Ahoy there all you boat lovers! Do you harbor a desire to build or own a wooden boat? Why not visit the Wooden Boat Exhibition at the Calgary Yacht Club during the Chestermere Water Festival on July 26th? Come out and meet other boat builders and owners. Even better bring your own pride and joy and tell your story at the Exhibition.
I long wanted to build a wooden sailboat. One cold winter day in 2007 I was surfing the Internet to see if there was a boat- building project that my primitive woodworking skills could handle. I found a design available in kit form from Wales that really caught my eye. I could not get it off my mind.
An opportunity to see the boat at the Beale Park Wooden Boat Exhibition on the River Thames west of London inspired me to take a weekend reconnaissance trip to London from Calgary. I saw many amazing and beautiful wooden boats built by hobbyists like myself. I decided to purchase the boat kit and give it a go!
The pictures below are of my Storm 17 "Prairie Orca" in build and completed. You may have seen her sailing around Chestermere Lake.
The recently established Calgary Boat Building Academy (CBBA) has really tapped into the desire of other hobbyists and adventurers to build and use their own kayaks and canoes. A few examples of kayaks and canoes built by CBBA students are expected at the Exhibition. Here is an excerpt from their latest newsletter:
"Since starting the program in November 2013, in just 8 months we have completed 2 courses with a cumulative 9 teams building 9 boats. All of the participants have learned new skills and created unique family heirlooms, which are already being put to use exploring Canada’s coastlines, rivers and lakes."
Many hobbyists have been inspired to combine their love of woodwork and interest in boating by building, restoring or maintaining a wooden boat. The upcoming Chestermere Water Festival presents an opportunity to showcase wooden boats of all descriptions at the Calgary Yacht Club.
Would you be interested in showing off your pride and joy at the Exhibition on July 26th?
Email: info@cyc.ab.ca or call the Calgary Yacht Club at 403-272-3300
