The oar workshop went extremely well. The days were long and full of sawdust, shavings, and surprisingly few tears. Here is Bill shaping his blank.

More oars getting their shafts laminated. We are looking for the thick ends of our oars to be well over two inches in diameter, but our ash and cedar stock is well under two inches. So we are gluing on added thickness–walnut, mahogany, tzalam, teak…

Tony octagonalizing his oar shafts. From there they go to sixteen-aeons, then thirty-two-aeons, then round.

Excelsior! Some very expensive fire starter. It is wonderful hearing the shop full of the sound of sharp planes cutting, seeing the floor pile ever higher with shavings.

Bill defining his centerline in the laser lounge.

Two-tone shavings–walnut on Port Orford cedar.

Such pretty things!

Cutting handles on Big Jim, the mighty band saw, while the wee level makes sure the cut is plumb.

Betsy sanding down her grips.

And yet more oars coming out of the factory.

As the final ten-hour day draws to a close, a spontaneous party erupts. A bit of gin to honor Martin Litton’s hundredth, and a bit of dancing to celebrate friendship and the birth of a dozen new oars.