Scott Dufour Posted July 14, 2004 Author Posted July 14, 2004 I'm beginning to wonder if I'll like sailing the boat as much as I enjoy building it. I'm having so much fun in the workshop, it's hard to believe being on the water will compare. There was a character like that in Steinbeck's Cannery Row: He loved building a boat, but hated the idea of going out on the water. So every time he got close to completion, he made a major design change and could just go back to the shop and start over. Ken, I always thought F-16s were there to observe A-10s actually do the dirty work. Scott Dufour, CAPT, USAF 103 Fighter Wing Maintenance Officer [attachment over 4 years old deleted by admin] Quote
ken connors Posted July 14, 2004 Posted July 14, 2004 Scott, i felt the same way. i wasnt sure what i would like more, building 'em or being in 'em. since ive only just launched and im just learning to sail, the jury is still out. but every time i go out i get a little better and enjoy it a little more. but i also know im going to need to build another boat sometime soon. as far as f-16s or a-10s, i defer to the Captain Quote
Steve Day Posted July 14, 2004 Posted July 14, 2004 Well, I guess I'll have to weigh in too. Like Barry, the first boat I built myself was a "Sailing Surfboard." While mine didn't stay in the family very long, it started me on a long sailing career. I built another boat almost 30 years ago and had a long hiatus until this past year when I decided to built the Spindrift I recently completed. Now that I have the time, I do not intend to stop building boats. Haven't figured out what the next project is, but it won't be long until I start it. It is really cool when people here in Nebraska look at me like I have two heads when I say that I built the Spindrift myself. I then grow another head in their eyes when I tell them it is not made from a kit. :twisted: Steve Quote
Jan Williamson Posted July 14, 2004 Posted July 14, 2004 Craig, What a great website, not to mention your fine vessel . Thanks, I added that one to my favorites so I can further drool over it. Quote
Stump Posted July 14, 2004 Posted July 14, 2004 I think the worst thing is that I already am going to start another boat and I haven't even finished the first one yet. I figure that while I'm waiting for something to dry on one I can work on the other...I'm lying...I have a monkey on my back and I can't get it off. I thought, sure, build a boat, no big deal...but I don't care!!! Hee hee...I'm not ready for a twelve step program yet!!!!!! Plywood or plank? hummm? Quote
ken connors Posted July 15, 2004 Posted July 15, 2004 sounds like you got it bad, stump. dont let anyone try to talk you into any kind of therapy, tho. remember, rehab is for quitters 8) Quote
Craig Posted July 15, 2004 Posted July 15, 2004 Thanks for the compli,emts Jan. She is kindofa nice boat. Quote
Charlie Jones Posted July 15, 2004 Posted July 15, 2004 lol- Scot- let me correct a misconception. Sorry, but I DON'T make a living building boats. Wish I did, but actually I make a living doing woodwork. Mostly refinishing, rebuilding and restoring furniture, which I'm still doing as I build the Princess. Can make for some LONG days. I DO get paid to build boats but they don't happen often enough to actually make a living building. Ask Oyster- JUST building boats is a really tough way to make a living- there can be some LONG gaps 'tween vessels Wouldn't change a thing unless I could just get my Rhodes Meridian finished and go cruising for a couple of months Quote
Scott Dufour Posted July 16, 2004 Author Posted July 16, 2004 Charlie, Sorry for the misunderstanding. I guess I just figgered anybody who knows so much must do it full time. So you get to get paid for building boats when them come along, but you don't have to have the heartache and headache of it being your source of bread? That sound even better. However, back when I used to get paid for making music in a band, but also kept a real job, I remember THAT being a ton a work and not quite EVERYTHING I thought it would be cracked up to be. From your posts, though, it really does seem like you enjoy what you do, and I've learned so much from your generous willingness to share your knowledge that I'm gonna continue thinking of you as a guru. :wink: Quote
tomstock Posted July 23, 2004 Posted July 23, 2004 I wanted a first sailboat *right now* and didn't have the money to buy one. Also, I wanted to keep myself from buying too much boat and getting myself in trouble with it, so I figured building a small boat would be fun, and yes it would get some attention. I'll never forget the frog in my mother's throat when I told her I was going to build a sailboat. Frankly she thought I was full of crap but was nice enough not to say so. My wife laughed and just said "ok honey....whatever....". She knows better but it seemed a little "out there" since I had never built anything from wood other than RC planes. The plans and video satisfied me for a year until I found a stable job and a place to build.... then I nervously ordered my first load of wood...still wondering if this would be the best thing ever, or one of the most embarassing failures of my life. I work on the boat in my dad's back yard, and it's covered with two blue poly tarps to protect it from the florida weather. I've kept it dry for a year in between sessions and now and I'm getting ready to glass it. My mother is now completely amazed, my wife is impressed, and my dad just think's I'm strange in a good way. I still can't convince my wife that the boat will actually float, probably because I'm not convinced either. Everything points to yes, but I still can't imagine it. Shouldn't be long now. In contrast, my 3 year old daugher loves the boat even more than I do. It'll be hers someday. Quote
Guest Posted July 23, 2004 Posted July 23, 2004 I second the notion that Charles is very generous and knowledgable with his "parttime" :roll: :wink: job skills. [such modesty Charles]. I only have one comment to make for anyone that is reading this thread. Before you start a project, don't let the excitment of seeing results and the hitting the water get ahead of a good working area, even if it is only blue tarp covers on PVC pipes. Make it secure and pretty weather proof from wind and rain. If not, this will make for more work on the boat overtime, from cleanup and bare wood changes in shapes and surface smoothness for a decent finish. It will also make for more work on your boat a few years down the road. Soiled wood will not take coatings properly and will gather moisture to bite you when closed up in the completed project. Quote
Tom Holder Posted July 23, 2004 Posted July 23, 2004 However' date=' back when I used to get paid for making music in a band, but also kept a real job, I remember THAT being a ton a work and not quite EVERYTHING I thought it would be cracked up to be.[/quote']No kidding eh!!! $68 a week seemed to be the magic number - no matter who I played with, where we played, where we stayed, rented van or '71 Caprice, our PA or the house's - $68 a week was all I ever cleared playing. And if I remember correctly, it was mostly draft beer on the house and the "chickies" never really looked like the ones in the Van Halen videos. Well, I refused to mature but I did have to get a real job just like the grownups. Rock and roll. Sigh. Quote
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