Come and Gone!

Another unique character walked into The Shipwright Shop one day. Let's just say his initials are KW. Interesting enough, as he came for advice on how to build a kayak, but Capt. David T. put sand paper in his hand and made him help smooth out the wood grain of the SUP board he was building. More interesting, KW came back for more, so David gave him a job. He has had some boat work experience, an avid hunter, hiker, kayaker, according to his facebook page, anyway, and now a very good mountain biker! As any carpenter, experienced or not, he found out that Marine Carpentry goes beyond the bounds of the simple task of squaring off corners! Marine carpentry pushes the wood to do what wood normally would not do, or be. The shaping, and the bending of wood to create something beautiful..elegant, curvy and graceful is a passion and an art.

Well, this young man worked with us for a few months, we decided he needed a proper nickname, we waited for one to arise. Alas, to our loss he got a job with a biogenetics warehouse, he has a wife and wonderful young son to support. We miss him, but know he is in good hands. If you see him, he will be the one walking around checking inventory, you will know him not just by his long beard, proudly worn, but he will be the one wearing the brand new leather tool belt with a measuring stick in it's proper place.

 

By the way, we did get a nickname for him. We call him, "The Rabbi."

www.theshipwrightshop.com

California meets Florida

Well, our friend Mystery Mike, an avid surfer suggested the title.  We do realize that Stand up Paddle boarding rose from Polynesian roots.  It has become a fast past sport, especially in our state where the only great surfing comes from mighty waves thrown from a tropical storm to the delight of the anticipating surfers in this town.  David has created his first...."David board."  A one of a kind custom wood SUP.  It has a bit of a history, and we are planning a launch soon.  What's that?  Another launch party?  You betcha!  And you are all invited.  Someone pass the pineapple and put the Beach boys on!!!!!  To Be continued.......

The Launch

The Shipwright Shop, Inc.  had a celebration yesterday, the launching of Mystery Mike's wooden sailing dingy.   Hand-made and hand-crafted by Mike.  Mike has shown a rare gift and talent for wood working and was now able to share it with us all in launching his boat, "Mystery."

Was the Shipwright Shop celebrating the fact Mike finally finished his boat?  No.  Were we celebrating the gorgeous beaches on a Sunday afternoon at Sanibel Island?  No.

We were celebrating the launching of ourselves into that sweet pool of humanity and having a good time.  We were all united in a calm, happy gathering within a circle of beautiful people.  In attendance were new acquaintances, old friends, and people we haven't seen for awhile due to the corruption of "busy-ness" in the workplace arena.

There were glances, smiles, laughter, hand shakes, fellowship, sharing, hugging, kissing, nodding, agreements, and the abundance of food. We were celebrating relationships between a myriad of different people.

Thanks so much to Captain David T. Bickel for his teaching skills and willingness to begin the Mentoring Project, thanks so much to John F, for providing the pictures for the youtube of the launching, and thanks so much for Katie, who put a lot of effort into the planning, and the food for the pure Joy of seeing her husband, Mike's happiness in his completed project.

The Launching youtube here: Mystery Mike

An Interview with a Shipwright

youtube

Being a Shipwright's wife is not always easy.  Especially, if this same energetic Shipwright is also, a single handed sailor and an avid mountain biker.  It does have it's upsides, such as living on a sailboat (the view is extraordinary), all the fish and lobster one could eat during the lobster mini season, and a constant life of having the wind at ones feet.

One thing that is noticeable about this particular Shipwright, my husband, is his steadfast integrity, and his strong commitment to good, and solid life values.  It shows up in his work.  In the world of the multitudes racing to Walmart, this boat carpenter is a wood artist; a rare find.

I had thought about editing this youtube video called, "An Interview with a Shipwright," but it reveals the personality of this sailing boat carpenter, so, "it is what it is."  Folks, don't let him tell you he is a simple carpenter, especially if his name is Capt. David T. Bickel.  Here is the youtube video where David shows the building of his self bailing dingy:

Youtube

http://www.theshipwrightshop.com/