I miss the smell of the coffee pot in the crew's shack;

I miss the smell of the Alaska Cedar shavings kindling in the steambox firepit;

I miss the smell of White Oak frames fresh from the steambox;

I miss the pops and crackles of the White Oak frames as they cool in the ribbands;

I miss the way the hammer and chisel fit my hands for the cutting of the rabbet in the stempiece;

I miss the hiss from the air drill as one counterbores for the screws in the planks;

I miss the squeal of the screws as they seat in the planks on the White Oak frames;

I miss the thrum and groan as the planks are fastened and get tighter on the frames;

I miss the tap of the mallet on the plugs over the screws to seat them home;

I miss the smell of the Pine Tar when spinning Oakum for caulking;

I miss the way the caulking irons ring as they drive the Oakum in the planking seams;

I miss the swish of the plane as it glides across the planking to smooth it fair;

I miss the hustle of the crew as the tide rises for the launching;

I miss the words, " I name thee Innishmore and God care for all who sail aboard her and keep them well";

I miss the squeals and shrieks from the ways as the tallow coated timbers guide the hull to its home in the water;

I miss the rattle of the anchor windlass and the clank of the anchor seating in the hawsepipe;

I miss the creak of the lines and sheets as the mainsail is raised for the first time;

I miss the snap of the mainsail as it rises to the peak with that first breeze;

I miss the sweet smell of the new galley stove;

I miss the aroma of the first chowder from that stove;

I miss the bell sounding the first change watch;

I miss the hiss of the bow wave as the vessel cleaves the outgoing tide;

I miss the comfort of my new bunk snug against the hull with the sounds of water rushing by just inches from my ear;

I miss the sounds of the sea creatures, the whales song and the dolphins clicks, through those inches of Oak and Fir that I helped meld into that most glorious of mans creations;

A stout and seaworthy vessel;

I miss it all.