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/

To Mentor, or not to Mentor?

That is the question.

A stranger walked into my shop one hot Florida afternoon. A friendly transplant from the New Jersey shores. He had searched for a boat builder, on the internet.  Someone who would teach and guide him how to learn the art of wood working. When he found our webpage he just walked in and asked me if he could be my shadow for awhile.  He told us his name was Mike and he did some sort of environmental work along the eastern coast. My wife and I dubbed him, "Mystery Mike."

Mystery Mike has become a good friend of ours. We shared a  passion for working with wood. When he moved from New Jersey, he and his wife Katie sold their small sailboat.  He wanted another boat.  My custom wood boats were a little over his price level, so together, we decided that I will provide Mike with boat plans, wood, tools, supplies, and of course my expertise; and he will build a boat....in my Shipwright Shop!

There is a lot to consider before launching such an enterprise. Liability is a BIG ONE. Time conflicts is another. How much money to charge, the length of time it will take, and how much material will cost in the end are very good questions I asked myself. The challenge, the interchange between the teacher, and student sharing a passion for wood working was too appealing for me to toss the endeavor aside!

So, Mysterious Mike has come to the Shipwright Shop, in between his (what does he do exactly?) work, and slowly has been building his sailing dingy. We are still wondering what he is going to name her? Mystery?  As we say at the Shipwright Shop, generally the name will eventually present itself.

www.theshipwrightshop.com

God is Good to the Shipwright Shop

Working in the shop with earplugs on; I don't hear much going on around my shop. My wife was hearing alot of rustling around; spooking her. Come to find out I have mice in my shop!

My wife has a ornery cat up in North Florida named Thorn. I thought he would make a great mouser for my wood shop. She, however, disagreed not wanting to uproot a 12 year old cat.

We decided to head out to the 10,000 islands South Florida one weekend a stow away slipped through the large wooden doors to my shop. Through 100 degree temperatures in the shop with no food, or water, this small creature about 5 inches short hung out until we returned.

A gift from God? Perhaps. We are going to call him "Slayer".

Brotherly love

My brother Phil arrived for a short Florida visit. He lives in Naples and is a communication professor by trade. He probably spent about 1/2 day in our family's huge home in Naples, alone. This is a big feat for someone who loves....well, let's just say....communicate. He eagerly drives down to my humble woodshop looking for company and I put him to work. He helped me sand on my new boat project, "Corky III". In about 95 degree weather in a suit like you might wear on the moon; he held up like a rock. Now that is brotherly love!