Mystic Wooden Boat Show

Tira · Jun 30, 2009

Something a little different.... This is a picture of me on "Elf" at the Mystic Wooden Boat Show this past weekend. I did the bell for her. She's the oldest racing yacht in the world built in 1888. She's 64 feet long, 68 feet high, has a 5 ton lead keel and takes a crew of 12 to race.

Peter E · Jun 30, 2009

Cool. I saw that the wooden boat show was going on but I was at the opposite end of the state this weekend.

I bet it was a great time.

Congratulations on doing the bell Tira.

Tom Curran · Jun 30, 2009

Wow, Tira, you have quite the tan going, and a lot of muscle. I guess engraving bells for a living will do that.

Tom

Andrew Biggs · Jun 30, 2009

Hi Tira

A most unusual job, engraving a bell while it's still on the boat. Fantastic!!!

Cheers
Andrew

Tom Curran · Jun 30, 2009

Actually, Tira and Rob stopped by my shop on the way to the show. We had a great visit, and Tira brought along her 'airtact' rig for me to try out. Very generous of her, considering everything she had to do to get ready for the Boat Show.

This is a great community we have here.

Tom

Tira · Jun 30, 2009

Andrew, I didn't engrave the bell while it was attached to the boat. The second picture is when the Captain was holding it up so he could get a measurement to mount the bell after I finished it. I did do an engraving demo on the boat for the 3 day show. It was a lot of fun to crew.

Tom, it was great to see you! Hope to see you at Dixon's.

Ron Smith · Jun 30, 2009

Gee Tira,
You have grown a lot of hair on your arms since I saw you last. HeeHeehee
Ron S

Kidding aside, congratulations!! Did you get to sail on her?

Ron S

Tira · Jun 30, 2009

Peter E. - It would have been great to meet you. I met many artist types, but no engravers at the show.

Ron - Don't forget the chest hair....

I have not been on her to sail yet. She was just relaunched last April after a 17 year refit. Every stick of wood on her has been replaced with the same type of wood, etc. as per the original photos. She sailed up from Philadelphia to Mystic and will be summering around New England before the down rigging which will occur in Maryland (St. Michael's is her home port) in early November.

I'm not sure I have the time to attend to the racing crew on her. It will take a lot of time and practice to get ready. I'm also not sure I'm strong enough. They are eyeing my soon to be 16 year old who is 6'3" and a wrestler - he will be strong enough. Due to Elf's history there are no mechanical winches, etc. - everything on her is done by hand.

At least I did not draw the short straw to shimmy out on the bowsprit to tie off the canvasses on the forward sail. That was crazy in the rain....

armcarve · Jun 30, 2009

Tira,
My goodness, this picture is like trying to find where's waldo. I know you are in there somewhere girl.

Seriously, congrats on the Elf. What a great experience & cool engraving.
Best of all, it was great seeing you & Rob,
Amy

BrianPowley · Jul 1, 2009

Great job, Tira.
I've worked on those huge bells....a real challenge and you did it perfectly.
(Can't say I'm looking forward to working on another one.)

Leonardo · Jul 1, 2009

Congratulation Tira! That bell looks great hanging in the ship!
Would like to see a close-up picture of the bell...
Cheers, Leonardo.

Martin Strolz · Jul 1, 2009

Mystic Seaport is indeed a very nice museum with wooden boat and metal workshops. They have anything from small sporting yachts to the big whaling ship Charles W. Morgan. I found it quite interesting and it is well worth a visit. Tira, will look for your bell next time I be there...

Weldon47 · Jul 1, 2009

So, Tira, your ship has come in!

Very nice!!

WL

Mike Cirelli · Jul 1, 2009

That's pretty cool. I'd like to see a closeup of the bell also. It sounds like you know what your talking about driving that thing.
But Tira seriously though you should bring a razor

monk · Jul 1, 2009

tira: i'll bet that old bell even sounds better, now that your art embellishes it !

Peter E · Jul 2, 2009

Good thing the show was LAST weekend! Mystic and southeast CT has been deluged the last few days.

Mystic is a nice town in a nice part of CT.

Keith · Jul 2, 2009

Tira,
When you engraved the bell was it noisy????

Does Dixons still have the gunmakers fair?
I was going to go out that way for a weekend with the kids....
Thanks,
Keith

rod · Jul 2, 2009

Ah...summer days, Tira!

What a great thing to be doing, and fine bell engraving!

This just reminded me that the wood boat festival is happening as I write in the 17th century harbor in Portsoy, Scotland, not five minutes from my Scottish cottage, the weather has been fine there, and here am I in foggy cold California, when I should be over there. Bad timing for me this year.

Best wishes!

Rod

Tira · Jul 3, 2009

Keith, The bells are very noisy. I usually have to have ear protection on because I can't stand the racket. My kids usually come by and ask when I'll be done..... It's a project the entire family can enjoy.....

I believe Dixon's is going on again this year. I'm not sure of the dates.

Keith · Jul 3, 2009

Tira,
Went to Mystic years ago it was very nice.
I was wondering about the noise with the bell....
Do you have any close up photos?

I checked and Dixons is July 24 25 26 I will be there on Saturday with the family.
I had fun there years ago.
Thanks,
Keith

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