Sunday, 12 April 2009

April update
















image by Juha Merila

















These images are of the Toroa, or Mollymawk, after which a headland in the area I grew up was named by the ancient Maori.
Regrettably these beautiful birds are no longer found on our mainland, they have dispersed themselves to remote offshore islands. I believe that there are less than 300 breeding pairs left.


















Toroa is completely glassed over and after a heavy sanding is ready for a coat of primer.
Things are progressing more slowly presently as I have had to find full time employment.
I'm so drained after a days work I find it impossible to get out to the proa project at night. Ben Tombs (a local boat builder and musician friend, Ben plays wood wind instuments) has kindly been assisting me with the really toxic stuff and has got me over a major hurdle. I've decided to get him back to finish the paint aspect of the project. I'll post some images soon to illustrate the progress shortly.
Not too long now and we'll be ready to launch.
I've assembled the luff spars which are second hand carbon sailboard spars. The luff spar has been glued butt to butt with a sleeve, the boom has one spar telescoped inside the other.

The trailer has its new draw bar extension and is now waiting for me to take it to the local vehicle service center for a warrant of fitness.

Last thing on the list is the colour scheme which will mimic the colours of the mollymawk.

More later

Harmen
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1 comment:

  1. Enter Miles14 April 2009 at 11:04

    Hi Harmen,

    I'll be very curious to see the colorscheme for Toroa. Looking at the bird, your boat will look awsome too!

    As you have mentioned, we do have in common (besides other things) the fascination for the seabirds.

    With kind regards,
    Peter

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Toroa by Harmen Hielkema & Mike Toy.

Header Photo: Toroa at Rawene by Julie Holton.

This blog is dedicated to the memory of my father Roelof Hielkema who instilled in me the willingness to learn.
These pages are intended to inform and add to the growing body of knowledge concerning the Canoe Culture of the Pacific, past, present & future, from the Tupuna, the Ancestors of the Pacific cultures to the people of the world.

These pages contain Images and text relating to our two proas, Toroa & Takapu, some history relating to our experiments & experiences.

The dissertation that I posted on this blog in April 2008 "Takapu The Proa" was written by me in 1997 in response to an assignment that I was set whilst studying for my design degree. The dissertation covers many issues that a proa enthusiast may benefit from reading about.

Waka define culture as culture defines waka

Waka reflect the individuality and uniqueness of a society which in turn is governed by the geography, geology, topography, climate, location, resources, isolation, origin, flora, fauna, flotsam, jetsam, etc.

Waka are our link to the past, they have shaped our present and define our future.

Waka are the vessels of knowledge, physical and mental development, freedom of bondage to the land, key to our inquisitiveness, expressions of our ingenuity and courage, our love of shape and form, the seat of our power.

Waka are the source of our material culture, from which all processes are derived.

Waka are who and what we are.