Published bimonthly by
Volume XXIV Number 1 January 2003
The Center for Wooden Boats 1010 Valley Street Seattle, WA 98109
ISSN 0734-0680 1992 CWB
Boatyard Blues By J.C. Rimes
The Pirate emerging from the shop; Framing for Pirate cabin trunk and decking; Pirate in the mid-winter regatta off Los Angeles Harbor, February 1934. Rhoda R. Adamson at helm, Ed Geary whisper-ing in her ear. The restored Pirate will have the same rig.
This epic poem was written by Joe Cable, Pirate volunteer and donor, on the completion of Phase I of the monumental restoration of the 1926 R class sloop Pirate, a Ted Geary design. The first phase was at THE BOATWRIGHT, the shop of Brad Rice. Over a period of 2+ years, the hull was restored by Brad, Joe, and a corps of others, led by Scott Rohrer, to ready her for decking and caulking. Pirate is expected to be ready to sail as part of CWB’s “Cast Off,” free rides this coming summer.
B OATYARD B LUES Goin’ down to the boatyard, think I got the boatyard blues… Down to the boatyard…. Packin’ up my bag of tools… Goin’ down to the boatyard, yep I got them boatyard blues… Knock the sawdust off my britches, gather up them scattered tools… It’s a monumental moment, still I got these boatyard blues… Goin’ down to the boatyard, an’ I got them boatyard blues… See the place was like a clubhous…planers, join’ers, tablesaws… heat ‘n eatin’ pizza Sunday’s, while the Seahawks play footbawl… Man the place was like a clubhouse, gonna miss them dusty walls… Dave’s shavin’ down the deck beams, Daniel’s bending’ brass to stem… Paul’s got that cockpit cookin’, we are craftin’ us a gem… Nick’s carvin’ out a ladder, what a solid place to stand… Joe’s droppin’ by on Sundays, just to lend a helpin’ hand… Scott’s shapin’ up the transom, he says boys we gotta move… Brad’s fit that last teak plank now, an’ he’s reefed most ev’ry groove… Someday this boat be floatin’, not a race this boat will lose… But for now one things for certain, we all got the boatyard blues… Goin’ down to the boatyard, an’ we got them boatyard blues. Red lead an’ cuprous oxide, white lead an’ green death too… Paints n’ solvents all packed up now, wonderin’ what we gonna do… Goin’ down to the boatyard, got the cold an’ drafty, wet an’ nasty, Dark an’ dreary, Mr. Geary we’re so weary… Must be 5200 shades of, yes you best believe I got them Goin’ down to the boatyard blues. The boat was moved on Thursday, sittin’ pretty at SeaView… First good look at all our hard work, step back man what a view… The fluid lines sheer beauty, our spirits are renewed… You can almost see the end now, ain’t that some damned good news. Wipe your eye, no need to cry, just grab you bag an’ say goodbyte to… Them mean old boatyard blues. Shavings 1