building models, learning celestial navigation leave CWB with calluses, splinters, wider horizons, as well as stories to tell their family, neighbors and friends. They come back for more fun and excitement and drag in yet more visitors to also experience our world of living history. In order to keep abreast if not ahead of the increasing numbers and purposes of CWB participants, the philanthropic donations CWB receives really make a difference. Highlights of the 2004 contributions we have received through August follow.
Capacity Building An appeal to our members for funds to build our capacity to serve the public with enhanced programs brought us almost $20,000. The Stocker Foundation contributed $5,000 and 4 Culture granted $6,000 for general operations which will help keep our educational programs under way.
The Seattle Foundation provided a $20,000 capacity building grant which enables our programs to reach a wider scope in our community. $10,800 was granted by the Stocker Foundation for software which gives us greater capacity to track “constituents” such as members and donors. An individual gift for $10,000 provided training for the organization in development / fundraising, and also provided seed money for developing new marketing materials.
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South Lake Union Facility Improvements King County’s 4 Culture provided $10,000 funding for installation of a new bridge at our Lake Union site, rehabilitation of the bridge-to-floats ramp, interpretive displays at our Lake Union entry and $3,000 for a new self-touring and boating tours program. Our Lake Union Boathouse will be upgraded from a $20,000 grant from the 1772 Foundation. This will include special book collections, shelving and an antique hand tools display in our library.
CWB at Cama Beach State Park The Heritage Capital Projects Fund has recommended CWB receive a $100,000 grant for rehabilitation of the five historic buildings at Cama Beach State Park to be used by CWB. The funds have been budgeted by the state, but are pending legislative approval. Many others have also contributed funds towards the restoration of these facilities. The Goodfellow Fund granted $5,000 for rehabilitation work on the Cama Beach Boathouse. The Hamalainen Trust gave $16,000, and $10,000 was contributed from the Worthing-
Generous contributions to our operating budget from The Stocker Foundation, Seattle Foundation and 4Culture have helped us expand our programs. Shown here, students in our new dinghy sailing class. Photo Credit: Alex Chun. 10 Shavings
ton Foundation for upgrading CWB facilities at Cama Beach. And CWB also received $500 from the Stanwood Camano Area Foundation for helping to finish our Cama Beach building project. Other members and friends of CWB contributed an additional $80,000 for the Cama Beach facilities.
CWB has been awarded $100,000 from the state’s Heritage Capital Projects Fund for restoration of the historic boatshop and four other buildings at Cama Beach State Park (pending legislative approval). Photo credit: Cama Beach State Park Archives. Safeco, Outdoor Research, Holland America Line, Cascade Fresh, Vulcan, Helly Hansen, Jensen Motorboat, Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation, Mithun Architects, Port Townsend Foundry, 4 Culture, Public Radio KUOW, Bonefish Grill, Red Hook Brewery and Viking Bank contributed sponsorships and many in-kind donations to support our 2004 Boat Festival. Many other businesses supported our annual auction,
Thousands of people attended this year’s Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival thanks to sponsorship from many local businesses. Photo credit: Shawn Murphy. September 2004
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such as South Lake Union’s Pemco, Trammel Crow, Schwarz Brothers. Still others provided in-kind donations during the year, such as Fisheries Supply, and the Seattle Times,
Haida Canoe Carving The City of Seattle donated the construction of a temporary canoe carving shed. The community of Alternative School #1 have donated a $700 fund for carving tools. And an individual donation of $10,000 provided the seed money to fund the new Artist-inResidence position filled by Haida Carver Saaduuts (Robert Peale).
Floats for South Lake Union Campus An appeal to our members for funds to build more floats provided $2,500 and the Norton Family Foundation matched that with its grant of $2,500. The city provided an in-kind contribution of two long concrete floats. The combination of those gifts with $30,000 previously donated from our membership allowed us to add almost 340’ of new floats, enabling us to keep our programs running year-round.
The Boats A membership appeal to repair our fleet of Blanchard Junior Knockabouts resulted in $8,300 to date. The Duggan and Foley Family contributed $4,333 and pledged the balance to build a 26’ fantail electric launch. The boat will be part of our “Cast Off ” (free rides and historic tours for CWB visitors). It is being built in partnership with Seattle Central Community College’s Wood Construction Center. The wood was provided by a generous donation from Flounder Bay Boat Lumber.
This electric fantail launch is being built in partnership with Seattle Central Community College’s Wood Construction Center thanks to generous donations from Flounder Bay Boat Lumber and the Duggan and Foley families. Photo credit: CWB. September 2004
The longboat Discovery arrives at CWB to be used in youth programs and public rides, thanks to a $15,000 grant from the MacEachern Foundation and the generosity of several former Outward Bound instructors who had taught on the boat. Photo credit: Sarah Howell Through a $1,375 grant from the John Gardner Fund we contracted Rich Kolin to take the lines and make tables of offsets for 25’ and 40’ Nootka dugout canoes. Those plans are for sale by CWB. An individual gift of $25,000 launched our Women in Non-Traditional Trades initiative, providing funding for women boatwrights. $15,000 from the McEachern Foundation and $2,000 from CWB’s friends (including Outward Bound instructors who’d sailed the boat in prior years) allowed us to purchase the 26’ row and lug-sail rigged expedition vessel Discovery for our Adventure Bound programs. The Enersen Foundation and Cape Flattery Foundation have led with their support of the signature program restoring the 1926 R-Boat Pirate, a boat which was built right here on Lake Union in 1926.
In-kind Donations More people than we can acknowledge have made significant contributions to CWB this year which are not money, but which nonetheless provide the resources we need to serve the community with our programs. Dorothy Philipp gave us Western Red cedar planking that has been used to build four classic rowboats and one sailboat for Cama Beach. Bill Baillargeon contributed a Port Orford (white cedar) log to be used in our boat building and restoration projects. Vulcan Corporation has loaned us badly needed interior space to store boats awaiting restoration, which supplements the storage area which Seattle Times has been generously providing for several years.
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Dozens of books and a few boat models have been contributed to our library’s growing collection. An incredible array of donated professional services have fueled planning and activities at CWB. Donated consulting ranges from graphic design to negotiation strategy to large group facilitation to business planning. We have also received eight El Toros to augment our fleet of youth training boats.
Haida carver Saaduuts with CWB volunteers (some from the city’s Youth Engaged in Service summer program) inside the temporary carving shed built by the City of Seattle. In-kind donations from the city and many others have been instrumental to the increase of CWB programming this year. Photo Credit: CWB. Several other boats of historic significance have also been donated for our living history fleet. Seattle Parks and Recreation has contributed the 30’ access bridge to CWB, two 100’ floats and a temporary workshed for carving traditional northwest native dugout canoes. And these are just a small sampling of the in-kind donations which we’ve received this year! Many years ago a very wise person gave us the basic know-how for fundraising: “Cast thy bread on the waters…” Feeding our community wholesome experiences in maritime heritage are clearly being enthusiastically repaid.
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U p c o m i n g USCG Captain’s License Class
September 20th through November 11th, 2004 Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm
The Center for Wooden Boats is offering a USCG Captain’s Licensing class, without Coast Guard exams, through the U.S. Maritime Academy. For more information or to sign up call U.S. Maritime at 360.385.4852 or go to www.usmaritime.us.
Norm Blanchard WOOD Regatta
September 24, 25, & 26, 2004 (Friday-Sunday) The Center for Wooden Boats
The Norm Blanchard WOOD (Wood Open & One Design) Regatta 2004 will celebrate Norm Blanchard’s 94th birthday. All classic wooden sailboats, 8ft. and over, are invited to participate. Also, honoring outstanding design, popularity and longevity, the Regatta honors the San Juan 21 as the Classic Plastic participants. The weekend begins with a “Bite of Lake Union” with food provided by Lake Union restaurants. After a continental breakfast on Saturday, participants will attend the 10:30am skippers meeting with racing starting at noon. Racing resumes at noon on Sunday with post racing awards and refreshments at 4:30pm. To sign up please call Vern at 206-382-2628.
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Third Friday Speaker Series
Every 3rd Friday 7 p.m. CWB Boathouse Each month, excepting July and August, CWB finds a speaker of wit and experience to talk about his or her special knowledge. It is also an opportunity for CWB members to meet one another and the staff. Admission is free and refreshments are served (donations to cover costs are appreciated).
October 15, 2004
Discovery Modeler’s Education Center Room 239, Armory Building, South Lake Union Park. Contact: 206.282.0985 to sign up
September 18th, Saturday
12:30- 3:30 pm Chesapeake Bay Flattie & Swift Pilot Boat Workshop
Thad Koza, nationally renowned tall ships photographer, will give a slide show on the fleet of 20-24 tall ships that will visit the West Coast in the summer of 2005. Thad’s Tall Ship Calendar will be available, with twelve multinational sail training vessels in all their glory.
The Swift and Flattie modelers meet monthly to share problems and solutions and show off their progress on the Chesapeake Bay Flatties and the Swift Virginia Pilot Boats. Instructor Harvey Nobe welcomes newcomers to the workshop at any time. Flattie model kits are available for purchase or we can help you find a Swift.
November 19, 2004
September 25th, Saturday
Tall Ships, 2005 7 p.m. CWB Boathouse
The Boats & Other Fascinating Stuff of Indonesia 7 p.m. CWB Boathouse
9 am- noon Ship Models for Kids of All Ages
Dr. Albert and Dr. Eve Van Rennen will condense over 6 years of experience in Indonesia as consultants in research and technology into 90 minutes of slides and stories. They will address the varied and colorful sailing vessels, the natural and cultural resources and the geopolitical importance of Indonesia.
Choose your model from a great selection of kits, including a tugboat, fishing boats, sailboats and more. Then build and paint your boat (kids under 7 should be accompanied by an adult to assist them) and take it home. Fee, including model kit and all supplies, is $15 ($12 for second person from same family). Limited to 10.
Quarterly Activity Report available on CWB Website If you’re interested in knowing more about the many activities we’ve been up to down at CWB, you can go to the CWB website (www.cwb.org) and follow the link to the Quarterly Activity Report. (Listed on the right side of the Home Page.)
There is always something new at CWB, so visit our web site at www.cwb.org.
1010 Valley Street Seattle, WA 98109-4468 206.382.2628 • www.cwb.org • shavings@cwb.org
Has your membership expired? Please renew it today. Call 206.382.BOAT for more information.
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