The Double Helix Flagship Kayak, 2000, built by Clark Eid for the Great Mississippi River Race 2001. Bottom of the boat shows the DNA Rose Vine that genetically spells "Amandas Dreamkeeper".
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.
Contributors to the Building of the Double Helix
Below is a listing of our good friends who helped make a dream into a reality. The order isn't important since each and every one of you were essential.
Click here for more details on all donors.
Below is a listing of our good friends who helped make a dream into a reality. The order isn't important since each and every one of you were essential.
- BGF Industries, Inc.
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
- Constantine's
- The Cousteau Society
- Chesapeake Light Craft
- Clark Eid and Mary Potter and Family
- Dr. Francis Crick
- Roland Fricke
- Gougeon Brothers, Inc.
- Guillemot Kayaks and Nick Schade
- Harris Enterprise Corp.
- Mystic Seaport
- The Newfound Woodworks, Inc.
- Ritchie Navigation
- Shearwater Boats
- Ulbrich Stainless Steels and Special Metals, Inc.
- Dr. James Watson
- Kurt Zimmermann
Click here for more details on all donors.
The Double Helix - Donors/Contributors
Below is a listing of our good friends who helped make a dream into a reality. The order isn't important since each and every one of you were essential. Special thanks to our top donor, Bristol-Myers Squibb, our top research donor, for donating $20,000 to Rett Syndrome research for this event.
Building the Double Helix - Donors & Contributors
BGF Industries, Inc. and Mary Causey. The Double Helix draws its strength from the carbon fiber and fiberglass that make up her hull. These gifts were arranged through the kind help of Mary Causey. Mary went out of her way to make sure we had everything we needed as soon as we needed it. Her encouragement and kind words gave strength to the builder.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company - For manufacturing a new, tougher rudder blade after we broke the orginal during intense training. Special thanks to Brian Healy, Jim Mongillo, and Christopher Bernard.
Constantine's and Glen Docherty. I wonder what Glen was thinking when I told him of my idea to use marquetry to create rose vines wrapping around the Double Helix. It probably didn't help my case that I had never done any marquetry at all! Still, Glen must have seen something that made him think I was up for the task. I will be forever grateful for the time he spent making sure that I had every sample of exotic veneer they carried. He even went so far as to ship me more when I had miscalculated. Your gift was beautiful
The Cousteau Society - For pieces from their reknowned research vessels Calypso and Alycone. Together our ships ply the waters of discovery. Thank you for your kind gift.
Chesapeake Light Craft and John Harris. John kindly provided us with a rudder kit, foam for seats, marine plywood, and many good wishes for a successful voyage. We wouldn't be able to sit or go in a straight line without his help.
Building the Double Helix - Donors & Contributors
BGF Industries, Inc. and Mary Causey. The Double Helix draws its strength from the carbon fiber and fiberglass that make up her hull. These gifts were arranged through the kind help of Mary Causey. Mary went out of her way to make sure we had everything we needed as soon as we needed it. Her encouragement and kind words gave strength to the builder.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company - For manufacturing a new, tougher rudder blade after we broke the orginal during intense training. Special thanks to Brian Healy, Jim Mongillo, and Christopher Bernard.
Constantine's and Glen Docherty. I wonder what Glen was thinking when I told him of my idea to use marquetry to create rose vines wrapping around the Double Helix. It probably didn't help my case that I had never done any marquetry at all! Still, Glen must have seen something that made him think I was up for the task. I will be forever grateful for the time he spent making sure that I had every sample of exotic veneer they carried. He even went so far as to ship me more when I had miscalculated. Your gift was beautiful
The Cousteau Society - For pieces from their reknowned research vessels Calypso and Alycone. Together our ships ply the waters of discovery. Thank you for your kind gift.
Chesapeake Light Craft and John Harris. John kindly provided us with a rudder kit, foam for seats, marine plywood, and many good wishes for a successful voyage. We wouldn't be able to sit or go in a straight line without his help.
Clark Eid and Family -
Clark Eid - For building the Double Helix. Clark supplied the majority of cedar strip wood and designed the DNA rose vine to represent the phrase "Amanda's Dreamkeeper".
Family - Anyone who has ever built a wood strip boat knows that there is a big gap between the materials kindly donated above and the materials needed to finish the boat. From the metal brackets used for the mold to milling the woods for the hull, from glues to epoxy, from the little nails to the paint brushes, these costs were absorbed by the Eid family. It took great sacrifice from my wife Mary and the kids to give me the time needed to construct the Double Helix. It wasn't easy on any of us to build such a complex craft in so short a time. There were late nights, with too little sleep and too much caffeine, that I had to use supports to steady my shaking hands to work. It was only the fact that we were going to help Amanda, and others like her, that kept us going.
Dr. Francis Crick (1962 Nobel Prize Winner for co-discoverying the structure of DNA) - for kindly adding his signature to the Double Helix.
Roland Fricke - Special thanks to our neighbor, Roland Fricke, who helped with fiberglassing.
Gougeon Brothers, Inc. and Kristen Lore. - Academic discount applied to the purchase of their West System Epoxy.
Clark Eid - For building the Double Helix. Clark supplied the majority of cedar strip wood and designed the DNA rose vine to represent the phrase "Amanda's Dreamkeeper".
Family - Anyone who has ever built a wood strip boat knows that there is a big gap between the materials kindly donated above and the materials needed to finish the boat. From the metal brackets used for the mold to milling the woods for the hull, from glues to epoxy, from the little nails to the paint brushes, these costs were absorbed by the Eid family. It took great sacrifice from my wife Mary and the kids to give me the time needed to construct the Double Helix. It wasn't easy on any of us to build such a complex craft in so short a time. There were late nights, with too little sleep and too much caffeine, that I had to use supports to steady my shaking hands to work. It was only the fact that we were going to help Amanda, and others like her, that kept us going.
Dr. Francis Crick (1962 Nobel Prize Winner for co-discoverying the structure of DNA) - for kindly adding his signature to the Double Helix.
Roland Fricke - Special thanks to our neighbor, Roland Fricke, who helped with fiberglassing.
Gougeon Brothers, Inc. and Kristen Lore. - Academic discount applied to the purchase of their West System Epoxy.
Guillemot Kayaks. Nick was the first to come forward and take seriously what to many seemed a crazy idea. Nick used advanced computer programs to compose this masterpiece, a duet between form and function. The technical aspects for this ultra-marathon kayak were demanding. The necessity for one paddler to sleep while on the water, speed, displacement, wetted surface area, wave patterns, and the physical dimensions of each paddler were some of the factors considered in her design. Nick also helped sand/shave the Double Helix prior to fiberglassing and helped with stripping one of the cockpits. Nick's book gave valuable information on how to build a wood strip kayak, but an even greater aid was when the author visited and personally demonstrated his art. Thank you for your guidance.
Harris Enterprise Corp. and Drew Keene. Drew and his co-workers helped to educate me in the art of marquetry. They provided the builder with verbal instruction, a video and a veneering iron. They even went so far as to hand mill veneers from boards of Yellow Heart and Blood Wood. These special woods were used in the cockpit rims, providing beautiful supports for keeping the paddlers safe from harm.
Ketter Canoeing, Minneapolis - Assisted with minor repairs during the Race.
Mystic Seaport and a craftsman named Scott. Several woods left over from the reconstruction of the Amistad were kindly provided. Both ships stand for liberation and now there is a physical link between them. Thank you for your thoughtful gift.
The Newfound Woodworks, Inc. The Double Helix is a big wood strip boat by any measure. When we ran out of wood strips for the cockpit rims, Michelle and co-workers helped us out by sending us some of their material. We also thank them for sending a set of foot braces and for the fine Z-Spar Flagship Varnish. The Double Helix wouldn't look the same without your help.
Harris Enterprise Corp. and Drew Keene. Drew and his co-workers helped to educate me in the art of marquetry. They provided the builder with verbal instruction, a video and a veneering iron. They even went so far as to hand mill veneers from boards of Yellow Heart and Blood Wood. These special woods were used in the cockpit rims, providing beautiful supports for keeping the paddlers safe from harm.
Ketter Canoeing, Minneapolis - Assisted with minor repairs during the Race.
Mystic Seaport and a craftsman named Scott. Several woods left over from the reconstruction of the Amistad were kindly provided. Both ships stand for liberation and now there is a physical link between them. Thank you for your thoughtful gift.
The Newfound Woodworks, Inc. The Double Helix is a big wood strip boat by any measure. When we ran out of wood strips for the cockpit rims, Michelle and co-workers helped us out by sending us some of their material. We also thank them for sending a set of foot braces and for the fine Z-Spar Flagship Varnish. The Double Helix wouldn't look the same without your help.
Ritchie Navigation. No ship could be called a flagship without a compass to steer by. I thank you for sending us your deck compass and hope you didn't mind the slight modifications I made! Your gift will help guide us on the journey.
Shearwater Boats and Eric Schade. Finishing touches mean so much, and Eric helped us with his fine recessed deck fittings and elastic cord. Your gifts have helped to give the Double Helix a most nautical look.
Ulbrich Stainless Steels and Special Metals, Inc. and Chris Ulbrich. I don't know of any other kayak than the Double Helix to have titanium incorporated into its structure. Thank you for making a special craft even more special.
Dr. James Watson, 1962 Nobel Prize Winner for co-discoverying the structure of DNA, and Cold Springs Harbor Laboratory, NY - For kindly signing his name on our craft, the Double Helix.
Kurt Zimmermann - Special thanks to Kurt for helping with sanding the Double Helix, prior to fiber glassing.
Special thanks to Bristol Myers Squibb who was also our top donor to research
Shearwater Boats and Eric Schade. Finishing touches mean so much, and Eric helped us with his fine recessed deck fittings and elastic cord. Your gifts have helped to give the Double Helix a most nautical look.
Ulbrich Stainless Steels and Special Metals, Inc. and Chris Ulbrich. I don't know of any other kayak than the Double Helix to have titanium incorporated into its structure. Thank you for making a special craft even more special.
Dr. James Watson, 1962 Nobel Prize Winner for co-discoverying the structure of DNA, and Cold Springs Harbor Laboratory, NY - For kindly signing his name on our craft, the Double Helix.
Kurt Zimmermann - Special thanks to Kurt for helping with sanding the Double Helix, prior to fiber glassing.
Special thanks to Bristol Myers Squibb who was also our top donor to research
Placement/Exhibition Donors & Contributors
Bass Pro Shop, Pyramid, Memphis TN (placement)
BMS
Boy Scout Troop 455 of Lakeland, TN
Morial Convention Center (placement) and setting up display
The Tunica River Park Museum (current placement)
Cheshire Fall Festival (2001)
NY Boat Show (2001)
Case Donation
Transportation - BMS paid 1st time, Boy scouts 2nd time
Clark Eid, Mary Potter & Noah Eid (Amanda's family) - Coordination, donation, setting up case
Bass Pro Shop, Pyramid, Memphis TN (placement)
BMS
Boy Scout Troop 455 of Lakeland, TN
Morial Convention Center (placement) and setting up display
The Tunica River Park Museum (current placement)
Cheshire Fall Festival (2001)
NY Boat Show (2001)
Case Donation
Transportation - BMS paid 1st time, Boy scouts 2nd time
Clark Eid, Mary Potter & Noah Eid (Amanda's family) - Coordination, donation, setting up case
