The 2025 Raffle Boat is coming along. It’s a 10.5 ft Double Paddle Fiddlehead decked canoe. The original design dates back to 1885, Rushton’s Wee Lassie, it’s strong and lightweight, it was used for canoe camping in the Adirondaks. This Fiddlehead version was designed by Harry Bryan in the 80’s. It’s planked with Eastern White Cedar cutoffs from the Whaleboat 1776 project, and has a beutiful mahogany combing. Hull will be finished with George Kirby No.33 Dark Blue topside paint, deck and combing will receive many, many, many coats of Captains spar varnish. Kirby paints has been in business in New Bedford for over 175 years. Raffle Tickets will be available at Harborfront Park and the Boat Shop, once the Sunday Farmers Market kicks off. (fb)

Planking continues! Floors are all in and fastened to the keel with silicon bronze rods and nuts. White Oak blanks for the 48 futtocks/ribs were prepared. Sitka Spruce Mast and Sprit was milled and bonded. The 6 Ash paddles are finished and being coated with boiled linseed oil/turpentine mix. 3 more Eastern White Cedar planks to go on both sides before we set the White Oak Shear planks. Phew!!! (fb)