My father, Dale Andrews: Oct 10, 1933 - Oct 1, 2011
My Dad was a very creative guy, especially when he was creating with wood. He made the desk below in his High School Shop class. It’s been my desk ever since I was a little girl and I still use it today. In 1998, I updated the desk with decorative stamping. I made the crayon marks inside the main drawer when I was 5 years old!
Dad made many beautiful pieces of furniture, wooden bowls and spoons. He also handmade about a dozen wooden boats, including nine gorgeous strip built canoes and two Melonseed sailboats. We have always received compliments when taking his boats out on the water —because of their beautiful craftsmanship. Dad loved sharing his knowledge of boat building with my husband Steve and they spent a lot of time together in the boat shop they set up in Florida. Dad used to say to Steve: "Kid, let me show you how that's done." :o)
In September of 2006 my family gathered at Secret Lake in Avon, CT. Our invitations read “BYOB = Bring your own BOAT!” We celebrated dad's craftsmanship; he made all of the boats shown below.
In 2006, my Dad made a single man canoe for Steve. Living in Florida at the time, he sent emails & photos that shared the process of making a “Wee Lassie.” It all started with an email from him: "I was wondering if Steve would like his own single person, Wee Lassie. If so, I will be pleased to make a gift of this one that I am currently working on. Let me know." He sent the photo below of the canoe being shaped on a form with strips of cedar. I wrote him back the same day: Dad! Steven was SO excited about your email! I know he’s already written to you & said YES, but I wanted you to know you’ve made his year! The canoe will be well used and loved.
January 3rd: “Steve's Wee Lassie is getting started.”
January 6th: Cedar strip construction formed on a mold.
January 14th: The boat is coming along slowly but surely.
January 16th: One Day at a Time. After stripping, you take a block plane and smooth ridges and remove glue... another hour or 2 then a 36 rough sand followed by an 80 grit. Making progress.
January 23rd, Progress Report: Outside has been planed and sanded. One coat of epoxy applied and now ready for the fiberglass and 3 more coats of epoxy.
January 29th: After the 1st coat of epoxy is soaked in and dried, the fiberglass is put on with another coat of epoxy. You will see that the glass basically becomes translucent.
Dad shows us just how light Steve’s wee lassie canoe is!
He built this one especially for Steven
More on this project . . . Click on photos to enlarge and view the rest of the build. Swipe through, or use the side arrows for a slideshow. For Dad’s descriptions, mouse over the photo or click the white dot, lower right.
When we moved to Florida in 2010, Dad and Steven refinished his boat ‘Windancer’. dad had ORIGINALLY built this Melonseed sailboat in 1995.
Me & my Dad in ‘Mac’ McCarthy’s Boat Shop - Sarasota, Florida 1994
“ I miss my dad, but still feel his presence because of his ongoing love and support for me throughout my life. He may be gone from this world, but not from my heart or mind. Dad helped to shape who I am today. He always encouraged my art and supported my creative endeavors. He was a good person who was a friend to many, a successful businessman, a great father and grandfather and a very creative guy. When we moved to Florida, Steve was able to spend a lot of time with my dad before he passed. Steve cherishes that time and I’m so grateful for my dad... I’m still reaping the benefits of his love.”