Skiff

Last weekend I launched my wooden skiff. It was built by my father, Lawton Howard, about 1976, and is one of the oldest traditional island boats in Ocracoke harbor. As you might imagine, preparing a wooden boat every spring to put back in the water requires quite a bit of work -- filling it with water to swell up the planking, sanding, painting, and routine repairs.

Captain Rob took this photo of my boat tied up to the Community Store dock.

Ocracoke Skiff

I have been having some problems with the outboard motor (it is almost 20 years old) so yesterday I pulled the boat out of the water to work on the motor. If you are on the island in the next few days you will likely see my boat on the lot next to Spencer's Market. But as soon as I get the motor working right I will be taking her out clamming.

Once she's back in the water, if you happen to walk down the Community Store dock stop briefly to admire my father's craftsmanship.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of Project Nutmeg, and how Ocracoke almost became a site for testing nuclear weapons. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news042112.htm.