Rockin’ The Woody Boater Cradle In Seattle, WA
Kate's Wooden Rocking Boat - Circa 1992
Well, it appears that some wooden boat restorer’s think alike… (There’s a surprise). Yesterday fellow Woody Boater Jim Frechette from Austin, Texas sent us a few cool shots of the wooden cradle / boat he made for his daughter Lillie as they celebrated her 23rd birthday. And today fellow Woody Boater Robert DaPron from Seattle, Washington shared some great images of the Rocking Boat / Cradle he made for his daughter Kate back in 1992.
When we received the images, I e-mailed Robert and asked him to describe Kate’s rocking boat / cradle. And Robert, being the detail guy he is, gave us the following description….
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Texx – Kate’s boat is a one-off rocking boat that I threw together I believe in 1992. Plank on frame construction just like the real thing, batten seam, ¼’ planking with real bungs. Looking back, a dumb way to build the thing, I could have been much easier on myself if I chose not to construct it like a real boat. Off the shelf hardware, some made by me. Bow light works, dummy engine painted CC blue under the aft hatch connected by a copper exhaust that pokes out the transom.
Kate was born in November of 1991, picture of her in the boat was taken when I would guess she was around 1 ½ to 2 years old. Mom could tell better than me.
The picture of Kate (below) was taken last year in her college dorm when we went back to Michigan to help her settle in her new school as a freshman. My niece has the boat now, her kids now play with / on it. Not sure what kind of shape it will be in when and if it ever comes back.
Way back in time when I was restoring my Century Resorter, I took the rocking boat to our ACBS boat show in Kirkland, Washington – It was a huge hit! The Seattle Times came down and ran the picture of the boat with Kate in it the next day. I think we still have a copy of the paper somewhere. Probably of no surprise, but this is Kate’s second boat, her first was a rocking cradle.
Robert DaPron – DaPron Marine Restorations
Kate in her College Dorm - Circa 2011
Thanks Robert for sharing these images and story of Kate and her Rockin’ Boat, proof once again how time marches on…
And “NO Alex & Mike” – Were not going to have a Woody Boater Cradle Shoot Out…
At least not yet… Texx
Hey, is it her birthday as well.. Are there more Chris Cradles out there?
Another beauty and her cradle/boat. Nice work Robert!
Drop a real motor in it and you can train a toddler (or monkey) to drive it around at shows.
I believe Chris Smith made a pedal car for his grandchild. Someone should have a shot of that laying around.
Creativity in Varnish! I love it! Well done, Robert! Now give her the Resorter for a graduation present and we have a lifetime woody boatress! Woo Hoo!
One of our favorite pictures of our son Paul is in that rocker at the Carillon Show the year Rob and Sue displayed it – Wide smiles all around! About the header: I didn’t know Scotsmen wear terrycloth kilts…
That settles it, WoodyBoaters have good looking children. The only problem I see with both boat designs is no bilge pump thru-hulls are visible. Guess you kept diapers on the kids.
I agree Rick, the children are beautiful.
Looks like we have a “Kids Boat Shoot Out” beginning to take shape, stay tuned for the next chapter – it’s wild!
Hey Robert , that’s a great story. Just today I collected my daughter Renee from Wellington Airport when she arrived home for Easter break from Melbourne university. Our kids grow up fast, they sure do.
Thanks for sharing your story about Kate.
Great stories Robert and Jim, you must of spent a lot of hours in the shop.
Here is one for when the kids grow out of their cribs and rockers but not yet ready for the real deal:
http://www.hackerboat.com/news-and-events/world-s-smallest-hacker-craft-now-in-the-showroom-on-lake-george/
That’s only if they can get their hands on it and get it away from the grown-ups!
Another very cool “toy.” Hardly. That’s amazing dedication and fine craftsmanship.
Of course there will be a shoot out, Mr. Texx. This is America, dammit! My daddy says everything gets raced. Ride mowers, shopping carts, grannies in those little Rascal electric carts at Walmart. Everything! Shall we say, cradles at dawn?
Excuse me people. Salter said a bad word. I have no idea where he picked that up. Oh. That’s right. It was when he got his finger stuck in that hole on my steering wheel last Spring.