On Friday, July 22nd Penn State Abington students launched the duckboat Squonk with an audience of friends, family, and colleagues. We’re happy to report that there are no leaks! It’s amazing to see a floating boat after laying the keel ten months ago in September! Special thanks to all the students who participated in and out of boatbuilding classes to see this project through!
Friends and family gather on the dock to take a look at the finished boat.
H. John Thompson takes a moment to thank all the project contributors and especially the students for a job well done.
Students roll the boat down the dock to the launch point.
Video by Bonnie Levinthal
Students slide the boat into the water stern first.
It floats!
Karley Feather ties a dock line to secure the bow.
Sam Feather installs the rudder and tiller to the transom.
Time for a group photo!
Shipwright Dave Dormond takes Squonk out for a spin.
Squonk is joined by a Comet from the 1940’s.
Following the launch and reception we were able to do some sea trials and were very impressed. Squonk is FAST!
Photo by H. John Thompson
The next stop for Squonk will be the 54th World Ducks Regatta at Mantoloking Yacht Club on August 25th and 26th, 2022.
For more info please visit https://theclubspot.com/regatta/SXpZeXAPag
Following the regatta, Squonk will be the center of an exhibition in the Penn State Abington Art Gallery, which will feature the student-built duckboat as well as photo and video documentation and creative works by students completed throughout the building process. This exhibition is scheduled for September 12 to November 18, 2022. A reception will be held from 12:20 to 1:10pm on Wednesday, September 14th.
For more information please visit https://sites.psu.edu/abingtonartgallery/squonk/
THANKS TO ALL THE STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN ALL OR A PORTION OF THIS PROJECT!
– Salma Abdelgelil
– Theodora Dagkli Andonopoulos: https://sites.psu.edu/theodoraboatbuilding/
– Francis Bellocchio: https://sites.psu.edu/francismakesaboat/
– Sierrarose Biello: https://sites.psu.edu/sierrarosebielloboatbuilding/
– Zoe Brouse: https://sites.psu.edu/zoeboatbuilding/
– Emily Chan: https://sites.psu.edu/emichanboatbuilding/
– Karley Feather: https://sites.psu.edu/kjfeatherboatbubilding/
– Sam Feather: https://sites.psu.edu/samfeather/
– Cheyenne Getz
– TJ Jones
– Paul Kyriakos: https://sites.psu.edu/paulkyriakos/
– Clever Lin
– Alexa Pagan: https://sites.psu.edu/alexaboatbuilding/
THIS COURSE SEQUENCE AND RELATED PROGRAMS ARE MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF:
The Pennsylvania State University
Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence
2021 Teaching Innovation Grant
http://www.schreyerinstitute.psu.edu/
The Penn State Center, Philadelphia
2021 Seeding Change Grant
https://philadelphia.center.psu.edu/
The Pennsylvania State University – Abington College
2021 Chancellor’s Grant
funded by the Albert and Suzanne Lord Chancellor Endowment.
The Pennsylvania State University – Abington College
2021 Faculty Development Grant
The Pennsylvania State University – Humanities Institute
https://hi.psu.edu/
The Pennsylvania State University – Abington College
Division of Arts and Humanities
The Penn State Abington Art Gallery
https://sites.psu.edu/abingtonartgallery/
The Pennsylvania State University – Abington College
Student Initiated Fee Fund
Penn State Abington College
1600 Woodland Road, Abington, PA 19001
https://www.abington.psu.edu/
Independence Seaport Museum
211 S. Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19106
https://phillyseaport.org/
All photos by Jaime Alvarez jaimephoto.com unless otherwise specified.