*NEW DATE!*
The Woods Hole Public Library, in conjunction with the Woods Hole Historical Museum will be presenting a live talk by two local boatbuilders on July 1, Friday, at 7 PM in the Library’s meeting room. The talk will be preceded by an open house in the adjacent Museum’s boat shop starting at 6:15 PM.
Athena Aicher and Chuck Verbeck are two professional shipwrights living in Woods Hole. They have spent the past five years working at the Gannon and Benjamin Marine Railway in Vineyard Haven, and the Quissett Harbor Boatyard, respectively. Aside from rebuilding Herreshoff 12 1/2s at Quissett, Chuck has been volunteering with the Woods Hole Historical Museum, revamping the community boat shop with a few other enthusiastic boat-lovers. At work, Athena has had the opportunity to work on a few notable restorations including the 2019-2020 rebuilding of the Alden cutter, LARK, a boat that had been a fixture in Woods Hole for many years.
They have recently decided to take on a personal restoration project— the rebuilding of a Royal Lowell clam and oyster boat built in 1967. The work is being done in the yard at Gannon and Benjamin and includes a full re-framing, new centerline timbers, new deck and rebuilt superstructures.
The public is invited to come hear the pair talk about their work and to look at photos of their progress.