As with any other family, the covid-19 situation has made us rethink many things that we do and how we do them. As Big Boat Man was getting ready to order core materials for this St. Pierre boat, our national news signaled another possible social lock down. So instead of ordering wood as it was required, BBM ordered the whole shebang. He figured if he was going to be bound to our property again, he was going to at least be able to make progress on this next boat. In any case, the news was incorrect and Brynn assisted his piling the wood under his work area. He admitted he couldn’t have bent over double in the tight work space where she sorted and stacked the wood for him. He said it was a bit like watching the Ocean’s Eleven movie in real life when she crawled out of the hole that remained. He was a tad worried also when she finally stood up straight and had a beet red face.

The first step of the build is ensuring there is a straight frame off which to work. The floor of the workshop is not even. The picture shows the skeleton on which the frame will be built. It does not show how this new boat will come within about 12 inches of each end of the workshop, and will only leave about 10 inches each side. Each time the subject of turning this boat comes up, BBM changes the subject. I take this as an indication that he hasn’t worked it out yet. I have suggested several options which I believe would work. I’m very generous when it comes to suggestions. I figure in the end he will just weed through and pick out any useful bits in his own time.

So, BBM started marking out measures and checking, rechecking them. While imperial measures are not a problem, he has to switch the American imperial measures around. He frowns when I mention a 2 x 6. It is, in fact, a 6 x 2. Who knew? Actually, who cares? I keep some of my thoughts to myself. Brynn’s helpful suggestion was for him to just convert everything to metric. Overall, he is kind as he bats our helpful suggestions aside.

As the measuring and marking proceeded, I reminded him that he just needs to build ONE boat this time. He has the plans, and it is a simpler boat. He muttered something about my still not understanding how pieces need to be trialed in their place to make sure everything fits before being secured in final place. But then, joy of joys, he came home for lunch the other day and said that he thought this boat would go very quickly once all the pieces were ready. I said, like a kit set? Yes! With proper plans for building the boat this time, it appears that everything will go together with much less angst than last time – provided all the imperial measures and take offs are correct in the first place.

BBM is much more relaxed with this boat. The other night he found a St. Pierre boat on YouTube which had a flat bow. That was curious. Reading, he found that the builder admitted not everything fit smoothly in the end, and his solution was to just cover the front with a flat piece of wood. These wooden boats are very forgiving and it seems just about anything can be modified or covered without impacting negatively on the overall boat.

The other thing BBM is more relaxed about is the colour(s) of this boat. He quite likes the look of some of the Mediterranean boats with their multi-coloured hulls and their designs which vary from pictures to diamonds and other repeating shapes. I truly cannot picture what this boat will look like in my mind. The oars are made already. They have a red stripe on them. I’m sure the boat won’t be red though. Possibly white, green, and blue on the hull with decorations in red, green, yellow, etc. I know for sure it will be the brightest boat on the Kapiti Coast! I like that thought when I think of anyone searching for the boat in rough seas.

That reminds me of BBM’s desire to be given a Viking funeral on one of his boats and put to sea alit. This is, of course, illegal. BBM looks at me. I know that look. He’s wondering, what will it matter whether or not it’s illegal? What could they do to him at that point?

Yesterday we attended a funeral of someone BBM deeply respected. While funerals used to be for friends who were ‘only’ five years older, we are now attending funerals for those who are five years younger. Obviously this causes us to consider what is important in the time we have.

BBM turned to me on the way home and exclaimed how little time he has to finish the boat before the fishing season starts.