The students spent the entire weekend at the show, camping nearby overnight. Welshans says, despite long days and hot temperatures, the students were enthusiastic about the opportunity to share their work.
“When we’re boat building, they communicate within themselves and create a hierarchy for who is doing what and who does what well because everyone has an affinity,” she adds. “Take that out of the boat shop and put them in the middle of a festival with thousands of people coming by, and you don’t know how well they are going to teach it. I knew they were going to do really well, and they did.”
Once a portion of the planking was laid, the students invited visitors to put a nail in and sign their names, creating a time capsule.
“The planking will be covered with canvas,” Welshans says. “In 50 years, when someone needs to replace the canvas, all those names from the 30th Annual WoodenBoat Show will pop up.”
Many visitors and fellow boat builders at the show commended the students for a job well done.
“It was incredible … [the students] worked so well together,” Welshans says. “You don’t realize how skilled they are until you see them out doing their craft.”