For the Summer of 2013, an 11-year-old Spencer and a 7-year-old Shafer were asked, "What do you want to do this summer?"
Without delay, Spencer said, "I want to build a boat."
With no idea of how that was done, we started reading books, building models, watching videos, and finally getting the plans for "The Champlain," designed by Jeff Spira. (http://www.spirainternational.com/). Next, we researched, bought hand tools, clamps, etc., and building materials, then just went for it.
Ten days after we began, the SS SIGILLO was complete. An ex-POW of 4 NAZI prison camps, The "SS SIGILLO" was named after Dame Mary "Sigillo" Barraco, a freedom fighter knighted by Belgium for her service in WWII. The film was projected at her 90th birthday party. She was given a photo of the boat and asked to visit us for the first launch. We asked her to Christen it.
Today, Spencer is a Naval Architect, designing the next fleet of the US NAVY. He graduated from Virginia Tech, Valedictorian in his school of naval architect/engineers. In all my years of Teaching, I have never known anyone to so embrace such a rare field of study, at the age of 11, and then stick with it with such Passion. He is also a great Trumpet player!
Here is the Time-lapsed film of BOAT BUILD 2013, the making the SS SIGILLO.
A free book documenting the building is on the iTunes Bookstore. (https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/boat).... The Music is a combination of "Without Warning" and portions of "Godspeed!" Enjoy & Godspeed! S