Willie Bennett Kit has finally arrived (Title changed by Moderator)

[scottpollack]

well , i got home from work tonight about 2100 and found 2 packages awaiting for me. its was like christmas. my willie bennet kit has finally arrived along with 2 books , " skipjack , the story of america's last sailing oystermen" by christopher white  and " the skipjack" model boat building by steve rogers

 

now i just need a few weeks off from work to get going!!!! i will start a build log as soon as i get going with it

[Timmo]

Oh how I understand that joy. Even better when It's just the kit arriving rather than a slip in the letter box demanding the extra tax paid before they release it.

[gjdale]

Congratulations Scott, I wish you much joy in your build.

[gerty]

Congratulations Scott -  look forward to following along !

[mischief]

V.R. Grimwood's book American ship Models and how to build them also contains info. on building a Chesapeake Bay Skipjack.

[scottpollack]

mischief - thanks for the book title, i will certainly check it out. you can never have too much info

 

gerty - hope you dont mind me tagging along with you too

 

it'll be about 3 weeks for me to get started as we are moving and i dont want anything lost or broken. its the hardest 3 weeks ever! i keep looking at the box and it takes all i have not to start. aaaargh

[SkerryAmp]

Excellent Scott!

 

Welcome to the Willie Bennett club!!

 

Look forward to watching you go

 

Will tag along with ya!

 

 

-Adam

[Richard Bradfield]

As Adam said, welcome to the club. I think that makes about seven skipjack builds underway.

[SkipJack]

I to am building a Skipjack. I began construction about 2 yrs ago and had to stop. Honey do lists just kept getting longer every year! I am almost 60 and it seems with each passing year there is more and more to do around the house and with the Lady of the house as well.

 

I decided last summer that I would finish the Wille Bennett after a visit to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museaum with my grandson. This visit led to his introduction to the skipjack. Just as his grandfather had over fourty years earlier, he fell in love with the vessel. I have been following the restoration of the Rosie Parks by the museum since they began the arduous task over three years ago. What craftsmaship! I encourage you and everyone else to visit their website and Youtube channel. The Rosie Parks is back on the bay now with pride in her sails. She is absolutely beautiful!

 

That visit helped spark a passion in my grandson. He even made a trip to Delaware to find the Barbara Batchelder built by Bronza Parks, (the legendary Maryland boat builder who built the Rosie Parks). That Skipjack was built for the Dupont's at the same time Rosie was built but, it was built as a personal yacht not an oyster dredge. He fell in love with her. So I am building the Willie Bennett as a yacht instead, just for him. It has been over 30 years since I built a ship model But I can tell you as a "lurker" that this forum is the best place to be for insight and motivation. Stick with it, It will turn out to be beautiful.

[mtaylor]

Hi Skipjack,

 

What a wonderful adventure you have going on.  How about opening a buildlog?  We'd love to see this.