Ship Building

Friday midday brought the “Whatever Floats Your Boat” shipbuilding competition. Papa, T and J worked hard, well, mostly Papa worked hard, to create an original model that was also sea-worthy. They designed and built a model tender boat, a remarkably authentic miniature of the lifeboats used on the MS Oosterdam.

The ship had to be able to sail with a cargo of 12 cans of soda. The Ship’s Tender Hollidam survived sea trials, first in the calm waters of the hot tub, and then truly tested in the rough seas of the jetted whirlpool. In a voice vote from the crowd, they won first prize in the competition, beating out the aircraft carrier “USS Oops-or-Damn”. Who says it doesn't pay to have a large, and vocal, family? :-) The winning crew received silver picture frames, a couple of “Dam” t-shirts and a couple of “Dam” mugs. Yay!

Here's video of the sea trials...