Bonding families by building boats
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| At the Reedville Fishermen’s Museum (RFM), family teams worked together to construct the “Mabel Skiff” designed specifically by the late Jay Rohmann, founder of the RFM Boat Shop and named after his granddaughter. |
by Shannon Rice
Family Boatbuilding was developed as a way to bring families and groups together into a fun, achievement-oriented project in many waterfront communities on the East Coast.
Two Rivah country localities, Deltaville and Reedville, host a Family Boatbuilding Week each summer that have become so popular the available spots are filled quickly.
Family Boatbuilding Week provides an inexpensive introduction to boating, beginning with the basic construction of a dinghy or skiff, and ending with a family’s first adventure on the water in its very own boat.
Family Boatbuilding Week attracts school groups, community organizations, and families that sometimes include three generations—grandparents, parents and children.
Although other localities offer similar workshops, this year the museum stood alone as the last remaining organization in the U.S. offering a week-long seminar for building a watercraft from actual pieces of wood. The only others remaining are either using plywood or plastics and non-traditional techniques. said museum events director Bill Powell.
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| In addition to the the skills boatbuilders use in classic wooden boat construction, participants were taught how to use wood-working tools and techniques. |
“Our area should be proud that we, and we alone, are still preserving a history and methodology that has been part of what has made us great,” said Powell.
This is only appropriate because Deltaville was known as the Boatbuilding Capital of the Chesapeake Bay in the heyday of wooden boats decades ago.
Although some modern tools and sealants are used during the basic construction, methods used in Deltaville are the same as have been used by bay boat builders for centuries, said museum president Bob Kates.
A total of seven groups worked together from July 10–15 to complete 14-foot versions of the Wright Skiff. This was the first year that all the boats were done in the 14-foot version, said Powell. In years past, the 12-foot skiff has predominated.
Each boat was given a hand-lettered original name and blessed by Skipper Steve Smith, better known as Kaptain Krunch. He guided the boatbuilders’ efforts throughout the week and also painted names on the boats when they were completed.
Although a lot of hard labor and sweat went into the construction of the skiffs, most workshop attendees said it was the experience that made the week special; not the boats themselves.
“These aren’t boats,” said Kates. “They’re memories.”
The family of Mary and Tom Evans made memories that will carry on over the years as they had three generations of family members working on their boat.
“It’s great that we can all do something together,” said Mary Evans.
A rowing race, named “The Great Skiff Race,” featured the completed skiffs in competition at the museum waterfront on Mill Creek, and capped off the week’s activities. A prize was awarded to all participants, and a celebratory fish fry followed.
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| Each family had a museum boat shop member assigned who worked with them throughout the week to ensure they were progressing correctly. The coach also ensured that all members of the family, from the youngest child to the grandparents, were actively involved in the creation of the skiff. |
This year’s Family Boatbuilding Week was held July 24–26 with a total of 10 families participating.
Dick Doyle and Pete Kauneckas, co-chairs of the museum’s boat shop, taught families many of the skills boat builders use in classic wooden boat construction, such as woodworking tools and techniques.
On the final day, groups left with their own “Mabel Skiff.”
“Jay Rohman, who passed away last year, designed the rowboat and named it after one of his granddaughters,” said Katrina Lawrimore, museum director.
An event just for the kids, the children’s model building workshop was held August 1–5.
This year, a group of six kids ages 11 to 16 worked together to create a diorama of a coal mine complete with a window to view the inside of the mine.
Most of the group was comprised of kids who have participated in the workshop for up to five years.
“They used to give them an hour for lunch, but now the kids are so into their work they hardly take 15 minutes,” said model building chairman Bob Dillon.
Dillon said the returning participants have progressed so much over the years that they are “practically professional model builders.”
