Even in the model, my grandfather was very detailed. Everything was done by hand. The floor of the boat was made from individual pieces of wood. The floor in the center of the boat is raised and separate from the floor in the bow and stern. The side and back rails were all individual pieces that could be removed. He designed the oar locks to fold down out of the way. He also made the oars from scratch. The canopy was cut out of canvas. When the model was done, he gave it a camo paint job using separate colors. The boat is approximately 36" long and is 12" wide at the widest point.
My grandfather passed away last November. Yesterday would have been his 90th birthday. This boat is now proudly displayed in my home office. It serves as a great reminder of his design and woodworking skills and his attention to detail.
You can click on the photos for a much larger view. I had to scale them down in the post to fit the width of the column.
10 comments:
It's really awesome, Brian. Being able to lay your hands on something tangible, that he personally designed and crafted with such care, must give you a real sense of connection to him. Another great post to honor your grandfather...
Brian, your grandfather's work on that model is amazing. I looked through the pictures before I read your story and I thought that was a full-size boat.
I recently lost my grandfather, and I understand how much that piece must mean to you. Enjoy it as you enjoy his memory!
This is absolutely incredible. The detail and precision in his work- that is an amazing treasure you have there Brian!
There is something about the past and those we love- holding their talent in our hands is a beautiful reminder of what was....and yet still does carry on in a way.
Thanks for sharing this with us!
That is such a great piece! Like Mark, I also thought it was a full-size until I read through your post. What an incredibly detailed memento! It's be awesome to see one full-size to that amount of detail.
Thank you for sharing. ~Al
Good morning folks and I'm sure some of you are watching hurricane Irene's movements especially if you live on the east coast. ............. I have a post called "Lancaster on 2 wheels" today on Amish Stories where i tour the Amish country side taking pictures and observations which I've just posted................Enjoy your weekend everyone and i hope your out of Irene's path and safe. Richard from Amish Stories.
That model is amazing. I could only imagine what a full size layout would have looked like.
I'm sure that you will have fond memories every time you look at it.
That's a nice looking sneak boat - good design, well made. Very cool.
Thanks for the kind remarks! This is just a small tangible way to remember my grandfather.
Looks like it would be a great boat.
Beautiful little boat Brian. What a great way to keep your granddad always close by buddy. lb
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