First Batch of Paint Designs!

Measure Twice, Cut Once!

Before anyone started cutting or drilling through the expensive pile of marine plywood that now decorates the Art room, we thought it might be a good time to have a refresher course or measuring. In the photo, students in Christy Hartman's science class are working on several labs designed to improve their measuring skills. The guys completed exercises in both Science and Math involving measurement.

The guys have also finished their boat paint schemes and we'll be posting them very soon. We'd like everyone to post a comment telling us their favorite design so we can choose a scheme.

I recieved a new tub of epoxy hardener and a few odds and ends in the mail today. We'll start the hull assembly tomorrow!

Row, Row, Row your......that's really a boat??

As the students finally started to believe that the pile of materials and tools in the art room is going to become a kayak, and they read parts of the instruction manual in English, their enthusiasm began to be evident. Today in Art we watched a short portion of the building video that came with the boat kit. The students had a conversation about what parts of the kayak they have become familiar with so far, and we made a list of these terms that will be continued in their boat building journals.
















After watching the beginning of the video, we all began sketches of what we think the color design of the kayak should be. When the students finish, we will display all of the ideas, and vote on what we think will work best. The boat will probably be a combination of bright work (finished wood) and colored marine paint.

--Christi

And so it begins...

The guys have been reading a Ben Mikaelson novel titled, Red Midnight. In the book, a young Guatemalan refugee escapes his war torn country with his younger sister in a cayuco (a wooden handmade kayak). He faces treacherous seas, pirates, soldiers and near starvation before arriving at his destination in Florida.

So... when the opportunity came up for YBEC Frankford to build a 21' Chesapeake Lightcraft Chesapeake Double kayak kit, we jumped at the chance. The kit is what's called a stitch and glue wooden boat. The wooden panels are literally stitched together with wire before glass and epoxy are added to create a tough and light monocoque shell.

The students will be reading the manual in English class and performing most of the build in Art with Christi. The kit should require around a total of 90 hours to build. We'll build the boat over the next few months and take her out for her maiden voyage during our spring 4-day trip in May.

We'll post photos and updates of our progress on the blog but for now please take a moment to check out the Chesapeake Lightcraft website and the Chesapeake Double here:

http://www.clcboats.com/



-Lane