“The ‘whiskey plank’ is the final plank required to complete the outer shell of a wooden hull and is considered to be a major milestone in the construction of a wooden boat.”
The Buffalo Maritime Center (BMC) is in the process of constructing a full size replica of the historic Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief – the Erie Canal Boat that opened the Erie Canal in 1825.
At this juncture in time, the BMC is preparing to host its own Whiskey Plank Celebration, as the traditionally-built packet boat has reached yet another exciting stage of completion.
Back in July, I paid a visit to the Longshed, where I caught up with Buffalo Maritime Center’s Boat-building Programs Director, Greg Dudley, who stressed the importance of this herculean community project. At the time, he said “What stands out to me most about this project,” he told me. “Is that there are two professionals and over 200 volunteers. It’s the biggest community boat-building project in the country, and we’re still bringing people in. It’s definitely ‘a Buffalo story.’ You couldn’t do this in another city.”
On Saturday, October 7, the BMC will host a “Whiskey Plank Celebration” for the Seneca Chief. This will be the last day that the Erie Canal Boat Project at the Longshed will be open to the public. The community is invited to attend the event, starting at 12pm.
The event will feature:
- Speeches from local and state officials, members of the boatbuilding team, and representatives from BMC
- Music by Erie Canal band, The Heenan Brothers
- Beer tasting by Big Ditch Brewing Company
- Custom-designed whiskey by Buffalo Distilling for the traditional whiskey toast. (Non-alcoholic options will be available and food trucks will be on-site)
Overarching timeline of events:
Whiskey Plank Celebration: Oct. 7, 2023 | 12PM | Longshed @ Canalside
Longshed Closed to the Public: Oct. 8, 2023
Erie Canal Boat Launch: May 2024 | Details TBD!
Bicentennial Voyage: September 2025 | Details TBD! In 2025, the Seneca Chief will depart on the voyage from Buffalo to New York Harbor to commemorate the Bicentennial of Gov. DeWitt Clinton’s 1825 Inaugural Voyage.
