Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
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tradition of building wooden boats alive in Marblehead, Park is delighted to be branching out with his own line of sleds, wagons, and toboggans. First, he searched for the right type of wood that would bend. He and Liza drew sketches and came up with designs. Park uses fresh sawn ash wood from western Massachusetts for the bent pieces. Find- ing the right lumber at the sawmill and bending it are the most time-consuming and challenging steps in the process. "For the sled backs and runners, I have to find the wood they've just cut and pick through the pile for ones clear of defects," said Park. "Once you have all the mate- rial, the first thing is getting the bent parts right. I have developed templates for the seat bottoms and legs so they come together quickly. Finally, once everything is held together with screws and glue, I put five coats of marine varnish on top to protect them in all weather." It takes about two weeks from start to finish William Park, Doug's father, "is the varnish department." A retired finance professional, the elder Park likes help- ing out. For the finishing touch, Park can carve or paint a child's name on a Redd's Pond Boatworks brass plate to make the item truly personal. The sleds can double as wagons sim- ply by unbolting the brackets, which can be done by hand, and fastening on the pneumatic wagon wheel set. Toboggans come in four- and six-foot lengths, to seat one or two adults respectively, and cost between $200 and $300. For the second year in a row, Park will sell his wares during Marblehead's Christmas Walk, December 4 through 7. Last year, customers from out of state purchased the sleds. This year, he'd like locals to "walk home with a sled." Not everyone buys Park's creations for the thrill of barreling down a slope. One purchaser hung a toboggan on the wall of the family ski house. In these days of mass production, Park's handmade sleds and wagons are indeed works of art. reddspondboatworks.com Profie ne 44 nshoremag.com December 2014