Pierre Belcourt and his wife Therese have lived on Cortes for almost 40 years, but this month is the first time they have attended the Friday Market.

As a boat builder, Belcourt explained his social motivation to share his skills in blade sharpening with the local community.

“We've been here...39 years now, but we hardly know anybody anymore," he said. "They're either left the island, gone crazy, or died.”

Belcourt has worked as a carpenter for movie sets like Xmen III, Tron 2, Paycheck, and The Watchmen. He has built custom homes, like a German style home with local artist/builder Volker Steigman. But his most extensive work with his hands has been boat building. He has rebuilt a Baltic sloop and the first New York 30 by Nat Herreshoff from 1905. He has crafted dory skiffs and a 30 foot wooden oyster boat.

Through his work, he explains why sharp tools are so important for the craft.

“You have to keep your chisels and planes, draw shaves, adze-all those things sharp to cut wood, to slice wood, not to butcher it.”

Several market-goers approached Belcourt while CKTZ observed, most with a variety of dull edges in hand. Belcourt says he's happy to sharpen just about anything.

“Chainsaws, shears, scissors, knives, wood chisels, wood planes, blades... ”

Though sharpening tools may seem simple, the benefits for the Belcourts have gone beyond the dollars earned, they say.

“It's a good excuse to see people I haven't seen in a long time,” Pierre said.

The Belcourts will continue their skill-share at the Friday Market, hoping to connect with their community in the process.

To hear more about how boat building lead to this unique offering, listen to the CKTZ News Update below: