Whaleboat convergence @ Mystic

 Gannon and Benjamin

The Gannon and Benjamin whaleboat surfaced alongside the small boat docks.

Beetle 

Michelle is my liaison at Beetle and she has been great, responsive and on top of her game.

Great Lakes Boat Building School

Beautifully finished interior, with bright ceiling planks, buff/cream planks and frames to compliment the blue grey.

The Apprenticeshop

Center and right are apprentices Simon Jack and Dan Creishar, crew on the boat on it's sail to Mystic

Skipper on the Apprenticeshop's sail and oar cruise from Rockland ME to Mystic, Brian McCarthy

Rocking the Boat

My brother John views the RTB boat.

 Independence Seaport's boat occupying ground recently vacated by the CW Morgan.

all photos and captions copyright Thomas Armstrong

 

It was another exhilarating year at the WoodenBoat show. Six of the ten whaleboat project boats were on view, those built by The Apprenticeshop, which boat, so in the spirit of Lance Lee, was brought to Mystic by apprentices, rowing sailing and occasionally being towed, Beetle Boat Shop, Gannon and Benjamin Marine Railway, Great Lakes Boat Building School, Independence Seaport Museum's Workshop on the Water and Rocking the Boat. Seeing so many of the whaleboats up close, that I'd only seen virtually before was a huge treat. I really can't fault any of the boats, they all exhibit a high degree of craftsmanship. Five of the six were in pristine condition, the exception being the Apprenticeshop's boat, which bore the signs of it's rite of passage, being rowed and sailed to the event. Patina, let's call it. It was nice to see some wear on the boat, and illuminating, as to how quickly it accrued. The originals were built with the expectation of lasting for a whaleship cruise, average three years, and then replaced. See more on 70.8%,including a skills demo by Walt and Evelyn Ansel on caulking.