Boat builder par excellence : - Robert ‘Rubbers’ Fredericks is an expert at his trade : …says he: ‘I like wuk bad!’
Written by Michelle Gonsalves, Saturday, 06 April 2013 11:03, Source
WHEN you travel in a boat made by Robert ‘Rubbers’ Fredericks, you know you have been in something made by one of the best craftsmen under the sky.
Robert ‘Rubbers’ Fredericks
Fredericks builds his boats at Parika on the eastern bank of the mighty Essequibo River just off of where the passenger boats carrying people to Bartica or Supenaam dock. His boats are made to order, and he constructs them on the red sand of the beach in the blazing sun.
A practitioner of this trade for close to three decades, either working with builders or being self-employed, the 39-year-old Fredericks has created countless wooden vessels for the purposes of racing, transporting passengers or ferrying cargo, employing labour, dexterity and skill, and a strong familiarity with the shape and utilization of various species of timber.
A well-cared-for wooden boat becomes one of the best liked members of any family in any riverine community. The finished product is a real utilitarian joy, a source of pride, and even an expression of personal identity.
The artist that he is, Fredericks knows that a great product isn’t finished until somebody is using it, until it can be raced on a lake or for the Bartica Regatta -- the country’s most prestigious marine racing event. Racing boats have a different shape from the boxier passenger boats.
Robert ‘Rubbers’ Fredericks putting the finishing touches on one of his creations. (Michelle Gonsalves photo)
Hailing from Siriki in the Pomeroon, Fredericks went to Jacklow Primary and Community High schools. His parents were poor and couldn’t afford to send him to school, so he left school to work at the tender age of twelve. This craftsman says he “Like wuk bad!”. He started off his career by assisting older builders to putty the boats.
He said, “These young people nowadays, they wuk a two days and get money, they done.” Notwithstanding, he still prefers to work with young persons, and would like to be succeeded by a young person when he gets old. As a father, he insists that his 14-year-old son, who is going to school but has expressed interest in the job, has to “Tek his education”.
Residing at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, he gets up early to do his work from Sunday to Sunday, and he doesn’t take holidays, not even Christmas.
Currently supervising three persons, this expert says that it takes four persons to make a 25-seater passenger boat in three weeks. The material of choice is Brown Silverballi, which Fredericks says is strong. A cargo boat would require the attention of himself and three men working from morning till night for six weeks.
Fredericks always has plenty of work to keep himself busy. His works advertise the competence and dedication he puts into his productions.
