September Rivah Visitor's Guide - The Rappahannock Record

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Although traditional building techniques were used in the construction of the boats, power tools such as sanders and saws gave the builders an edge. Some groups had as many as three generations of family members working together. Skipper Steve Smith, better known as Kaptain Krunch, guided the boatbuilders’ efforts throughout the week. Here he shows participants how to properly seal their skiffs. This team employed all members to ensure that every nook and cranny of its skiff was sealed. Boatbuilding teams were fortunate to work under the museum pavilion during the hot week in July. 16 A total of seven groups worked together at the Deltaville Maritime Museum during Family Boatbuilding Week from July 10–15 to complete 14-foot versions of the Wright Skiff.
Bonding families by building boats by Shannon Rice Family Boatbuilding was developed as a way to bring families and groups together into a fun, achievementoriented 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. Deltaville The Deltaville Maritime Museum was buzzing with the sound of saws and the chatter of families during its 9th annual Family Boatbuilding Week in July. 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. “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. Reedville The Reedville Fishermen’s Museum offers their own annual Family Boatbuilding Week, which includes a three -day boatbuilding workshop as well as a children’s model building workshop. 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.” 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. In addition to the the skills boatbuilders use in classic wooden boat construction, participants were taught how to use wood-working tools and techniques. 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. 17
Page 2 and 3: Visit us soon! 2
Page 4 and 5: Waterfront is Our Specialty - 2 Loc
Page 6 and 7: Events t 5 ets $35 in advance (776-
Page 8 and 9: Events t 7 Club, Hartfield. 776- 98
Page 10 and 11: To avoid disappointment, call the n
Page 12 and 13: It happened here by Larry S. Chowni
Page 14 and 15: Edwardsville Day set for September
Page 18 and 19: If you have a Rivah House, you need
Page 20 and 21: All area codes are 804 unless other
Page 22 and 23: Kekoka Music Festival; RiverRide ev
Page 24 and 25: Marinas t23 453-3560 s Smith Point
Page 26 and 27: Rivah Fare Review The Sandpiper Res
Page 28 and 29: Dining t27 Hwy. 693-3851 or 694-585
Page 30 and 31: Rivah Reader Recipes 30 Dining Bu
Page 32 and 33: Kanyon R. Keeney, D.D.S.
Page 34 and 35: Boat Show to feature parade and oys
Page 36 and 37: Lodging 35 t suites just across the
Page 38 and 39: All campgrounds provide full water,
Page 40 and 41: Rivah Parks & Recreation All area c
Page 42 and 43: Model Builders photos and story by
Page 44 and 45: (continued from the previous page)
Page 46 and 47: Rivah Museums & Historic Sites All
Page 48 and 49: Museums t 47 Admission is $5 for ad
Page 50 and 51: Where can you go in Rivah Country f
Page 52 and 53: Diversions t 51 s Westmoreland Berr
Page 54 and 55: 301 Potomac Gateway Visitor Center
Page 56 and 57: Harvest Festival to offer variety o
Page 58 and 59: Lancaster County History Indians oc
Page 60 and 61: latitude: 37.637° N longitude: 76.
Page 62 and 63: Richmond County History Known as th
Page 64: You’ll never want to leave. Retre

September Rivah Visitor's Guide - The Rappahannock Record

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