Family Boatbuilding Week

Family Boatbuilding Week at Maritime Park

     “Great Skiff Race”, Fish Fry Saturday

                    By Bill Powell

 

This is it! This is the week at the Deltaville Maritime Museum when families from all over the country turn sticks of wood into sleek, floating work skiffs. The 10th Annual Family Boatbuilding Week celebrates the satisfying hands-on experience of working with your family in wood and creating something that is totally yours. Over 100 “Wright” skiffs have been built by over 1000 family members over the past 9 years of Family Boatbuilding Weeks history.

 

“This is the annual event at the Museum that most encompasses our mission. Boatbuilding Week teaches families historic woodworking skills, gathers families in the Nature Park for a week together, and preserves a workcraft that has been the “light utility vehicle” of Bay watermen throughout Bay Maritime history,” pointed out Chuck McGhinnis, Boatshop director. “You really need to see the boatbuilding in progress to get a feel for what a wonderful thing this is!”

 

All are welcome to stop by the Maritime Park any time through this Saturday and watch the progress as stacks of wood have become 8 discrete, floating, watercraft. Watch and kibitz as the families and groups work in concert to form a thing of beauty.

 

By today the skiffs will be in their final stages of completion, taking their finished form and being made ready to paint and name. On Friday, the skiffs will be painted their final color, Krunch will  letter the names and the boats splashed to allow the planks to swell.

 

Then, on Saturday, the 21st, the finished skiffs enter the “Great Skiff Race” at 10 Am. Watch as the intrepid  skiff builders jockey for position behind the starting line.  Listen for the blast of the F.D. Crockett’s newly installed air horn signaling the start. Enjoy the “free for all” as the boats “bumper car” around the windward mark. Who will cross the finish line first? Come out and see for yourself.

 

As an added bonus, the Museum’s classic restored workboat, the “Cooper Hill”, will be on hand as both race “committee boat” and a platform for photos and watching the race “up close and personal”. Come early and there may be a spot for you.

 

 The Museum’s own painstakingly replicated John Smith 1608 shallop, “Explorer”, will  act as the turn buoy, and you can bet on plenty of hijinks when the “Explorer Society” hams it up as the intrepid race crews go by. Is that a cannon I hear?

 

Afterwards, MC Kaptain Krunch himself will hand out trophies to the survivors.

 

The annual Family Boatbuilding Week Fish Fry will follow the awards ceremony. Advance tickets $10 adults/$5,children under 12, at Nauti-Nell’s and Museum office.

 

Deltaville Maritime Museum and Holly Point Nature Park, an all volunteer, all donation, non-profit organization, is located in Deltaville, VA. at 287 Jackson Creek Road, and by water  on Mill Creek .The Museum is now a Wi-Fi hot spot. To get to the Museum and Park, follow Route 33 through Deltaville and turn right across from the Shell Station. The Park is open dawn to dusk all year.

 

To find out more about the Museum, its offerings, open hours, events schedule, event tickets, donate, become a member, donate or volunteer, visit the website at www.deltavillemuseum.com , or Google “Deltaville Maritime Museum”. You may also e-mail the Museum office at: museumpark@verizon.net, write to Box 466, Deltaville, VA or call the officeat 804- 776-7200.

 

                                                   -end-

 

For more information, photos, details or questions, contact:

 

Bill Powell

wdwrks@oonl.com, or call cell 804-695-4678