 | | | Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary Club member John Fazel demontrates the trailer at the Moraga Community Faire. Photo Andy Scheck | | | | | | Streamlined. Compact. Lightweight. Those words define a standard teardrop trailer, but when it is an artisan version handcrafted by Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary members, you can add "gorgeous" and "drop dead handsome" to the list, says Rotary member Tom Black.
The organization's two hand-built canoes of the past were legendary woodworking accomplishments-cum-fundraisers; this year is no exception.
Dubbed the Teardrop Inn, the trailer, though small, represents thousands of hours of manual labor, "every minute of it contributed by members of our Rotary club," Black says proudly. Project manager Gary Fulcher readily admits, "This one was a lot more work than the canoes!"
It's been a long haul since a trailer prototype was introduced at last year's Lafayette Art and Wine Festival. Work began in earnest in January. Built atop a modest 5-by-10-foot base, the trailer exterior is ash and Sapele wood sealed with three coats of urethane.
The hatchback kitchen features quartz countertops, a sink, two-burner propane stove and ice chest. Inside six touch-sensitive LED lights illuminate a memory foam queen bed nestled between cambered door cabinetry. Double doors allow plenty of fresh air in.
The trailer was showcased at the Orinda Classic Car Show Sept. 9, and appeared again at the Lafayette Art and Wine Festival. Fulcher says market price for custom-built teardrop style trailers can be as high as $25,000.
Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary built this for less, since labor was donated, but the Rotary Club hopes to clear an additional $30,000.
With single raffle tickets selling for $20 and six tickets for $100, the lucky winner will tow home a sweet abode. And wouldn't that look nice topped with a Rotary-built canoe!
For ticket information, email lamorindasunrise@gmail.com.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA