Next steps
After finishing the thatching early in July, and suffering a misstart on the utility shed, we have been working on associated projects while waiting for the work on the Chalupa to begin again. We have built work benches and one wattle wall in anticipation of shed which has morphed into something altogether different. Stay tuned for that.
Work bench and shaving horse by Wunschel
Working at the bench in the shade of El Cobertizo
Appreciation
El Cobertizo with Spanish Colonial Flag
On Thursday the 12th, Board Member Roy Jaeger hosted a delightful beer and brats potluck for the volunteers who had just finished the Boathouse[El Cobertizo]. The site was cleaned up and the grass mowed and trimmed by Tom Cason and Bob Alvarez. Patrick Fagan lent us his grill and a good time was had by the boatbuilders and their significant others.
Volunteers enjoying the party on a beautiful summer evening
Finishing touches to El Cobertizo
With good frond hunting on Thursday evening, Alexander and a crew of 4 with the addition of Hazel Wunschel, installed the last 100 fronds to complete the 1800 square foot thatched roof of the Boathouse.
The full thatched roof of El Cobertizo
The last corner, 5000 fronds later
When we were finished, John Stavely treated us to the cold beer we had always been thinking about.
Cooling off
Finishing stages of the thatched roof
Second side thatch
The frond brigade with Alexander nailing
With steady volunteer participation, we are closing in on the last bit of thatching on ther second side of the roof. There is a lovely shady space in and around the Chalupa Keel and Rib. In addition, we have added bracing to all of the joints between the upright posts and the horizontal roof support structure.
Inside view of the thatched peak
Green fronds ready to go on the roof
Gordon, the brace meister, at work
The roof peak looking toward Hospital Creek
Thatching to the peak
Wednesday we had more of a crew and were able to continue thatching the second side. This included thatching a cap layer on the peak. It looks a little wild, like a kid needing a haircut, but hopefully it will settle as it dries
Second side with new thatch
Thatched peak from the inside
Second side roof progress
Monday Tropical Storm Debbie kept us inside out of the wind and rain. Tuesday Bob W, Gordon, and I came out ready for rain and didn’t get any. We cleaned up, installed more braces, and set up the roof peak to be thatched.
Top ridge pole ready for the cap layer
Gordon at work on braces
Connection with the maritime Basques
I received an email from Xabi Agote today. He is president of the Albaola Basque Maritime Heritage Society in Pasaia, Gipuzkoa in the Basque Country. He learned of our initiative to replicate a Chalupa based on the Red Bay Chalupa. They have recently built two Chalupas based on this design and are now going to build the whaling ship.
I’ve copied a link from their web site http://www,albaola.com which shows a chalupa being rowed in the local harbor there:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/video/2010/jun/24/travel-basque-culture?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3486.
Click on the link to see the video.
Bruce Merwin Video
Last week, film-maker Bruce Merwin visited us during a work day and put together an interesting and informative you tube video of our boathouse project. I’ve copied the link to the video here:
http://youtu.be/
Fronds from new sources
After a series of phone calls to the local tree companies, Alexander was able to arrange for pick up and delivery of green fronds from companies trimming larger stands of palmetto palms. Eddie Conlon , The Tree Medic, delivered a large truckload, and Jim King, let us pick up the green fronds from a job he was doing around the corner behind Camachee Cove Marina. All went well and we finished the day on Friday cutting a nice amount of fronds to size for installation on Monday.
Cutting new fronds to size
New fronds stacked up for sizing and installation
Working on side two
Alexander went on the hunt for more green fronds and with modest success was able to scrounge enough to enable us to move forward with the thatching project.
Scrounged fronds gracing the roof
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