Post by Marc LeVine on Feb 17, 2007 15:14:24 GMT -5
LOCAL NEWS
Program's model sailboats on course for March launch
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 02/15/07
BY NICK PETRUNCIO
STAFF WRITER
FREEHOLD — Since the fall, a lot of sanding, sawing and painting has been going on at the Court Street School Educational Community Center in Freehold.
Inside, 11 kids between the ages of 12 and 17 have been building radio-controlled skipjacks. A skipjack is a type of sailboat developed on the Chesapeake Bay for oyster dredging.
The program started Oct. 14, and the boats are expected to be completed in March.
"It's a great atmosphere. Everyone helps each other. They take pride in their work. It's absolutely incredible," said Andrea McPherson, vice president of the center's board of trustees.
This is the second time the center has hosted the program, led by volunteer Charles Roden of Colts Neck, who belongs to the Marbleheaders of Spring Lake Model Yacht Club and is a charter member of the U.S. Vintage Model Yacht Group.
Jonathan McPherson, 16, Andrea's son, is one of the participants. He also builds model boats outside the program as a hobby.
The Manalapan High School sophomore said between six and eight mentors — at least some of whom are retired and represent the fields of engineering, ship building and the Army — work with the kids.
"I'm building a boat myself with a mentor, and my brother (Alexander, 12) is building a boat with my dad," Jonathan McPherson said. "It's brought a lot of people together because they don't have a lot of time."
Roden, a retired engineer, has been racing model sailboats for about 15 years and said he enjoys working with the kids.
"It's just a chance to teach them some wood-working skills, and the kids get a chance to work with power equipment, band saws, sanders, drill presses — and they get a kick out of it," he said.
The skipjacks the kids are building will be 64 inches long, will weigh 22 pounds and will have a sail area of 1,100 square inches.
When the boats are finished, they plan to sail them at a regatta on a local lake.
For information on programs offered by the center, call Andrea McPherson at (732) 841-4712.
Program's model sailboats on course for March launch
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 02/15/07
BY NICK PETRUNCIO
STAFF WRITER
FREEHOLD — Since the fall, a lot of sanding, sawing and painting has been going on at the Court Street School Educational Community Center in Freehold.
Inside, 11 kids between the ages of 12 and 17 have been building radio-controlled skipjacks. A skipjack is a type of sailboat developed on the Chesapeake Bay for oyster dredging.
The program started Oct. 14, and the boats are expected to be completed in March.
"It's a great atmosphere. Everyone helps each other. They take pride in their work. It's absolutely incredible," said Andrea McPherson, vice president of the center's board of trustees.
This is the second time the center has hosted the program, led by volunteer Charles Roden of Colts Neck, who belongs to the Marbleheaders of Spring Lake Model Yacht Club and is a charter member of the U.S. Vintage Model Yacht Group.
Jonathan McPherson, 16, Andrea's son, is one of the participants. He also builds model boats outside the program as a hobby.
The Manalapan High School sophomore said between six and eight mentors — at least some of whom are retired and represent the fields of engineering, ship building and the Army — work with the kids.
"I'm building a boat myself with a mentor, and my brother (Alexander, 12) is building a boat with my dad," Jonathan McPherson said. "It's brought a lot of people together because they don't have a lot of time."
Roden, a retired engineer, has been racing model sailboats for about 15 years and said he enjoys working with the kids.
"It's just a chance to teach them some wood-working skills, and the kids get a chance to work with power equipment, band saws, sanders, drill presses — and they get a kick out of it," he said.
The skipjacks the kids are building will be 64 inches long, will weigh 22 pounds and will have a sail area of 1,100 square inches.
When the boats are finished, they plan to sail them at a regatta on a local lake.
For information on programs offered by the center, call Andrea McPherson at (732) 841-4712.