Pop-Pop’s Boat

By

Around Christmastime, when we told our parents that Kels was pregnant, my parents wanted to know if there was anything in particular that we needed that we likely wouldn’t get at a baby shower. We told them that we needed a bassinet or a cradle for our bedroom for the first two months or so, until Rayleigh would be sleeping in her crib in her own room.

My mom did some research and found a kit online to build a miniature boat cradle. The boat is built using the same methods used to build a full-size seaworthy boat, and the finished product will float reliably (although the company doesn’t recommend putting your baby in it and setting them adrift).

My dad (Pop-Pop to Rayleigh) finished the boat and brought it up when they came for her birth, so I can now show off photos from the whole process.

The pieces of the boat needed to be wired together so that they could be held in place for the glue to be applied.
The pieces of the boat needed to be wired together so that they could be held in place for the glue to be applied.
The boat with the wiring job finished.
The boat with the wiring job finished.
The boat fully prepared for the gluing process.
The boat fully prepared for the gluing process.
Although the blur was actually caused by capturing motion in a low-light setting, the glue dried quickly, so Paul had to work fast.
Although the blur was actually caused by capturing motion in a low-light setting, the glue dried quickly, so Paul had to work fast.
The joints needed to be masked off so that the glue wouldn't transfer beyond a predetermined area.
The joints needed to be masked off so that the glue wouldn’t transfer beyond a predetermined area.
The finished joints with their thick layer of glue applied.
The finished joints with their thick layer of glue applied.
Applying glue to the seams along the outside.
Applying glue to the seams along the outside.
The final coat of glue applied to the seams on the outside.
The final coat of glue applied to the seams on the outside.
The sanded boat, ready for the glue coat that goes over the entire boat.
The sanded boat, ready for the glue coat that goes over the entire boat.
The boat needed to be coated inside and out in a couple of coats of clear epoxy. It makes the boat look like it is varnished, but it isn't. Once it has a full coat of epoxy inside and out, then the whole boat needs to be sanded.
The boat needed to be coated inside and out in a couple of coats of clear epoxy. It makes the boat look like it is varnished, but it isn’t. Once it has a full coat of epoxy inside and out, then the whole boat needs to be sanded.
Paul sanding one of the coats of epoxy on the boat.
Paul sanding one of the coats of epoxy on the boat.
This is what the boat looked like when the marine varnish was applied to the inside of the boat. The epoxy doesn't provide any UV protection, which is why the marine varnish is necessary.
This is what the boat looked like when the marine varnish was applied to the inside of the boat. The epoxy doesn’t provide any UV protection, which is why the marine varnish is necessary.
The hull needed to be primed before the final paint could be applied. Two coats of primer needed to be applied, and needed to be sanded flat before the white polyurethane paint could be applied.
The hull needed to be primed before the final paint could be applied. Two coats of primer needed to be applied, and needed to be sanded flat before the white polyurethane paint could be applied.
Finished primer coat, ready to be sanded before the polyurethane paint was applied.
Finished primer coat, ready to be sanded before the polyurethane paint was applied.
The white polyurethane finish applied. At this point, the boat could actually be launched on a body of water and not sink, since it was built exactly like a production boat would have been, and is watertight.
The white polyurethane finish applied. At this point, the boat could actually be launched on a body of water and not sink, since it was built exactly like a production boat would have been, and is watertight.
The boat in our living room waiting for Rayleigh to come home from the hospital with us.
The boat in our living room waiting for Rayleigh to come home from the hospital with us.

5 responses to “Pop-Pop’s Boat”

  1. This is so cool Kevin. Your Dad and I will need to meet someday – I fully appreciate his craftsmanship!

  2. What a stunning and memorable gift. That’s a piece that can be passed down for many years to come.

  3. It’s such a wonderful masterpiece! He did such wonderful work creating your next family heirloom. I have never seen a more impressive cradle or bassinet!

  5. really freakin’ cool. a lot of work, but what a great job your dad did. i’m terribly impressed. this must be the type of bassinet that T-Pain had as a child.

Comments are closed.