Fantastic Day

What a fantastic day we had. The last couple of weeks we have been planing and sanding the hull of the vessel, a huge job. Now it is rounded off and looking much more like the ocean princess/work boat/home away from home that it is or will be when it's finished. The result besides a beautiful hull was about 1/2" of dust on everything in the shop.  So, for the last few days we have been sweeping, moving stuff, sweeping again and vacuuming floors, walls, windows, the hull, the walkways and the shelf. It was a huge job. All this not only because it really needs to be done before we can start the caulking of the vessel but because we had the Antique Tool Association coming to visit today. They have an annual meeting around this time every year and last year they asked if their after trip could be to our boatyard. We said,  of course. Quite a few of them showed up and if you look back over the blog you will see the beautiful slick that they presented us with at the time. We were delighted when Art Keeble called us earlier this year and asked us if they could, again, come and visit the shop and check on the progress of the vessel. Back by popular demand, he  said. Some of the guys didn't get a chance to visit last year and some of them went home and told a friend and so today around 30 of the men and women of the association came and spent the afternoon with us. Folks from all over Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, from all trades and walks of life. We even had a fine little fellow of 8 years old who I can see as a budding shipwright. Our boat shop was certainly a hive of activity and chatter as questions were asked and answered all around. It is always amazing to find out who has ship building or sailing in their family heritage or who has been a part of that way of life themselves.
This year we were presented with a grappling hook and rope from the Association, for which we are very thankful. It is used to recover lost lines or chains overboard or to fling over the capstan of the wharf to catch yourself from drifting away when there's no one there to catch your line. As a permanent part of our deck equipment it will accompany us on many a voyage. One of the members (Ralph Milton)also donated a lipped adze with a fully offset handle to our collection of shipwright tools. They are a pleasure to use, thank you so much.
Have a look at the fine crew we had today and their beautiful gifts.