Guest Column
From The Heart
By Paulette Taylor
There's been a lot of talk recently aboutthe "Catboat".
Questions have been raised about how itgot it's name, who built the first one in each district, whatthey were used for and basically any other tidbits that peoplecan remember to help teach us younger ones about our culture andhistory.
Well here's what I remember.
From about the age of eight, I earned mypocket money to buy such luxuries as paradise plum candies, perfumefrom Mr. Taylor Foster's shop and cool drinks in the tall bottlesfrom Cap.Keith Tibbett's shop by doing the
following chores.
I raked up shavings from underneath theboat and inside the boat shed when my great-grandfather finishedwork for the day. The boat shed was in our backyard.
My job was to also keep the books for Papaas I called him, (Arthur Dilbert) or Uncle Arthur as he was affectionatelyknown to the people of Cayman Brac.
You see, he built boats as one of his meansof livelihood, mainly Catboats, but also Schooners like "TheStrive", and turtling boats like "The Trial" andcargo ships for the Kirkconnell family fleet.
I cherished learning the boatbuilding tradefrom Papa until I went away to college and it meant more to methan learning how to cook.
Every customer that paid Papa to build aboat I helped him keep the records in an exercise book; thus myfirst book-keeping lessons. Now that I think about it, they werethe basis of budgeting lessons which I still use today.
I also learned how to actually build a Catboat.I learned how to go in the bush on the Bluff in Cayman Brac andlook for the right tree to cut down to fashion the keel; whatsize planks were needed for the sides and the seats; how to whittlethe stopper for the hole to let out the water; how to wet theplanks so they could be easily bent; how to Putty and Caulk theboat; what size screws to buy from the shop; what piece of woodmade a good oar, and I could go on and on.
But most importantly how to launch a Catboat,what a thrill.
Of course you had to follow the adults instructionsand be careful you didn't mash your fingers or your foot.
Some people will be surprised to know thatI did all of those things. I'm not bragging, but I actually did,thanks to a great-grandfather who did not discriminate becauseI was a girl , the first born grandchild and great-grandchild.
Today if I had one wish it would be thatPapa was still alive, and building Catboats so he could pass onthe tradition to my son.
So here's to you Papa and the CATBOAT.