For as long as I've known him (almost 20 years), Farmer Dave has built boats. Boats smaller than your hand. Boats as large as your sofa. With Maine's famous maritime history, nautical themes have never been farther away than our wood piles. This, a boat Dave has done periodically almost as long as we've known each other, is one of Dave's most popular renderings...
"The Atlantic"
"Winner of the 1905 Kaiser's Cup.
Built in 1903, the sleek, steel-hulled Atlantic not only won the prestigious trans-Atlantic race, she set a record, unbeaten until 1997, of 12 days, 4 hours, and 1 minute. Powered by a steam auxiliary engine, she sported a spcial low-drag propeller and folding funnel, both of which were removed for racing.
Measuring 185 feet long, with 3 towering masts, she was an impressive sight along the east coast as she cruised. Eventually she became impossible to keep up and came to rest as a dying hulk in a small New Jersey harbor."
Dave's rendering is a bit smaller (41"x41"x5"), though in front of you, it's still an expansive undertaking, with a painstaking detail.
Each one of these knots is hand-tied. Farmer Dave, who has large, fairly arthritic hands, will spend hours upon hours tying these lines, which has always struck me as an impressive display of endurance. Dave refuses to "cheat," determined that all the details measure up to his satisfaction...
This amazing ship is available through Painting With Fire, for $475. Please direct any inquiries to me, Scott, at mudcatz@hotmail.com .
No comments:
Post a Comment