NW Mystic

For Jessie,
NW Mystic’s story begins at the 2022 PT Wooden Boat Festival, my first time ever exhibiting my kayaks. During the festival, a woman named Jessie sees my work and wants to hear the whole story! I walk her through the process of what goes into constructing one of these things, and as we’re chatting, I learn she is also from my hometown. The following year, I’m exhibiting at the 2023 WBF and Jessie is again in attendance. The conversation picks up right where it left off, and she professes a wish to one day commission a kayak from me! Intriguing, for sure.

Fast forward to mid-2024, and I’m delighted to get the call from Jessie to “get this thing started!” Over the next few months, we worked together to design the boat of her dreams, complete with key motifs of the Pacific Northwest, representing treasured memories from throughout her life. After having her test paddle a few different lengths, we determined a 17’ guillemot, originally designed by Nick Schade, would be the most comfortable fit for her. Jessie is what you might call “vertically challenged,” and though she was accustomed to paddling smaller crafts around the San Juan Islands, that dimension suited her best.

Being charged with the task of designing Jessie’s “dream boat”, it would be a challenge gladly accepted. Following numerous “serious” discussions (sometimes with an exquisite glass of Kiona wine in hand), we eventually narrowed down some key design elements and scenery that were paramount for her to be inlayed into the deck of the kayak. The trick was to bring all these elements together into a cohesive arrangement on both the foredeck and aft section of the boat. Ever so excited to best myself from previous kayak builds, I didn’t hold back. The decided-upon inlay work took on increasingly historic numbers of pieces used. Example of these numbers include Mt. Rainier (107 pcs), gray seal (86 pcs), trout (48 pcs), small Bald Eagle (153 pcs), and the large BA Bald Eagle, tops the charts at a whopping 212 pieces! Are you impressed yet? It had to be done, and I simply didn’t realize it was happening. It’s all about the details!

That said, before any of the 18’ long vertical grain cedar was procured from Edensaw in Port Townsend, or any of the multiple species of woods came face-to-face with Mr. Sawstop, Jessie and I had a frank discussion about what lies ahead. I simple asked, “you are in for a journey” and “are you ready?” She was! I also told her that there would challenges ahead, LOTS of decisions to make, colors to choose, keeping compromises to a minimum, tears of joy (I think), and hopeful surprises along the way, including some memorable shots of whiskey. Boat builders alike will understand the traditional shot taken after the final plank of wood is placed in the hull. Jessie was delightfully surprised as she placed that last plank in her own kayak and gleefully raised a glass with me.
Jessie’s kayak is a testament to her, representing her life’s struggles and triumphs, her history past and present, her future ahead. I only hope it will fulfill her challenges and dreams, paddling the fresh and salty waterways beyond. It’s been a supreme privilege for me to build her dream and I’m truly honored to call her my friend.
Paddle on Jessie, straight and true!
Dave
AI or A1, it’s all steak sauce to me (and this was written by neither.) Cheers!