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As each generation becomes a little more dependent on technology and further away from heritage, Finlandia University has created an outreach program that preserves some of the methods of the area’s Finnish immigrants in hopes of passing those teachings on to young people in the Copper Country.
As part of that program, a month’s worth of hard work was presented last night in the form of a Finnish row boat. Since the first week of October, Industrial Arts students at Calumet High School have been learning the art of Finnish boat building and presented their completed vessel yesterday to locals who were eager to see it.
“The construction process was very new to myself. I’ve never participated in a boat build. It was a great learning experience. We were able to get the forms set up and once that was set up we then moved into building the stem of the boat along with the keel and the transom,” said CHS Industrial Arts Teacher Rob Bohlsen.
“Back in the 1800’s a lot of canoes built in this country were built lapstrake,” said master boat builder Alex Combs, who has been hired by the high school to teach industrial arts students how to build the row boat, made from wood strips. Lapstrake is a method of boat building that overlays strips of wood giving the boat a layered exterior finish.
Comb said, “There’s been two woodworking classes that have contributed. They would plane the lumber and prepare the stock basically. They hand planed that with a hand plane.”
Comb, Shop teacher Rob Bohlsen, and two students who participated in the build were greeted with enthusiasm and questions of curiosity about the project.
“The boat is held together by clinch nails from plank to plank but inside of the boat are steam bent ribs which are riveted from plank to plank,” Bohlsen said.
Funding for the build came from Finlandia University through its Finnish American Folk School, a program that was created last year. Comb said, “I really want to thank the school. The support at the school has just been incredible and I really appreciate it.”
Yesterday’s unveiling presented the vintage style Finnish row boat that’s ready for seats and a coat of paint that will bring the completed watercraft to around 150 pounds.
Bohlsen said, “The boat is going to be auctioned off at our sports booster that provides funding for our Calumet sports programs.” That auction will take place in the upcoming spring at the Calumet Colosseum.
