May 8, 2010
Our volunteer effort to build two 13ft. Periwinkles for the summer rental program on Jamaica Pond is progressing rapidly. The volunteers that gather every Thursday evening and Saturday are so much fun to work with. The original goal of providing the Navy Yard Park with an enhanced visitor experience and connections to the Charlestown Neighborhood is definitely happening. Folks are coming from all parts of the neighborhood and returning to their old neighborhood from the suburbs to participate. We also have folks coming from other neighborhoods of Boston and the suburbs.
A special thanks to our crew leaders Roger and Tim for their extraordinary commitment to this effort. We could not do it without you
THANKS AGAIN TO ALL OF YOU!
COME ON DOWN AND JOIN IN THE FUN!
John spiling for the first plank
All hands on deck for getting out the first plank
Detail of the finger joints in the cedar we are using on this boat
This is an experiment to test the strength and durability of cedar joined in this way for use as small boat planking.
We will report back after the summer is over to tell you how successful it was.
WE WILL BE FINISHING THE PLANKING THIS SATURDAY, MAY 10
WE WILL HOPEFULLY ALSO BE CREATING PATTERNS
SO GETTING OUT PLANKS FOR THE SECOND AND FUTURE BOATS WILL BE MUCH EASIER AND FASTER
Join us Thursdays from 4-7 and Saturdays from 10-2 for an adventure in learning.
See what experiential learning is all about.
Directions to the shop below
See activities from previous updates below
On April 24 we completed putting together the backbone
transom, keel batten, stem and chine logs.
Lofting of the new 13ft. Periwinkle was completed on April 17.
Volunteers: Bill, Roger, Richard and Bob hard at work on the lofting
On Saturday, April 3, we made significant progress on the expanded lofting floor which will allow us to lay out the new boat.
Panels under way for expansion of the lofting floor.
Such a beautiful space to work in!!!!!
Those are the masts of the USS Constitution out the window.
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Thursday Night, April 1, We completed the longer strongback for building the bigger boats.
Remember that the shop is open Thursdays from 4-7PM and Saturdays from 10AM-2PM. We will be there to organize whoever wants to stop by to work. This is a great opportunity for all of you who have often fantasized about building a boat but the project always seemed to big or you didn't have the space. Having others to work with, our experienced staff to teach you what you need to know and our beautiful shop space in Building 125 at the Charlestown Navy Yard to work in will make it seem easy.
COME ON DOWN AND JOIN IN THE FUN!!!
FUNDING UPDATE
Your tax deductible donation can be made on our web site
As we near the end of our fiscal year we still have a small budget gap. Your help to close that gap would be sincerely appreciated. Our funders, listed below, have been more than generous given the economic conditions and the fact that we are a new, small organization working outside the box. Your tax deductible donation can be made on our web site or mailed to our fiscal sponsor, Third Sector New England. Checks should be made out to BFB/TSNE and mailed to TSNE, 89 South Street, Boston, MA 02111.
You can also purchase one of the student built boats to help support our program. It will surely attract attention on your dock while giving you a great story to tell about your support for the kids that built it. See details below.
DIRECTIONS TO THE SHOP
We are in historic Building 125 at the Charlestown Navy Yard. The easiest way to get there is to catch the T's inner harbor ferry at Long Wharf. It is a 10 minute ride to the Navy Yard. Building 125 is right at the top of the gangway when you leave the boat. If driving, enter the Navy Yard off Chelsea Street at 5th St. After the first stop sign go straight ahead onto Baxter Rd. Building 125 is at the end on the right. You are looking for the building in the drawing below
Boston Family Boat Building brings critical academic subjects and skills -- math, science, social studies, spatial thinking, reading and writing -- to life with experiential learning opportunities for school children. It is a unique program serving Boston Public Schools elementary school children that draws on the outstanding natural features of Boston and its rich history. Now in its third year, the program works with 4th and 5th graders to learn navigation skills in the Harbor, construct a seaworthy 10-foot wooden rowing vessel and learn about earlier Bostonians, particularly African Americans, who worked in the maritime trades. Check out all our programs to bring exciting experiential learning opportunities to students of the Boston Public Schools at
Boston Family Boat Building is supported by volunteers, individual donors and funding from The Jane B. Cook 1983 Charitable Trust, Lawrence and Lillian Solomon Fund,
Amelia Peabody Foundation, Cabot Family Charitable Trust and
George A Ramlose Foundation.
Development of Building 125 as a maritime education center is sponsored by
Atlantic Maritime Heritage Foundation and NPS
