What’s Better than a Peapod? Surfboard Building Downeast Style.

Grain took its game on the road late in June, moving half the shop (it seemed) way down to Brooklin, Maine where Wooden Boat Magazine has their first-rate shops and offices. The place is not to be believed for its quiet comfort, beautiful surroundings and clean, well appointed shops - if you have to be in a place where there is no surf for miles, this is a pretty good choice. But we got little chance to really dig into the comfort, the terrific traditional boats that peppered the mooring field, or anything else - other than eight new surfboards being birthed deep in the land of traditional boatbuilding. The Grain crew stayed busy for ten solid days of prep, packing, moving and teaching as our novice woodworkers put together their HomeGrown Kits at the Woodenboat School.

Despite being right at traditional-boat ground-zero and clearly perceived as on the far, far fringes of wooden watercraft culture, we were made to feel totally welcome by everyone. Though we did get a few comments from the lower shops alluding music pulsing from our shop… With so many new builders in our space, we often overflowed to the lawn and to the pole barn behind, so it must have seemed to the boat builders that the place was simply overrun with surfers.

After a power session during which all eight boards’ top planks were glued up, we all went to the local pub to celebrate. It was like a small invasion - we easily half-filled the tiny place ourselves. But most of the time, our class didn’t seem to really look up from their boards to take any notice - they just seemed to perpetually be there in the shop - always finding something else to tinker with on their boards. We had a lot of laughs with our new friends and, as usual, were so gratified that they got their boards to look so great by the end of the class.

Thanks to everyone for coming. We look forward to hearing from you in the near future, and hopefully seeing your finished boards in the lineup.

We have two more classes coming up at our shop in September and October (prime hurricane months). Both still have spaces available. Feel free to email or call to reserve your spot today.