Last Post!

Now don't take the title the wrong way!

Last shop update of 2013 - maybe.

As of today, the Red Skiff is RED and the prospective buyer has confirmed his purchase. we will be showing it in our booth at TIBS, be sure to come by as it is a bit different and quite lovely.

Mahogany sets off the red nicely

needs a few days to harden before turning over.

 And the rudder and two tiller components of the Lightning got a FINAL coat of varnish today as well (Chris)....

Plans for our booth at TIBS are coming along including a raffle of a skiff to the winners choice of colour (maybe). Details to come on this.

On display we will have 2 skiffs, the Lightning and either the TNT or a MiniMax if we get one built in time. Who's up for that project if I get the materials on the 2nd (if Noah's is open)? Anyone like to sponsor our first MiniMax?


Busy Year End and Busier New Year!

Well is has gotten to be the shortest day of the year today - which means boating is only days away! (about 150 days). However we have lots up our sleeve!

Toronto International Boatshow (TIBS)
opens Jan 11th and runs to Jan 17th
Kids & Classics Boatshops Museum has been given a booth in the foyer next to the ACBS

We look forward to this cooperative display

Our plan is to display the elements of our Boats 4 Folks Programme:
1. four kids build a 12' boat in two days - then get in it and row it!
2. The same four kids go sailing in our newly restored Lightning "Bolt"
3. And then they go for a "Sea Flea" ride in our TNT (with moderate power to start)

This redesign of our programme is intended to get some of these kids more "hooked" on the benefits of the boating way of life. The intention is that they will come back and become immersed in the culture of boatbuilding and boating.

We are looking for volunteers to join us on our booth at TIBS, get to know us better and help spread the word! For more info email us at Blackbox@cogeco.ca

Then on Feb 15 2014 Kids & Classics Boatshops Museum is hosting the ACBS Toronto Chapter Winter Workshop event! This will be a blast for sure - To be on our volunteer team contact us at the email above, also check out the ACBS website for tickets if you wish to attend and are not on our volunteer team.

Features of the day include a Chili Contest, and multiple skills development opportunities!

Useful links include:

ACBS-Toronto www.acbs.ca
TIBS http://www.torontoboatshow.coma/

Kids & Classics Boatshops Museum receives award from Ministry!

This unexpected honour was brought to us from the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, Halton Youth Justice Services.

In their letter of invitation to the award ceremony they said we were voted this honour in the "It Takes A Community" programme on account of "our outstanding community partnership with the Ministry, Youth Justice Services" which means Probation Officers.

Further the award states "Your organization provides great learning opportunities in giving our clients an opportunity to develop great skills in teamwork and seeing that they all work toward a common goal". Needless to say this is a most important recognition for us.

Following the award ceremony there was a casual conversation around the table and the feedback about some of the kids we have worked with was most welcome. It seems a few really did have a change of course in life as a result of our efforts.

Our team, their team and awards! (Umm - we're the short ones)

Fall 2013 part one

Well there has been progress this fall, here are a few pics of the action...

Jim preparing the "Red" skiff

Chris lays it on the Lightning
boom and rudder parts



Mike removes the cowl from Gas-Hopper
in preparation for stripping the paint


 K&C volunteers head to Woodwind Yachts for ACBS Fall Workshop....

Our crew consisted of MB, Grant, Jim, Chris & Scott. This was an amazing outing for us as it covered some of the tricky jobs we see coming up (and that we have been putting off).

Ken Lavallette of Woodwind hands
off a 'hot rib' to Jim 

and Jim whips it onto the boat

Grant studies the methods of
re-ribbing a cedarstrip rowboat



Chris 'flies' his rib to the boat



Jim, Scott, Grant and Chris
soak up detailed instructions.

On the way home we put our notes together for future reference. We are already putting some of the hints into use!