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Number
Three by
Jennifer Torres Several months ago I finished my Number Three boat. I know three doesn’t sound like a lot, especially to the likes of Harvey Golden and Gabriel Romeu, whose beautiful boats, among others, graced the beaches at Camp Arrowhead this past October. But for me, it’s a grand number, and one that’s quickly getting smaller. I am already amidst the building of Number Four. Non-the-less Number Three is important because it’s the boat that propelled me solidly into traditional paddling. I had been on this course for few years already; it started when I took my first class with Mark Molina and I never looked back. Since then I have taken my Greenland Paddle to the Hudson River, Cape Cod and for a long trek on Lake Superior, among other places. I had already built two Chesapeake Light Craft stitch and glue boats, and although they are terrific vessels they didn’t quite complete the picture. I knew in my heart that there was only one solution: build a Greenland Skin-on-Frame (SOF). I read Morris and Cunningham, even talked to Mark Starr, asked questions, took notes and followed the Qajaq USA forum. I learned lots, including that there are not a great deal of lady boat builders out there (which actually, is OK by me). I followed someone’s advice to seek out local lumber mills and found Frank’s Saw Mill in Ovet, Mississippi. He specializes in pond cypress and was willing to let me dig through stacks of green clear lumber. I am sure it was a sight for them; they were completely befuddled by how I was going to build an entire boat out of just six planks of wood. It was easier not to explain. I just said it was going to be a very small boat. I surprised myself by taking on this project; the structures seemed so complicated and intricate. After reading Cunningham I began to wonder if I was making furniture or a boat. At first I felt ashamed for not sanding all the parts and not making complicated thru-tenons. I kept looking over my shoulder for the boat building police, who I was sure, were going to give me tickets for all the deck beams that were crooked or off center. So I worked only during the dead of night, being sure not to make much noise and covering my project with a sheet every morning before leaving for work. However, I discovered slowly, that perfection was not in the stars for me. I was going to have to live with all the funkiness of a hand built boat. Imagine that, settling for the imperfection of a handmade object! Actually, it was easy. Besides a few miscues and re-dos here and there, building and skinning a Greenland SOF was an extremely satisfying experience. The frame went together relatively easily (even if it is way too big, hence the commencement of building Number Four) and skinning was actually fun. A few issues came up with the finish (see the summer issue of the Masik) but nothing could get in the way of the satisfaction that comes with doing something you never thought you could do. When the boat was finally finished I set it up under the carport were I could see it from the house. Every time I’d go by that side of the house I had to detour past the window where I could gaze out at my new favorite boat. I have been paddling Number Three for months now. With it I have mastered a number of rolls I never had before and am well into getting many others. I brought it with me to Delmarva and was in it every day, every hour, until I could paddle and roll no more. Rubber arms and all I’d drag that thing back on shore, so happy to be in my so un-perfect Greenland boat. Now as I move into Number Four I know I will not hide by the darkness of night, but will build unabashedly by day, proud of the funkiness that will make my boat unique. And since four is not my favorite number I’m sure Number Five is not far behind. Jennifer and her Number 3 boat will be at the Special Membership Meeting on March 17.
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