Help me to fulfill a dream

yipster said:
or dream on with zero woodwork or boat experience :P
Click to expand...

Everyone starts off with that-me,you,anyone on this forum. But most have/will learn woodworking and boatbuilding skills.




If you were planning to build a traditional boat,you could always build a raft and add things to make it look like a traditional boat.It would be very interesting!






Good luck,dominic
 
I would start by either going to your library or the Wooden boat store at the Woodenboat magazine get the book called simply Boatbuilding by Howard Chapelle one if you have what it takes to read that book you have what it takes to make it as a boatbuilder two once you read it you will understand this comment "boatbuilding is not a career but a life style" when you say to someone that you are a boatbuilder you are telling them that good is not good enough it has to be boat good also when you go to www.woodenboat.com they have a section for education
Enjoy the journey for once you start it becomes an obsession
on the back of my new race trailer I have the words "within the confines of this trailer is the objects of a disease that there is no known cure but can be controlled with simply messing about in boats" :D

Frank Laursen
 
Yipster is a negative nanny

Carson - Go for it pal. Zero woodworking experience just means you haven't learned any bad habits yet. Haven't does NOT mean can't. I refer you to a post I made a while back titled "Just build the darn thing". One 75'-all-wooden-traditionally built-gaff-rigged-schooner-later and I'm limping proof that if you want it you'll get it, and if you ask enough questions to enough people then you'll get the answers you're looking for.
Yipster, where'd you get such an effin high horse to ride around on? Seems you never have much positive to say (or maybe it's your incomplete sentences that distract the rest of us who are sharing real information and valid points of view).
Scott

p.s. Before my schooner, the largest thing I'd ever built was a coffee table. Like I said Carson - dream it, think it, do it.
 
Scott, my high horse? aint got none but all the worry's of two boats and
actually I’m a dreamer too thinking of building a 52’ sailing houseboat.
Haven’t followed your “just build the darned thing” thread all the way
but out of my head recall I positively reply’d to your bulwark question,
sorry if that distracted and will reread. Am I getting grumpy and negative?
Hmm.. been told before I’m short and without intend being a bit of a wiseguy
but than again, thought better to speak than reprint the disciplines needed
and all what is said by people who live from selling plans for DIY boats.
mentioning only the dream doesn’t cut it. A little warning wasn’t misplaced I
thought and meant as good advice but admit that after posting I had doubt if
it wasn’t too cynical but let it sly, did not mean to offend tho. With you i hope
Carson has found his skills, funds, volunteers and builds the darn thing
 
Not many places any more to be exposed to things abuilding. I really like to hear about young people following their hearts and seeking out a situation that puts them where they need to be.
They don't have nearly the exposure to making things--- anything--- as I was, and it's too bad. Apprenticing has become somewhat of a fantasy compared to what it once was. A long time ago, you made things that people needed. Now a typical apprentice makes things for people who have money to burn. Not so many of those.
So there are a few boatbuilders out there who carry on the old traditions of building by hand, and they sell their work to people who can afford to pay the freight. The side benefit is that they will also enjoy their own boat, something unobtainable to the average person, and I think that makes it worthwhile.
I've seen the classes underway at Woodenboat and I see people who have spent a lot of money to be there. Rarely do I see very many young people.
Most are carreer professionals like dentists and lawyers, and some average middle-aged, middle-class folks who are honestly looking for a way to earn some extra income by building a few boats.
This is all well and good. I do however wonder what kinds of options are available to kids who know exactly what they want to do but seem to live in the wrong century.
I would take an apprentice, if the damned government would keep their nose out of things. It would involve more than just fun stuff, however, and that is how it would have to be. Mowing the grass may not seem like boatbuilding, but there is the necessity to make the venture economically viable.
The whole concept of apprenticeship has been nearly if not completely wiped out by over-regulation and a young population who are subject to having to make as much money as they can as their options get more and more expensive.
Learning a craft like boatbuilding today is about as appealing to most kids as joining the Peace Corps. Would they still do it if they really understood what lay ahead? Years of trial and error, refining a thousand skills, enough to compete against the very best who make a living at it, and that is not easy.
It was easier for the last generation, who had more teachers and examples of good work.
I have thought of a project, a special cultural project, that would allow an uncomplicated means by which a kid could learn by doing and still survive.
In almost every way, modern culture prevents such projects from existing.
I am allowed to put up one tiny sign, for example, to advertise what I do, because I live in a residential zone (of a country town with a small population). On the sign I can only say what I do, nothing else.
Neither can I legally rent a room, or God forbid take in anyone under eighteen.
Then there is the matter of insurance, witholding taxes, permits to operate a business, safety visits by OSHA, and on and on.
In the end, I can see exactly why these crafts and skills cannot be passed along. Each day, even more roadblocks are erected to prevent such circumstances from happening.
Then the state sees that what once made Maine special is disappearing fast. They offer grants to craftspeople and this amounts to welfare in order to maintain the state's image. They would, if my proposal were accepted, pay a lot towards rental of a FACILITY and assistence so that the whole project could happen. This pretentious and complicated route would require me to spend much time at doing paperwork. The whole thing is a farce.
So it goes. My heart goes out to any kid who dreams of making things with his hands. Any suggestions would be appreciated, but it seems that all I can say to that kid is good luck, prepare to love your work-- you'll need to, and I hope you can find some place off the beaten track where someone who doesn't give a rat's fat *** for regulations will take a chance on you.

Alan
 
I know a famous master(Mr liu) who make boat model in China. He has made many wooden sailboats and he is a good man.You can send email to him. lyhy-2004@163.com
 
Alan
I am an engineer and did not attempt to direct my sons into engineering areas because it was becoming a hard road with little recognition. They were guided mostly by secondary school teachers into medical and law professions.

However the wheel has turned in Australia. Our tradesmen are the new rich. Not all, but those willing to work in mines or set up businesses in the cities. Some can afford mansions by 30 if they have made the right choices and saved. In fact most building trades can charge more than medical GPs on an hourly rate in a capital city.

I met a young mine worker earlier this year who did an apprenticeship at a mine, bought a 4 bedroom house for peanuts in a remote town then bought a 3 bedroom rental property in the same town. He was then offered a fly in/ fly out job at another mine so based hmself in a capital city. He rents the properties in the remote town for AUD100/night per bedroom (and the company pays) so he has a guaranteed rental income of AUD5000 per week. He paid cash for a 5 series BMW earlier in the year. He also got married and had a 6 month break off work - actually did a university course. The reason the rental is so high is that all the tradesmen that can be housed work at the mine so there is nowhere to house people to build more houses even if you could find a tradesman.

The silly thing is that the teachers are still pushing young adults into medicine and law. You cannot get into most medical schools here with only a matriculation score in the top 0.5%. You also must undergo separate intelligence and aptitude tests then present for interviews. All so you can pay tens of thousands of dollars and spend six years training to practice medicine.

I do not have a lot of feel for boat building market but if the skills remain in demand and they get scarcer then the rewards will go up - just a matter of time. I do have the impression that the skill set is changing though with the majority of pleasure boats now composite or aluminium construction.

Rick W.
 
Rick I dont know about that,,I have made several trips to lake erie to boat yards,to inquire about gelcoats and glassing and 2 part epoxies,,and woods and such,,I am a hands on and first hand type of guy ,,I got the same answers,,well the can says this or that or that is what the costomer wanted,,I think the old school tradesman have been undercut by corporate greed,,,and it will show sooner than later,guys like lazyjacks dad that done it all by hand ,,took to long ,,,,,we want results now,,,is the attitude,,I think that if one is fortunate enough to learn from a true master,,his reward will pay off ,,but untill people relise that the boats and boatyards now are just for a quick buck,taking advantage of the boat owners niativity,,to put it this way ,,I talked to a guy who bragged about his catalina and said it was the most produced boat ever,if you read through the lines ,,you see a massed produced boat for profit ,,how does this compare to a one off that is built by true craftsman?and heed this ,,nobody does nothing for nothing,,,question ,would you rather have a balsa cord hull ,or a lappstreekwood hullwith a real wood keel and keelson ,or a balsa keel with glass over it,,look at bruno stillman,,lobster boats,,in my day you couldnt give away the balsa keel ,,but the wood keels were it,,,longliner
 
I have a wood shop in L.A. And i am building some boats.I am a third generation builder that can teach you.
 
Apprentices

Hi Alan,
Could not agree more and my logo now is "Knowledge not passed on is Lost"
I will send you a P.M. in the next few days as I am presently working on some of the stuff you so passionately speak of.

Cheers

The Loftsman


alan white said:
Not many places any more to be exposed to things abuilding. I really like to hear about young people following their hearts and seeking out a situation that puts them where they need to be.
They don't have nearly the exposure to making things--- anything--- as I was, and it's too bad. Apprenticing has become somewhat of a fantasy compared to what it once was. A long time ago, you made things that people needed. Now a typical apprentice makes things for people who have money to burn. Not so many of those.
So there are a few boatbuilders out there who carry on the old traditions of building by hand, and they sell their work to people who can afford to pay the freight. The side benefit is that they will also enjoy their own boat, something unobtainable to the average person, and I think that makes it worthwhile.
I've seen the classes underway at Woodenboat and I see people who have spent a lot of money to be there. Rarely do I see very many young people.
Most are carreer professionals like dentists and lawyers, and some average middle-aged, middle-class folks who are honestly looking for a way to earn some extra income by building a few boats.
This is all well and good. I do however wonder what kinds of options are available to kids who know exactly what they want to do but seem to live in the wrong century.
I would take an apprentice, if the damned government would keep their nose out of things. It would involve more than just fun stuff, however, and that is how it would have to be. Mowing the grass may not seem like boatbuilding, but there is the necessity to make the venture economically viable.
The whole concept of apprenticeship has been nearly if not completely wiped out by over-regulation and a young population who are subject to having to make as much money as they can as their options get more and more expensive.
Learning a craft like boatbuilding today is about as appealing to most kids as joining the Peace Corps. Would they still do it if they really understood what lay ahead? Years of trial and error, refining a thousand skills, enough to compete against the very best who make a living at it, and that is not easy.
It was easier for the last generation, who had more teachers and examples of good work.
I have thought of a project, a special cultural project, that would allow an uncomplicated means by which a kid could learn by doing and still survive.
In almost every way, modern culture prevents such projects from existing.
I am allowed to put up one tiny sign, for example, to advertise what I do, because I live in a residential zone (of a country town with a small population). On the sign I can only say what I do, nothing else.
Neither can I legally rent a room, or God forbid take in anyone under eighteen.
Then there is the matter of insurance, witholding taxes, permits to operate a business, safety visits by OSHA, and on and on.
In the end, I can see exactly why these crafts and skills cannot be passed along. Each day, even more roadblocks are erected to prevent such circumstances from happening.
Then the state sees that what once made Maine special is disappearing fast. They offer grants to craftspeople and this amounts to welfare in order to maintain the state's image. They would, if my proposal were accepted, pay a lot towards rental of a FACILITY and assistence so that the whole project could happen. This pretentious and complicated route would require me to spend much time at doing paperwork. The whole thing is a farce.
So it goes. My heart goes out to any kid who dreams of making things with his hands. Any suggestions would be appreciated, but it seems that all I can say to that kid is good luck, prepare to love your work-- you'll need to, and I hope you can find some place off the beaten track where someone who doesn't give a rat's fat *** for regulations will take a chance on you.

Alan
Click to expand...
 
uh, you guys do realize that with the exception of the last 2 posts this thread is 7 years old, don't you ? lol
 
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