> Borg said:
> It sounds like Apple Basket should make a boat with his vaguely defined prior experience and Moonflower and Trailblazer should work together on a second. But obviously we should be on neighboring workbenches, or share one if possible, so we can still compare notes as we're working.
>
> That way we can have the social aspect of working as a single team without the risk of anypony feeling that there wasn't enough boat-building to go around.

*You roll a 13
Moonflower (Woodwork): 3 + 1
Apple Basket (Woodwork): 13*

While you would prefer to work together, you recognize Apple Basket's concerns about one pony carrying the team. As such, you suggest that Apple Basket make his own boat, and lend you and Moonflower a hoof should you need it.

Apple Basket: "Sounds fair to me."

Moonflower: "Yeah, let's do that!"

With that settled, you grab a board for you and Moonflower, while Apple Basket brings his own to the workbench right next to you. Before long, everypony is seated and ready to begin.

Stable Timber: "So, here's an example of what we'll be building today. As you can see, it has a little seat in the middle here. This is where the passenger will sit, which, in our case, is a rock."

Stable Timber demonstrates by placing a completed miniature boat of her own in a water trough, and a rock on top. The small craft bobs up and down in the momentary waves, but otherwise seems perfectly stable.

Stable Timber: "If you follow my instructions to the letter, then this is the result you can expect. Any questions so far? Well, let's get started.

The first step is marking out, which means drawing our plans on the wood. For that, you'll need a pencil, a ruler, and a protractor. Here's the pieces you'll need to recreate…"

The carpenter begins to show different prepared wooden pieces one by one, explaining the purpose of each, along with their measurements. You don't quite see how they will combine to form a boat just yet, but you and Moonflower follow along nonetheless.

Stable Timber: "… and thirty degrees here. Both of these sides should be symmetrical. And that's the last piece we'll need for the deck. Hm? Yes, those are supposed to be shorter to compensate for the board's thickness.

It looks like everypony's done marking out. Before we continue, though, I'll have to ask you to put on a pair of safety goggles and earmuffs. Better safe than mildly uncomfortable for the rest of the day.

Now, for the next step, you'll need a saw. There is only one saw per workbench, so if you're on a team, try taking turns cutting out pieces. Here's some pointers on how to use a saw properly…"

Following Stable Timber's instructions, you begin to cut your board along the markings until you get your first boat piece, then you let Moonflower give it a try. After a few seconds, she pauses.

Moonflower: "Shoot! My cut's all wobbly."

Apple Basket: "Oh, looks like you might be pushin' on the saw a bit too hard. Jus' focus on the direction, and let it do the cuttin'. You can sand it straight after if it ain't perfect, like we did with the gems earlier."

Moonflower: "Ooh, got'cha! I'm gonna try that."

With Apple Basket's advice, you manage to cut the rest without much of an issue — though you do spend some time straightening a few of them afterward. With all of your pieces laid out on your workbench, you await the next step.

Stable Timber: "All done sawing? Then it's time for assembly. You'll need a box of nails, a hammer, a steamer — the one with the blue handle —, and a dryer — that's the red handle.

We'll start with the hull. Take these pieces with the indentations in them, and put them together like this. They should fit like pieces of a puzzle. Satisfying, right? This is a type of joint called a cross lap.

This shorter piece here is the back of our boat, or the stern. Align it with this piece here, and use the hammer to drive a nail through the dot that's marked here…"

You spend the rest of the hour assembling your wooden boat, piece by piece, and finish by patching any gaps with refined oakum. In the end, you had to call upon Apple Basket's expertise once or twice, but still feel as though your craft is your own.

You get Trailblazer & Moonflower's Miniature Boat!

After testing them in the water trough, you are delighted to find that both of your boats float quite well, and are able to carry a rocky passenger with ease.

Moonflower: "Yay‼ We did it!"

Apple Basket: "Looks like we got everythin' we need for the big event later."

Stable Timber: "Thanks for coming in to the woodworks. If you need a place to stow your miniature boat until the race tonight, we have a storage space in the shed over there. Just make sure to write your names on it.

And if you want to give it a more personal touch, my sister Emerald Shade has a few tables with painting supplies by the river just across the road."

Your pocket watch indicates five to three.

* To the east is: Scarf Knitting, Souvenir Shops, and Games & Prizes.

* To the south is: Confectioner's Workshop, Music Performances, Glassblower's Workshop, and Weaver's Workshop.

* To the west is: Farrier's Workshop, Apple Orchard, Open Buffet, and Animal Farm.

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