Handmade Fur Slippers & Mitts Aboard Arabella | Winter Boat Life in Newfoundland

This week aboard Arabella in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Steve takes on a cozy mission while Robin is away: Mission: Warm Robin. With winter closing in and temperatures dropping fast, it’s the perfect time to prep both the boat and a special surprise for her birthday. First, a quick fix for the Dickinson diesel heater, sealing up a small exhaust leak that’s been marking the cabin overhead with soot. Then it’s on to something a bit more personal: crafting handmade winter gear using traditional and sustainable materials sourced in Canada: moose leather, beaver fur, coyote, and seal skin. Over the course of a few days, Steve designs and stitches a full set of cozy accessories: fur-lined slippers, beaver-and-coyote overmitts, and a coyote muff, all made by hand aboard the boat. The result? A heartfelt, one-of-a-kind gift to help Robin stay warm aboard Arabella, and out in the backcountry this winter. Join us for this heartwarming mix of DIY craftsmanship, boat maintenance, and life aboard in the North Atlantic. 🔧 In This Episode: • Fixing a small smoke leak in the diesel heater exhaust • Using high-temp silicone sealant for safe stove maintenance • Designing & sewing fur slippers and mitts by hand • Exploring traditional materials from Newfoundland’s Indigenous artisans • Gift reveal: Robin’s reaction to the handmade winter set -------------------------- Sign up for our email newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hn3Qyv Acorn to Arabella started as a wooden boat building project in Granby, Massachusetts. Steve began the journey as an amateur wooden boat builder crafting a 38' wooden sailboat in his backyard: designer William Atkin's Ingrid with a Stormy Petrel's gaff rig. These videos follow the journey from tree felling, to lumber milling, to lofting, to the lead keel pour and now sailing the boat—sharing details of the woodworking, carpentry, metal smithing, tool building, and tool maintenance that traditional wooden boats command. This ultimate DIY project continues beyond the boat shop, as Steve and crew travel and learn to cruise aboard the handmade wooden boat that they've built. Just kidding about all that, this channel is about a Siberian Laika named Akiva. -------------------------- If you are interested in supporting/helping here are a few ways: https://www.acorntoarabella.com/how-to-help Acorn to Arabella's wishlist: https://www.acorntoarabella.com/wishlistpriority TotalBoat supports A2A! Please consider using our Total Boat referral code. Click here, then shop: https://www.totalboat.com/acorntoarabella They'll kick 10% our way! To offer recurring support via Patreon, CLICK BELOW. Just $5 a month gets you an invite to our monthly patron-only livestream Q&A sessions! https://www.patreon.com/acorntoarabella Original Soundtrack available at benfundis.bandcamp.com FOLLOW US: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/acorntoarabella Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acorntoarabella/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acorntoarabella Website: http://www.acorntoarabella.com