Bob Cratchitt hard at work

I've been teasing poor Bub Dares, who's been in religiously this holiday season, comparing him to Ebenezer Scrooge's clerk from A Christmas Carol. Nearly every day over the holidays, Bub has come in to our rather chilly shops, stoked up the fires (at least, unlike Scrooge, we're generous with the fuel!), then sanded and varnished the dozens of hackmatack deck beams that are due to be placed in the twin schooners next week. No, Bub does not have a handicapped boy at home (only his dog Smoke) and Dave hasn't had visions of funky ghosts in the night (has he?).

The view from Montague

Here's a picture of the view from the backyards along Lunenburg's Montague Street these days as the gang continues fitting the deck beams on our twin schooners.

Like father, like son

It's a family affair at the Dory Shop Boatyard these days as master builder Dave Westergard's son, Kyle, lends a hand with the deck beams for these twin schooners. Not exactly a mirror image, but there's an intensity of purpose that nonetheless says 'outta my way.'

Back at 'er

There's consensus on the Lunenburg waterfront these days, a sure sign of the Apocalypse I fear, but nonetheless everyone agrees it sure is great to see our gang back hard at work on these twin schooners.

In point of fact, the guys have been back at it for more than two weeks now; as Dave might say, "it's only the photographer who's been a slacker."

There's also been lots of discussion about things like deck layout as the gang work on sheer and bilge clamps and prepare to start making the deck beams.

Meanwhile, lobster fishing season has started too with catches being landed at the wharf alongside the boatyard and many more fishermen trucking their harvest to neighbouring Lunenburg Fish Company.

Sunshine, schooners and lobster too? Life is good in Lunenburg.

Perfect plank, beaming boatbuilder

Dave's back from a very successful trip to the West Coast where he finalized the purchase of our planking for these twin schooners.

We're going to be using Alaskan yellow cedar, a member of the Cypress family, known for excellent durability and workability.

Dave was really impressed with the Surrey, British Columbia mill where these giant logs were sawn.

"It was a really professional place, very efficient," he said. But most importantly, he is soooo pleased with the wood.

"It's beautiful stuff, clear...perfect really. As a builder, I'm really, really, pleased. (Editor's note: this by Dave standards is practically gushing!)

The plank, which needs about three months to dry, will be shipped East later this fall.

Work on the vessels, which were framed up last spring and have sat seasoning under cover these last few months, will resume shortly with construction of the deck beams.

Can't wait to see wood chips again!

Pretty boats to inspire you

It's been a pretty long time since we've posted anything to the Twin Schooner Project blog. As explained in a post late last spring, after hanging the sheer planks, we engaged in an extended and fully planned summer break during which time the frames could season (ie, dry out nicely under fitted covers) and so Dave could enjoy some summer sailing on his schooner, Sea Change.
But summer's well over now and it's soon time to start making wood chips again! Dave's been busy for a few weeks already, sourcing plank stock and making plans. In fact, he's flying off this weekend to the West Coast to oversee sawing of some excellent timbers. More on that soon!
In the meantime, to whet your keen appetites for beautiful schooners, here are some pictures from the Nova Scotia Schooner Association's Fall Classic held September 18. Thanks to Maggie Ostler, sailing aboard the Westergard-built Kitty Cochran, for the following report and pictures:

Rocket schooner launched

It's always great fun to attend a boat launch. And we were particularly pleased to be on hand a few weeks ago for the launch of a vessel that's been described variously as a 'fusion schooner,' the 'next generation of the schooner,' and, our favourite, the 'rocket schooner' Farfarer.

Built for Capt. Frank Blair by Covey Island Boatworks, Farfarer is a 58-ft cousin to the Maggie B., Blair's earlier Nigel Irons designed and Covey-built schooner with which he circumnavigated the globe. Sadly, the Maggie B was destroyed in the same fire that razed Covey Island's former plant at Petite Riviere. Throughout construction, Blair has stressed that he was not looking to recreate the Maggie B. but instead build something new and exciting in its own right.

That he's accomplished with this unique schooner.

During the launch, Capt. Tom Gallant, skipper of the schooner Avenger, thanked Blair for "finding virtue in the schooner rig," while Sandy McMillan of Lunenburg-based North Sails Atlantic, the company that built Farfarer's sails, called her "the next evolution of the schooner rig."

Blair plans to take Farfarer on a voyage inspired by the classic tale The Aeneid.