Wednesday, February 1, 2012

What's under the tent?

It was hard enough to build the frame, but then the shrink wrap, now it's respirators and hard work. Lucky for us we've had this experience before. It's a blessing that we found someone who know's his stuff this time, last time Dave did the work alone. For the first time in years Dave is not the captain. It must be his age mellowing him for I don't see any of the bristling to get the job done. He's fond of saying, "Pick up the pace or pick up your tools." The last time he worked with fiberglass was in his parent's yard on Beach Point in 1975. He decided the only way to save the 'Egg Harbor' was to cover the entire boat with a thick layer of glass. The hull was as strong as any little boat could get, but that was the problem, the boat was too little. Another that Dave covered in fiberglass clothe was the 'Wildflower'. We put it into a building that his uncle Frank Diogo had built in a field. While the building was being built we were building the boat. Uncle Frank let us keep it in his unfinished warehouse in the back, while he and a crew worked in the front to make shops. The 'Wildflower' a forty-two foot inshore fishing boat, sat on stanchions just like the 'Richard & Arnold' is now, only the R&A is twenty feet longer. Under the tent they are preparing to put layers of liquid of glass followed by sheets of clothe. Mother Nature is helping us with warmer than expected temperatures, I understand it is caused by solar flares, but for whatever reason we are grateful. The men in the tent look eerily-odd, otherworldly and alien dressed in white plastic suits, to keep their lungs protected they wear masks. The cocoon of white plastic surrounds their world and the work moves slowly forward. We are  looking forward to spring and a butterfly.  

www.provincetownfishwife.com

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