The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum graciously invited our chapter members to attend presentations by their Boat Building class. Students of the alternative class of Middlebury Union High school, gave the Part 1 presentation. This beautiful 32’ Pilot Gig under construction will be the newest of the LCMM Long Boat fleet. The students are guided by long-time boat builder and restorer, Nick Patch, LCMM boat builder and educator, Jack Chappell, and Dave Richardson from the MUHS. These students participate in every aspect of the process, from choosing trees for each section of the boat, milling the wood, forming, shaping, steaming, fastening, and finishing, using traditional techniques and materials. Besides the skills and techniques used to build boats, the students develop teamwork, camaraderie, and well deserved self confidence during the effort. Soon they will finish and paint the gig, with the celebrated launching scheduled for May 26th, 2023.

Part 2 of this boat building class will be on April 6th, at 9:45. This will be given by the alternative class for the Addison County high school consortium. I’ll keep you posted as future opportunities arise to work with the Maritime Museum.