HARPSWELL – Every Sunday for the past several months, Ann Flannery’s workshop has been a hive of activity. 

A group of students from age 9-15 have been hard at work, learning how to construct – and building – a skiff under Flannery’s tutelage. For the second year, the Cundy’s Harbor carpenter has been sharing her knowledge with local youth. 

“I hope the kids gain some woodworking skills,” Flannery said, “as well as experience the value of working as a team to accomplish a goal.” 

In talking with the students taking part, it’s clear they’re gaining something from the experience. 

“I like making something people can use,” said 13-year-old Adelaide McKelvey, of Bowdoinham. “I’m adventurous and like to try new things, and I just thought it would be fun.” 

Inua Saibou-Baldi, 15, of Cundy’s Harbor, found out about the class from Flannery herself. The carpenter was working on a project at Saibou-Baldi’s home and mentioned it to him. 

“First off, building a boat is awesome,” he said when asked why he wanted to take part. “I thought it would be fun to make new friends, since we just moved here. 

“Besides being with a bunch of awesome people, there’s just so much learning,” added Saibou-Baldi. “We’re using tools, and we’re seeing the boat come along each week.” 

Hudson Holden, 14, and his brother, Bryce Holden, 11, both of Harpswell, cited the influence of their grandfather, a carpenter, as piquing their interest in taking part in the skiff project. 

“I like woodworking; my grandfather does a lot of it,” said Hudson. “I thought it sounded like a cool thing to do.” 

“I liked the idea of having so much progress (in watching the boat come together),” added Bryce. 

McKelvey said she liked making the oars the most. Starting out as planks, patterns were used to make the cuts so they’d resemble oars. Then planing of the angles and sanding turned the square edges to rounded ones capable of smoothly pushing the boat through water. 

Watching pieces of wood turn into a seaworthy vessel was also a highlight for McKelvey. 

“I liked seeing how it all comes together when you put the pieces together,” she said. “I liked all of it. The smell of the wood, the feel of it.” 

Asked what he would tell others about taking part in a future skiff build, Hudson Holden said they should do it. 

“It’s a lot of fun,” he said, “and I’ve learned a lot of things.” 

The students aren’t the only ones who gain something from taking part. 

“I get joy from watching the kids work together,” said Flannery, “and witnessing their pride and success at working with their hands.” 

Greg Barmore has been one of Flannery’s regular helpers. He said he’s enjoyed seeing the students “master laying out parts, sawing them to rough dimension and then refining their shape with planes, chisels and rasps is very satisfying.” 

“I especially enjoyed learning and seeing them learn how to make the oars out of a huge rough spruce plank,” he said. “They did an excellent job of making a square shaft round with careful layout, hand saws, small hand planes and rasps.” 

As noted by Barmore, the students have primarily used hand tools for the skiff build. The bulk of the sawing, as well as planing and sanding, was done by hand. 

“I like that all the tools are hand tools, not machine powered,” said McKelvey. “They use elbow grease.” 

A frequent user of power tools in his own shop, Barmore said helping out has “reintroduced me to the joy and satisfaction that comes with using my hand tools.” 

“Most any wood working project can be done with a relatively small collection of sharp hand tools,” he said. “Sometimes it is even a faster way to do it and I had forgotten that.” 

Building for a cause 

Not only is the skiff build a benefit for the students and teachers, but it will also help out the Holbrook Community Foundation. 

As was the case last year, the completed skiff will be auctioned off to benefit the Holbrook Community Foundation, of which Flannery is a board member.  

In 2005, a “for sale” sign went up at the Holbrook Wharf, which served as a call to action for Cundy’s Harbor residents. That’s when the Holbrook Community Foundation was formed. 

Barmore, president of the foundation, said the nonprofit was formed “to buy and rebuild Holbrook’s Wharf so it could continue as part of Harpswell’s working waterfront.” 

“If the wharf had been purchased by a private party it would have closed this important access to Cundy’s Harbor by the tenants and the public,” he said. 

With the wharf kept in working order, the foundation leases space to waterfront-related businesses and rents two apartments in the house at the head of the harbor. 

The foundation, Flannery said, is “important because it promotes maintaining the connection between our natural environment, the waterfronts of Harpswell and beyond, with our lives and the livelihood of many.” 

For Bryce Holden, keeping a working waterfront intact is important, because “it’s a great part of our town.” 

“If we didn’t have that,” he said, “it wouldn’t be so Harpswell.” 

Skiff for sale 

The 13-foot, six-inch flat-bottomed “off-center skiff,” designed by Havilah Hawkins of Brooklin, has cedar planks on a black locust frame. It has four thwarts and two rowing stations, and comes with a pair of handmade spruce oars. 

The launch of the vessel will take place at noon Sunday, June 2, at Holbrook’s Wharf in Cundy’s Harbor. 

Flannery is accepting bids for the skiff – staring at $2,500 – by email at annieflann@gmail.com, by phone at (207) 751-9589 or in person; the deadline to submit a bid is midnight June 2. The boat will go to the highest bidder. 

For more information about the Holbrook Community Foundation, visit holbrookcommunityfoundation.org; for more about the skiff, email Flannery or visit the HCF Facebook page, facebook.com/HolbrookCommunityFoundation. 

Editor’s note: In the interest of disclosure, a family member of the author is part of this skiff-building group. 

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