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Ketch
J-Boat
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A good image for
Peter would be the line from Wind in the Willows, "there is nothing
- absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about
in boats … or with boats. In or out of ‘em, it doesn’t
matter."
Peter loves boats, all kinds
and everything about them. He grew up in the boatyards of Lake Ontario
and sailed in all types of boats with his father and friends. He worked
on wooden boats and fiberglass boats, lovingly restoring and sailing
them. When he couldn’t be sailing, he built them.
Over the years, Peter has
crafted thousands of boats. "I started as far back as I can
remember, in fact, I don’t remember a time that I didn’t make boats.
I received my first commission at the age of 10 and haven’t looked
back". He has built models for many of the Canadian yacht
designers, such as George Cuthbertson who asked Peter to build models of
the CN35 and other custom designed boats. Peter’s models are in the
trophy rooms of most of the yacht clubs on both sides of Lake Ontario.
His models are a labour of
love. He carves and shapes the wood into the hull and sails. All the
tiny details, like winches, blocks, etc. are made by hand from brass,
copper, aluminum or wood. Each model is custom crafted to the owner’s
specifications. Hull colour, shear line colour and details of the deck
are recreated in Peter’s models.
Although Peter’s models have
been mostly of half-hull sailboats, his latest endeavour, a traditional
planked "dippy", was an exciting project. It allowed him to
use the skills of a model maker and the skills of a traditional boat
builder to re-create a piece of Muskoka watercraft history. The result
is a beautiful 18" replica of the Disappearing Propeller Boat.
If Peter can’t be sailing his
boat, he will be carving or building one. |
