One More for the Nut-house

[AuxiliaryComms]

Greetings all,

My family thinks I'm crazy and they are probably right, but in my opinion my life could use more insanity not less. I've recently decided I want to take on a dream I have had for years of becoming a boat builder and designer. I think I have some good ideas and I think I have the drive to see them through.

I'm working on getting started with some Naval Architecture education. I'm currently a web programmer so unfortunately I can't go the apprentice route I'd prefer but I'm not going to let that get in my way.

So here I am, hope I can learn from you all, prior experience with the forum shows there definitely is a lot to learn from you.

Jason

[charmc]

Welcome aboard, Jason!

Good for you. Follow that dream.

You're right; there are lots of experienced and helpful posters here.

[artemis]

And some of us do web site design too!

[Petros]

Jason,

Good for you! I have a few questions however, to help us determine your sanity and to better make recommendations:

1. How old are you and what is your marital statue (any children?)?

2. How long have you been interested in a career naval architecture and boat building? Do you have any experience with these occupations, even as a hobby?

3. What kind of income do you make now, and what do you expect to make as a NA/boatbuilder?

4. Why do you want to make a living as a NA?

[AuxiliaryComms]

Originally Posted by Petros

Jason,

Good for you! I have a few questions however, to help us determine your sanity and to better make recommendations:

1. How old are you and what is your marital statue (any children?)?

2. How long have you been interested in a career naval architecture and boat building? Do you have any experience with these occupations, even as a hobby?

3. What kind of income do you make now, and what do you expect to make as a NA/boatbuilder?

4. Why do you want to make a living as a NA?

Hey there Petros,

Well, I am 24, married with a very mobile 7 month old boy (whom I expect will be on a boat as soon as he can stand and listen to what he's told)

I'm not 100% certain when I took an interest in Naval Architecture, this is the first I've gotten serious about it. I was going to go to school for dry architecture but I swept myself into computers and web design instead. I've always been fairly good at drawing and at CAD, I've always had a curiosity for how things went together, I'm very details oriented and I'm fairly handy with wood.

I make $50k before taxes right now. I would love to replace or exceed that with NA and building but I know I'll have to be damn good and damn lucky. More realistically I expect to make enough to where I can supplement my income with a stable part time job doing something else.

As for why? I was always drawn towards design of some sort and despite my immediate family having nothing to do with, even mortally fearing water and boats, I've always been drawn to the water and to boats. I've discovered that I am drawn to older designs that we don't see as much, I have an interest in classic designs and would like to revive them. On top of that, I don't feel like I'm meant to be sat in a box the rest of my life, I'd like to be able to have a job where I could work outside and on the water.

[tina.anderson]

That is an awesome dream you have! My brother is also looking to get into boat building and design, but he is still in college and I think he wants to get that done first. My whole family has always had a passion for boating, so I am excited to have joined this forum and I can't wait to jump into the many different and interesting discussions taking place here.

[safewalrus]

Welcome to the forum Jason, boy you are crazy (actually your not, your very sane) if you want to get into anything the best time to start is now!! Life is NOT repeat NOT a rehersal, so if you miss a bit you don't get a second chance! so now is the time to start, not tomorrow, but now (that's the easy bit!)

Now comes the hard bit.......how? Only you can decide that, do you do it full time or do you do it as a hobby (if only to start, see how it goes and move on if your any good)

Whatever you decide I wish you the best of luck, IT IS a worthwhile career / hobby and extremely satisfying no matter how much you eventually do so may I wish you the very best of luck both in deciding and actually doing! Enjoy! (not everybody gets to enjoy what they do)

[AuxiliaryComms]

Now comes the hard bit.......how?

If I can get a certain company to get back to me about licensing I think I have a chance to start out as a revolutionary with more orders than hands.

[Petros]

Originally Posted by AuxiliaryComms

Hey there Petros,

>Well, I am 24, married with a very mobile 7 month old boy (whom I expect will be on a boat as soon as he can stand and listen to what he's told).

Well, good you are young enough with enough engery and time to go at it. But you have others that depend on you so it means you likely can not go at it full time (unless you have a huge pile of money to live off of while you are getting educated). With your current computer skills I should think you can work free lance or as a contractor and go to school part time. I would suggest minimizing your living expences (move to a smaller place), get rid of any dept, and do not use any dept to finance your education. Work and pay as you go. It will take a while but you will be that much better off in the end.

> I was going to go to school for dry architecture but I swept myself into computers and web design instead. I've always been fairly good at drawing and at CAD, I've always had a curiosity for how things went together, I'm very details oriented and I'm fairly handy with wood.

Not a larger market for wood boats, I like building in wood but I do not think I would do that as a career (no future in it other than restoring classic). Dry land architects are a dime a dozen, most new grads can not get work as an architect but end up being a draftsman in a large employer. There there are a few successful ones, I work with them all the time, but most only barely make a living and hate their work. Even if you can barely support yourself as a NA, at least you might enjoy it much more.

>I make $50k before taxes right now. I would love to replace or exceed that with NA and building but I know I'll have to be damn good and damn lucky. More realistically I expect to make enough to where I can supplement my income with a stable part time job doing something else.

That is realistic, and something easy if you are willing to have other work to fall back on, particularly if you have computer skills you can always find work.

Again I would suggest formal education with part time work, avoid all dept and pay as you go. You might see if any boat yard can use you part time to do their IT management while you are going to school, this would give you both income and exposure to the profession.

Good luck.