The current cold snap has brought ice back to Jones Tide Pond this weekend. Nothing too serious and open from the end of the dock out to the bay. Water down after the fierce Northwesterlies this week.
Very chilly this morning, about 20 on deck and lot’s of frost below. Started reading a new book on designs of traditional Danish sailing craft. It was referenced in a post on 70.8% by Thomas Armstrong. Thomas recently featured Matt Billey’s project that was the subject of a Post here. Matt was inspired by the Haabet boat found in Bornholm.
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The ice returns. With February around the corner and longer, warmer days we should be OK this winter.
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New breakfast read. A lot of cousins but nothing that say’s Sjogin
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Paul Smith with a shop full of small boats. Speedwell’s been moved out of the Duckboat Room to make way for a new set of rowboats.
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Here’s the Beaton Rowboat jig ready to start building. Dave Beaton would be proud.
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And here are a set of planks cut out from patterns and ready to use.
Hi Russ,
In Scotland we’ve just had the coldest December and January since 1914, parts of the Clyde froze which is very unusual. I’ve been kayaking a lot over the winter [ dinghy racing starts again this coming weekend ! ] and managed out on a wee loch [fresh water] close to where I live on Saturday. There was enough space to launch and paddle around the open areas to the edge of the ice. The boat I’m using at the moment is a NDK Greenlander pro, which is drawn on the lines of some of the traditional Inuit kayaks – I can’t help but think that when paddling it I’m benefitting from many centuries of design refinement. Maybe your good friends at Beatons could run you off a wee kayak to slip into some of the open water….
Speedwell is looking very good indeed, the end result will be well worth the wait.
cheers
Graeme
Unrelated to the above post – I had a funny dream last night that David and Jeffrey took Caprice out for a sail out in the ocean. They survived, but the mast was lost and the boat was a total wreck. I was happy and surprised that Caprice survived, pissed that the boys took Caprice out in seas but happy that they both made it back home in one piece. Perhaps I suffered a bad bid of beef or something to generate such a dream. For those who don’t know, both Russ and I owned Caprice for a time but haven’t seen or thought of her for years. I’m only guessing that she probably looks much like she did in my dream if she’s even a viable entity at all. I literally gave her away some 15 years ago to a colleague with a 16 year old that wanted to keep her going.
Graeme,
I do have a wee double paddle canoe. I built it from a CLC kit. It’a Mill Creek 15 that gets far to little use. It’s out in the cold, a few feet from where I type; muttering to itself about how long it’s been since we had a paddle together….
Any pics from your winter paddling?
John,
Happy dreams Huh? I think about Caprice every time I walk into our TV room. I have her nameboard and eagle carving prominetly displayed. I’d like to think she’s still loved and used regularly but I expect her flesh is long gone. Maybe I should do a post and see if she’s still around? Collegue still around?
Thanks all for stopping by,
Russ
Hi Russ,
Nice to see you have your own copy of one of my favorite books. Happy reading! Not much progress on my boat lately. The weather has been so cold. Come on spring!
Matt
Sorry but my colleague is LONG gone and I can’t even remember her name. It would be very cool to find that she’s still going. But, I’m ever the optimist.
Hi Matt,
I saw the post on 70.8% about Jette. Thomas does a nice job. Would you mind if I mentioned the post on the WoodenBoat Forum? The folks there would like to see more of your project.
Russ
Hey Russ,
Sure thing. You’re more than welcome to mention Tom’s post on the WBF. That would be great, in fact.
Matt