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Lewes boat building weekend a success

June 26, 2014

It was a lovely weekend by the canal at the Lewes Life-Saving Station Museum for those that participated in, and supported, this year’s Lewes Historical Society Family Boat Building Weekend in historic Lewes June 13-15.

The Lewes Historical Society’s Wooden Boat Crew taught participating groups how to construct 12-foot Bevin’s Skiffs. Beginning with a kit assembled by volunteers, the groups finished with their very own handmade wooden boats. The boats were then launched at the Lewes Canalfront Park where the builders realized that they not only constructed really amazing vessels, but their boats really did float!

The Lewes Historical Society would like to thank the 2014 builders including teams Evans, Kocher, Lieb, Strumsky, Wyss, and Zawislak.

This year’s Family Boat Building Weekend wouldn’t have been possible without the support from generous sponsors including The Pilots Association for the Bay & River Delaware, Lewes Wooden Boat Fund, Issel Family, Mr. P’s Pizza, Touch of Italy, West Marine, and the Wooden Boat Crew Oarsmen.  Additional thanks to the University of Delaware College of Earth, Ocean and Environment.

Special thanks to all the wonderful volunteers that are a part of The Lewes Historical Society’s Wooden Boat Crew: Jim and Susan Bertholet, Loren Bystol, Joe DeFeo, Irv Eberhart, Mel Fortney, Jim and Ken Gent, Pete Hansot, Rick Hoenan, Bob Hyberg, Peter Issel, Al Klineburger, Bob and PJ Kotowski, Jim and Carol McKelvey, Jack Mooney, Chuck Moore, John Seipp, Alex Sydnor and Mike Taylor.  Additional thanks to event photographer, Tom Mason.

I would also like to thank the staff of The Lewes Historical Society, John McGovern, Jenny Manning, Barb Shelton, and Rose Valone, for their help with this program.

The Lewes Historical Society’s Wooden Boat Crew keeps this program running year-round as they construct boats to be raffled to benefit The Lewes Historical Society, visit schools to expand the boat building project into local curriculum, and build the kits necessary for groups to assemble their boats during the Boat Building Weekend.  Stop by Fred’s Barn at the Historic Complex at 110 Shipcarpenter Street, Lewes, during the Historic Lewes Farmers Market to enter in the handmade boat raffle and see the Crew at work.

Anyone interested in registering for next year’s boat build, sponsoring a boat for a community group or family, joining the Volunteer Crew or learning more about The Lewes Historical Society’s Wooden Boat Program, please visit www.HistoricLewes.org or call 302-645-7670.

E. Michael DiPaolo
executive director
Lewes Historical Society

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