Portsmouth Students, Orgs Restore Rowboat Fleet

PORTSMOUTH, NH - The Boatshop at Strawbery Banke, the Star Island Corporation and the Portsmouth High School Construction Trades Program have joined forces to restore six wooden row boats. This collaborative project is the first for the newly launched pilot program between Piper Boatworks and Strawbery Banke Museum, according to a press statement.

“When Island Manager and Director of Facilities Jack Farrell mentioned he needed to have his fleet of row boats repaired over the winter, I knew immediately this would be the perfect project to kick off The Boatshop at Strawbery Banke’s year while we are working to get the shop at the museum up and running,” remarked Nate Piper, Owner of Piper Boatworks and Director of The Boatshop at Strawbery Banke. “As an advisory board member of the Construction Trades Program at PHS, I knew that this project would be the perfect chance to expose the students to boatbuilding and repair and to help foster a relationship between the school and Star Island.”

The six wooden row boats are part of the fleet of vessels owned by the Star Island Corporation, which owns and operates Star Island Family Conference and Retreat Center on Star Island in the Isles of Shoals. The fleet of row boats are in need of a variety of repairs to the overall structure as well as refinishing work.

“When Nate told me about the new boatshop program at Strawberry Bank, I started thinking about all the small boat projects we have on Star Island that might be good candidates. When the rowboat project idea developed to include Dexter’s program and the students at PHS I knew we had a winner,” said Jack Farrell, Island Manager and Director of Facilities. “I think there can be terrific benefits both for the individual organizations and for the greater community when we all work together on projects like this. To bring young people into the process makes it even better. I hope this project can be just the beginning.”

The Star Island row boat fleet will be repaired at Portsmouth High School as part of the Construction Trades Program’s winter curriculum. The project will be overseen by Piper who will be working directly with Construction Trades Program Instructor Dexter Robblee and his students as they develop the project plan, complete the necessary repairs and refinish the exteriors. The boats will be returned to the Isles of Shoals and relaunched in Spring 2016.

“We are always looking for opportunities to develop our students skills and provide them real-world experience that will prepare them for their careers after graduation. This collaborative project affords the students the opportunity to work directly with a customer and to focus on the process of practicing project management while utilizing their residential construction skills in a very innovative and fun venture,” noted Dexter Roblee, Instructor of the Construction Trades Program at Portsmouth High School. “Many people are familiar with our program and the high quality Clipper Sheds the students produce. This partnership takes us a step further into new building and finishing techniques as well as tying into our region’s maritime and construction heritage. Interestingly, many products in modern buildings, including stainless steel fasteners, specialty adhesives, composite materials, and modular construction, come directly from the maritime industry.”

The first phase of The Boatshop at Strawbery Banke is primarily focused on the expansion of one of the existing buildings to accommodate a new workshop and demonstration space. The Boatshop is currently halfway to its fundraising goal of $20,000. Businesses or individuals interested in investing in The Boatshop’s new facility on the grounds of Strawbery Banke Museum can contact the museum’s development office at 603-422-7551.

The second phase of The Boatshop at Strawbery Banke will focus on developing a series of programs on modern and historical maritime topics and skills, and the creation of an onsite exhibit. Volunteers interested in assisting with maritime-related exhibit set-up, on-site demonstrations and construction of the new Boatshop building can contact Nate Piper at boatshop@strawberybanke.org.

For more information visit piperboatworks.com/boatshop--strawbery-banke and starIsland.org. For more information about ordering a Clipper Shed or partnering to create an innovative project, contact Dexter Robblee drobblee@portsmouth.k12.nh.us.

Captions: Group Photo: PHS Construction Trades Program Students, Star Island’s Jack Farrell (front) Instructor Dexter Robblee (second from right), and Nate Piper of The Boatshop at Strawbery Banke (far right). Row boats aboard Star Island’s Utopia leaving Isles of Shoals. Photo Credit: Caroline Piper Row boats arrive in Portsmouth the day before Thanksgiving and are unloaded by Nate Piper, Jack Farrell and volunteers at sunset. Credit: Caroline Piper