Meeting Recap - May 21, 2024

Today's meeting was held offsite at Fire Station 3 of the Spring Lake Park Blaine Mounds View Fire Department.  Fire Station 3 is dedicated to Nyle Zikmund, who was SBM Fire Chief for 12 years.  The building has a large meeting space which is in frequent use because Blaine doesn't have a community center.  The meeting was organized to display and launch Nyle's prize winning hand-built lapstrake skiff.  The original launch location was scrapped due to impending stormy weather and the fire station provided an indoor venue for a meal as well as a conveniently located pond for launching boat, weather permitting.  New Brighton Mounds View Rotarians were joined by many of Nyle's friends, co-workers and family members as Nyle revealed the intricacies of the boat building process and the level of craftsmanship necessary for the project.  Nyle credits master boat builder Phil Winger for helping to make his dream become reality.  When the project required more hands, Maria Petrova and Jeff Benson also worked on the project. Phil and Maria have started a new business in St. Paul called Sheer Craft, combining Maria's architectural expertise with Phil's woodworking skills to offer a wide range of services from boat building classes to custom design-build projects.  You can check out their new space at their open house on Sunday, May 26th from 3pm - 6pm, 1017 Front Ave, St. Paul. Please RSVP at sheercraft.info@gmail.com. 

 

The weather cooperated so we were able to launch the boat, and Nyle displayed considerable rowing skill as he circled the pond.  Once the crowd was certain that Nyle knew how to row and that the beautiful craft was not going to sink, several people took a turn in the boat.  The photos below reveal the functional beauty and old-world charm of an ages-old design that's better than anything available today.