Family Boat Building Fills Boathouse

Four families spent the week between Christmas and New Year’s building two-person “skin on frame” watercraft at the Toledo Community Boathouse. The design, by boatbuilder Dave Gentry of West Virginia, is taken from a famous 1903 design. Boathouse volunteer Andrew Linn said Gentry “allowed me to modify his design.” Linn said he chose this particular design because “people who have never done this can do it witih very little instruction.” The frame contains only 18 pieces of wood, which was milled at Siletz River Lumber. After the frame is assembled, it is covered with 8 ounce polyester, which is then heated for shrinking. Linn said Boathouse volunteers cut the parts, sanded them and coated them with a sealant to protect them from the elements. Construction was done using simple tools, including a hand saw and clamps. The Lashing was accomplished with a homemade fid, a rope-working tool created by combining a piece of dowel and a knitting needle. In the few places where screws were needed for assembly, the crew selected durable deck screws. “This is the perfect boat for a frugal person,” Linn said, adding anyone could build one for “less than $300.” While the skin is a bit delicate and needs to be protected from rocks and sharp objects, it is very lightweight, between 30 and 40 pounds. “And, the lighter the boat, the more you use it,” Linn said. The program was funded by a grant from the Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund.

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