Building The Double Helix
Flagship Boat for the Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome 2001
Event support team members from Bristol Myers Squibb holding the the Double Helix Flagship Kayak, built by Clark Eid for the Great Mississippi River Race 2001
L to R: Clark Eid, Phil Melhorn, Jan White, George Karageorge, Omar Lopez, Jeff Romine, William Schmitz, Christine Hendricks, Eric Marshall, Kurt Zimmermann.
Ship of Dreams
The Double Helix wood strip kayak was built by Clark Eid, in honor of Amanda Eid and all of those who have Rett Syndrome, to serve as a the flagship for the Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001. The Double Helix was paddled by Clark Eid ( Amanda Eid's father, and chairman of this charity event) and Kurt Zimmermann during the race.
The Double Helix was publicly placed at the world-class Morial Convention Center in New Orleans from 2006 to 2017 to further information about the Great Race and Rett Syndrome. In 2018 the Double Helix was moved to a new museum on the river in Tennessee - the Tunica River Park Museum - so that we can continue to raise awareness of Rett Syndrome to the general public.
The Double Helix wood strip kayak was built by Clark Eid, in honor of Amanda Eid and all of those who have Rett Syndrome, to serve as a the flagship for the Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001. The Double Helix was paddled by Clark Eid ( Amanda Eid's father, and chairman of this charity event) and Kurt Zimmermann during the race.
The Double Helix was publicly placed at the world-class Morial Convention Center in New Orleans from 2006 to 2017 to further information about the Great Race and Rett Syndrome. In 2018 the Double Helix was moved to a new museum on the river in Tennessee - the Tunica River Park Museum - so that we can continue to raise awareness of Rett Syndrome to the general public.
Building the Double Helix:
Mold Construction - Nick Schade (Guillemot kayaks) designs the Double Helix. Blue prints of the station forms glued to plywood and ready for cutting, in the Eid's back yard. A laser beam is used to assist in the alignment of the station forms.the boat mold (upside down with the bow toward. This boat was built in the Eid/Potter's basement, with about 1 inch to spare getting in and out the back door...... click to read more
Wood Stripping The first strip, made up of a black walnut and pine, was positioned at the sheer line. More strips, each with one edge rounded to fit into a cove along the edge of another strip, were added one at a time. Glue, nails and a unique clamping system that used rubber bands cut from an old truck tire's inner tube were needed to ensure a tight fit. Stripping toward the center line from both sides, ready for a center king strip of black walnut and ash..... click to read more...
Marquetry Shown are eight roses, made from eight different wood veneers. In total, 61 different wood veneers were used to create 120 rose flowers. Four different rose flower patterns were rotated. The flowers were to go in as pairs, with a Purple Heart veneered flower in each pair important for the hidden code. Shown are some of the 1,500+ leaves cut for the rose vines. Generally, there were four different sizes and 18 different shapes used on the vines. A flexible measuring tape and blue masking tape were wrapped around the craft locate the positions of the 120 rose flowers. The mural stretches 30 feet around the 25 foot craft. Click to read more....
Fiberglass/Carbon fiber lay up The deck was separated from the hull suspended. This was followed by removing the mold from the hull section and suspending this too. The fiberglass cloth layers are positioned on the hull. Squeegies (in yellow) are used to draw the epoxy across the cloth. The "glassing" of the hull is now finished. Click to read more....
Mold Construction - Nick Schade (Guillemot kayaks) designs the Double Helix. Blue prints of the station forms glued to plywood and ready for cutting, in the Eid's back yard. A laser beam is used to assist in the alignment of the station forms.the boat mold (upside down with the bow toward. This boat was built in the Eid/Potter's basement, with about 1 inch to spare getting in and out the back door...... click to read more
Wood Stripping The first strip, made up of a black walnut and pine, was positioned at the sheer line. More strips, each with one edge rounded to fit into a cove along the edge of another strip, were added one at a time. Glue, nails and a unique clamping system that used rubber bands cut from an old truck tire's inner tube were needed to ensure a tight fit. Stripping toward the center line from both sides, ready for a center king strip of black walnut and ash..... click to read more...
Marquetry Shown are eight roses, made from eight different wood veneers. In total, 61 different wood veneers were used to create 120 rose flowers. Four different rose flower patterns were rotated. The flowers were to go in as pairs, with a Purple Heart veneered flower in each pair important for the hidden code. Shown are some of the 1,500+ leaves cut for the rose vines. Generally, there were four different sizes and 18 different shapes used on the vines. A flexible measuring tape and blue masking tape were wrapped around the craft locate the positions of the 120 rose flowers. The mural stretches 30 feet around the 25 foot craft. Click to read more....
Fiberglass/Carbon fiber lay up The deck was separated from the hull suspended. This was followed by removing the mold from the hull section and suspending this too. The fiberglass cloth layers are positioned on the hull. Squeegies (in yellow) are used to draw the epoxy across the cloth. The "glassing" of the hull is now finished. Click to read more....
Finishing/Vine closeup The Double Helix needed to be held vertical for the addition of a small amount of epoxy into the inside ends. Rods of titanium were fitted to the inside curves prior to the "end pours" for additional strength. A fancy circle of veneer edging was added to the compass ring. One can never have too many clamps! Carbon paper was used to help transfer the deck's profile into the underside of the compass ring. (A trick used by dentists to check a patient's bite.) The open space in the center of the ring would permit a small light to be placed under the compass for night navigation. Click for more....
Special Additions
Rose Vine/Double Helix Design
Amanda's Dreamkeeper
The rose vine that wraps completely around the Double Helix was designed by Clark Eid to mirror a segment of double-stranded DNA that codes for a peptide that spells "Amanda's Dream Keeper", in honor of his daughter, Amanda, who suffers from Rett Syndrome. This mural was created by using over 2,000 pieces of 63 different wood veneers in a technique known as marquetry. Click here to read how to "decode" the rose vine to spell "Amanda's Dreamkeeper"!.
Special Additions
- Signatures from Dr. James D. Watson and Dr. Francis Crick, who shared the 1962 Nobel Prize with Maurice Wilkins for discovering the structure of DNA, the double helix.
- Exotic woods in the ornate compass ring were left over from the reconstruction of the Amistad, another ship standing for liberation.
- A navigation console was constructed with woods from the Calypso, echoing her brave spirit to venture into the unknown.
- A white rose inlay on the console reflects the TurboSails of the technologically advanced Alcyone.
- The rose vine that wraps completely around the Double Helix was designed by Clark Eid to mirror a segment of double-stranded DNA that codes for a peptide that spells "Amanda's Dream Keeper", in honor of his daughter, Amanda, who suffers from Rett Syndrome.
Rose Vine/Double Helix Design
Amanda's Dreamkeeper
The rose vine that wraps completely around the Double Helix was designed by Clark Eid to mirror a segment of double-stranded DNA that codes for a peptide that spells "Amanda's Dream Keeper", in honor of his daughter, Amanda, who suffers from Rett Syndrome. This mural was created by using over 2,000 pieces of 63 different wood veneers in a technique known as marquetry. Click here to read how to "decode" the rose vine to spell "Amanda's Dreamkeeper"!.