Happy Christmas to All

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
from Urchin and the Byars

Joe Youcha

movie
Here is a link to a news clip about Alexandria Seaport's Boat Building program.

Friends & Tuckup

Chippy

I stopped by the Seaport between classes and put a coat of topsides paint on the deck of TP. She is looking fine. See Greenboats for more pictures of today.

Skeg

Top Priority in primer.

First Snow

6 hr canoes in the snow.

Sharing Boat Genes

We found a boat on the beach! Got to start early. This is my grandson, 'Siah.

Boat Movie by boatmovie

Watch this! It is my favorite boat. (and there are some favorite good friends there too.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhxckWGbNhw
boatmovie

King of the Hill

Talking about sailing is a substitute for the real thing, but I am patiently awaiting the spring when the water warms up. Silent Maid is being refit and made even more comfortable to sail and to cruise. This is real design work.

Two Tons of Fun

My Pop

Sailing instructor, light on the path, part of my heart.

November Colors

Cape Cod Thanksgiving.

Tuckup Party Nite

TOP PRIORITY gets sheerstake paint.

The Yach-Chet

URCHIN is getting her upgrade. I spent everyday this past week scraping a bit, then oiling, varnishing or painting. Putting in a few of the 10 hours for every one hour you spend sailing a wooden boat. Gosh, you got to love a wooden boat.
It was so warm the bees came out today. November colors in the Marsh. Cresent moon.

URCHIN work

I have been steadily plugging away at refinishing URCHINs bright work. A little bit every day.

TSCA workparty

TOP PRIORITY is getting fixed up by some of the best boatbuilders I know. Monday nights, November and December, the shop js open for TSCA members to contribute some skill and time to the museum.

Dry Sailing

except it is raining out.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=info&id=548401318#/pages/Philadelphia-PA/Silent-Maid/125811239464?ref=nf

The process of moving seven tons of boat on a trailer, off the trailer, on to dollies, into the shop, and off the dollies and blocked is fairly involved. Lots of help from volunteers, mostly very cheerful, make the day fly by. No sailing involved here, but the potential fro dreaming exists. Check out SILENT MAIDs facebook page to see more process shots.

The silk bow ties are SILENT MAIDs uniform when her owner is aboard. I wonder what sailor girls get to wear? I kinda like the dress Sara Schoettle is wearing in the fan photos on SILENT MAIDs Facebook page... Wonder where I could get one of those?

Nov. TSCA

Phil brought in his Tom Hill canoe. WOW is open Monday nights so members can work on TOP PRIORITY, the museum's tuck-up. O, and I get elected-look what happens when you don't go to meetings.




These pictures are from the pond boat meeting but it is the same canoe. I think Tom & Phil have developed a new sport. Canoe hefting. Snatch, grab, press that canoe, steady, steady, one hand!! Wow, shes light.

I am always amazed at the talent and productivity of this group.

Sultana DownRigging Weekend - Day 5 - Mon

Morning. Coffee water's heating, crew still asleep. My last day. SILENT MAID leaves Chestertown. I stand on the dock watching as she leaves. An achy swell of loneliness rises in my heart. She turns the corner and is lost to veiw. How I wish I could be on board, but...












































































































I get to drive a fun standard shift back to Phil (a-del-phi-a) that's for you, Jimmie. I enjoy the Maryland countryside in fall color and local radio. Back to class.

Sultana DownRigging Weekend - Day 4 - Sun

Breakfast not at Tiffany's, but pretty good anyway. Gingered applesauce, local spiced peaches, oatmeal, coffee from Sam's. Amish sticky buns. I get the stove going after a few false starts, figure out we need more juice. We've gone three days on battery power. Graham Ero visits. We go sailing. Rescue Meerwaldians from their mud-bound ship. They jump aboard bearing biscuits. A very water-proof recipe. We eat lunch. Pete leaves and Pete comes. Byar exchanged for Siegal. The sun comes out at last - sort of. We move our berth for shore power. John & John dry out our power cords and pig tail. Bed making. John fixes more stuff. That light had been wonky since Barnegat. Jack, the pirate pumpkin peers in.