Larinda's singular character began to develop in Mahan's backyard one day in the early 1970s when he set the staging that served as her home until she was ready for launching more than 20 years later. As the project progressed, Mahan hired Susan Randall to create the fanciful figures that give the boat its unique personality. Susan had never before tried her hand at woodcarving but was intent on creating something special to grace Mahan's fairy tale boat.
In addition to the sea horse hand-rails, dolphin armrests and dandy frog figurehead, Susan's creativity is evident in the smiling Orca whales and golden scallop shell on Larinda's transom.
Oliver Southwood, the frog figurehead, was carved from one-hundred-year-old cypress. It took Susan about two months, working six hours a day, five days a week, using hand tools, in the old tradition. Once Oliver was roughed out, the fine work was done with delicate chisels and gouges. Final sanding was followed with a heavy coat of epoxy to seal all the wood and end grain. Once the epoxy had cured, the figurehead was again sanded in preparation for final painting and coloring.
Oliver is wearing the dress uniform of John Paul Jones - fitting attire for a frog of Oliver's stature. In keeping with the general scheme of Larinda, period colors were selected for Oliver Southwood's uniform. Oliver is holding a very heavy brass telescope in his beautifully sculpted hands.
The carved Orca whales and large scallop shell decorating Larinda's transom are done in old hard pine and fastened to cypress planking.
Susan also carved two dolphin heads on top of the forward knightheads. Below, dolphin armrests grace two of the settees, while aft in the great cabin two mermaids hold a shell over the centrally located loveseat.
