Just can't get in the mood...

[Roger Stouff]

Dunno what's wrong with me. I come here, drool over the pics and the stories, but I can't get rolling again. I built frames and a transom for a little throw in the back of a pickup pond fishing boat about 6 months ago, and nothing more. Just can't get the mood right.

You guys get like that? Whaddaya do to get around it? Just wait it out?

[High C]

Roger, I have the same problem, and I blame it on the lovely weather we enjoy here in the swamp. After a while I just can't face going outdoors and getting soaked with sweat, mixed with sanding dust and dirt, yucch! The first crack in summer's assault, though, and I'm reenergized.

It won't be long. ;)

[Roger Stouff]

That might be it...

But then...why do I go fishing in that muck? :confused:

[Art Read]

I get it too, Roger... But paying out the nose for your workspace, or having SWMBO tapping her foot while her car sleeps outside are good "incentives"! ;)

I've found whenever I get "builder's block", the best thing to do is just clean up the shop. Doing that, while meditating behind the broom, I'll usually find something, or think of something, that I'd actually FEEL LIKE working on for awhile. Sometimes it's just a dirty, tarnished piece of bronze hardware or two that I picked somewhere. Watching 'em start to look like new again under the bench wheel is always inspiring and good for moral. Sometimes it's a piece of rigging that needs fabricating, or a small bit of brightwork that needs another coat of varnish, but the important thing is to just do SOMETHING. I find these doldrums usually come along right after I've finished up one particular phase of construction and find I just don't have the heart to jump right into the next phase right away. Doing "something" keeps my mind on the project and I don't feel as "guilty" as I do when I just sit in my chair and stare at it.

I think the hardest thing to do is "pick up" the project again after having walked away from it for any considerable time. Start small. Tell yourself you're just gonna go cut out a few rough frames or knees or whatever, and try not to think in terms of "I'm going to go finish the boat!"

Good luck...

[ 08-28-2003, 12:46 PM: Message edited by: Art Read ]

[Seth Wood]

I get the same way. Maybe I AM the same way. The weather has been challenging here in VA as well; sweat, bug spray, sawdust, crushed gnats, dirt all add up to unhappy working conditions.

Boatbuilding, for me and maybe for others, is hard. It is NOT a leisure activity, though we write about it and dream about it that way. It may be fun and enjoyable, but it is still hard work.

I try to get out to the project once a day, even if it's only to swat mosquitoes and inhale that wood-tar-dirt smell. That's usually enough to guilt me into making some progress.

After all, the only way to finish it is to work on it.

I also have a list of "rainy day chores" that are actually more like "things I can do when I can't force myself into the boatshed." Phone calls, lumber research, list-making, etc.

There are usually so many small tasks to do that you can often find one of them that's easier than the others. Doing that one is better than doing nothing.

And yeah, I think cool weather will help tremendously.

[Roger Stouff]

Whew! Glad to hear I'm not the only one! :rolleyes:

[cs]

Roger get out there and lay them frames and that transom out where they would go and sit right in the middle of them. Once you've done that imagine that your out on the water in it, and once that is done you will relize that you can't get out on the water unless you get to work on it. So with that said get to work! :D

Chad

[Dave Fleming]

To All You Dedicated Amateurs Out There.

Don't be discouraged by periodical 'black outs' in your chosed AVOCATION.

It's gonna happen and it happens to full timers too.

One gets burnout and the more one is involved in a project the worse it can hit.

Pace yourselves
Don't set unrealistic goals.
Assess your strengths, weaknesses, work site, equipment,etc. and, choose a project that fits the list the best. In your own judgement of course.

Those teaser type boat plan descriptions are waaay off the mark in many instances.
"this little launch can be built by a one armed paper hanger in 12 months and shouldn't run over $50. Bushwha!
YOU get the plan or plans that pique your interest. With clear eyes and no dreams of skimpy clad women reclining on the foredeck, ahem, sit down and look 'em over with pad and pencil in hand.
Tote up the hours you see you taking to do the project based on the assessment done above and a, true in your hometown, cost of materials and, then and only then make the decision to either go ahead or put the plans in the 'dreams file'.

Do take breaks from the project. Do something else or as has been mentioned clean up the shop, restack the materials but don't worry! You will begin again and when you do it will be with a clearer head and renewed appreciaton for what you are accomplishing.

Folla?

[Popeye]

dear roger;

first i take a nice long bubble bath, and i tell ya, a soak in a tub with a little candle light and music.
mmmm mmmm.

next its a shampoo rinse and set and finally

a pedicure and nail job and wow, i'm ready for whatever the boat-life has in store.

boy if that don't do it for ya, what will.

[Bruce Hooke]

I can't imagine that anyone who takes on a large project doesn't experience this at some point. I refer to it as the "momentum" of the project.

What often works for me is to push myself to start on some part of the project. Once I get going on something and see a little progress I usually get pulled into the project and start thinking about the next steps and away I go.

If I don't get pulled in then I usually figure that it's time to stop and think about what I'm doing and why. Since most of us aren't doing this for a living, if I really don't feel like being in the shop then I figure I should listen to myself and do what I do want to do and wait for later to work on the boat. "Leisure-time" is to be enjoyed and if I'd rather be canoeing then why shouldn't I go canoeing? The time will come when I feel more like boatbuilding and then I will be able to get into it. This attitude can bother the puritanical "work-ethic" types, but that's their problem. :D

[Roger Stouff]

All excellent ideas. Sounds workable. Encouraging. Enlightening. Coercing.

Think I'll go fishing this evening... :eek:

[Hwyl]

Roger, I discussed this problem (it still exists with me) here http://media5.hypernet.com/cgi-bin/UBB/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=006458&p=

I have a couple of problems. One I work at a yacht club and have access to all kids of boats all the time. Two and this is perhaps the deeper reason; the product does not even come close to matching my preconceptions, maybe I'm not that skilled, somehow I don't give the job the focus it deserves. I just wrote a long self analysis and edited it out, I'll trust the readers to come up with their own ideas

[JimD]

Originally posted by Roger Stouff:
All excellent ideas. Sounds workable. Encouraging. Enlightening. Coercing.

Think I'll go fishing this evening... :eek: No shortage of coersion around here, eh, Roger? But before you start painting your fingernails... :D I related to Art's suggestion about getting the shop cleaned up and ready for the next round of chaos. After that, on my day off the paying job instead of putting on my civies, I get right into my work clothes before heading to the kitchen for morning coffee. Then I'm all fired up on caffein, have a clean, orderly garage, and already have my work clothes on. Somewhere a boat is calling...

PS, there's a post from a day or two ago from a guy building a Zip. You've made one, haven't you? Perhaps you could offer some advice to get you thinkin' boats again. And one other suggestion. Think of something that's even more intense and demanding than building a boat and be glad you're not doing that smile.gif

[Donn]

That's coercion, Jim. :rolleyes:

[JimD]

Originally posted by Donn:
That's coercion, Jim. :rolleyes: Ok for you, Donn. You made a typo the other day but I let it slide, but no more mr nice guy! :mad: :D

[Donn]

Hey...correct me! That's one of the ways that I learn. :D

[Roger Stouff]

Jim, do you remember where that Zip post was?

[JimD]

Originally posted by Roger Stouff:
Jim, do you remember where that Zip post was?Roger, the post is titled 'prefinishing frames' posted by jorgoz in Building/Repair

[imported_Snatchblock]

Another thing that can zap your energy........... too many beers too often.

[JimD]

Originally posted by Snatchblock28:
Another thing that can zap your energy........... too many beers too often.A timely remark, Snatch. I've been putting that hypothesis through field trials. So far I've found no connection between beer consumption and time spent on boats except there seems to be a statistical positive link :D PS - SB, is this your cry for help? Sounds like you're talking about yourself.

[Rich VanValkenburg]

It's taken me over ten years to get our boat to a point where I won't have another rock to turn over and find more bugs. There were a couple really dry years where the heat and humidity and hornets told me to just close it up and wait for the right mood.

What really gets me going again is to watch my favorite boatbuilding video 'Tales of Wood & Water'. Knowing I'll be out there someday soon helps get me moving again.

Also, having too many projects will psych you out unless you get them arranged logically, cross them off as you finish them, and make sure the list is in plain sight. It's good to see them get checked off one by one. Just like walking, one foot after another until you get there.

Rich

[Dave Fleming]

What really gets me going again is to watch my favorite boatbuilding video 'Tales of Wood & Water'. Knowing I'll be out there someday soon helps get me moving again.
Have you ever seen 'On the Ways'? or the one on Friendship Sloops with some good shots of Ralph Stanleys shop and Roger Duncan at the wheel/helm of his Friendship?

[Paul Scheuer]

Roger: For you a building log might be in order. Several blank pages in a row should be enough motivation to get something done.

For me, I got the most done when I moved by moaning/smoking/coffee chair to a position facing the project.

[Popeye]

For a perfect manicure, start by removing old polish with a gentle nail enamel 4 1/2" power grinder. File nails in one direction, starting at sides and filing toward center. Soak in warm sudsy turpentine for five minutes; gently push back cuticles with a 3M orange stick.

Prime nails with a good base coat (try Avon's Even Out Base Coat Primer) and let dry. Apply your favorite Nailwear shade, using only three strokes per nail--left, right and center. Tip off. Let dry and reapply. Finish with a quick-drying top coat, such as Avon's Speed Dry Top Shine Polyurethane , to keep your manicure looking fresh.

Nails give a quick pickup to even the dullest routine. If you don't feel up to a really fashionable fingertip, you can always do your toes!

[shadow99]

I know this symptom, It's call "a'Round-to-it disorder." So many things happening at the same time, your "mulitasking" so much your head spins like a top. Use your hands as a brake to stop your head from spinning, yet the inertia is so great that ur eyes keep rolling around in your head :rolleyes: ! Where was I & what was I doing before I stopped to do this, or was it that?!

Rick

[Dan McCosh]

Easy. Focus on something like cleaning the basement, doing taxes, etc., and suddenly the boat project takes priority.

[High C]

Originally posted by JimD:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Donn:
That's coercion, Jim. :rolleyes: Ok for you, Donn. You made a typo the other day but I let it slide, but no more mr nice guy! :mad: :D </font>[/QUOTE]Hey Jim, consider it a compliment. Donn only corrects those who are close to perfection. And Joe. :D

[Ken Hutchins]

I almost hate to say this, but I've been in the boat mood real good for quite some time, making lots of progress. :D BBUUUUTTTT !! the real ptoblem is getting close to bitting me in the arse, nothing else is getting done :eek: :eek: house needs work, firewood for the coming winter not done (I heat with wood only) :eek: lawn neglected, truck needs work, etc, etc. Oh did I say the boat is progressing very good? I think it's about time for some of the other necessities.

[Popeye]

hey, sometimes late at night, when there's nobody else around, i slip into my terry towel house coat and pink fuzzy bunny slippers and sit quitely in my shed.

all alone there in the dark, i can smoke on a big stoogie and cut loose some wicked beer farts and vacillate on lifes complexities. sometimes i run out of vacillate ... oh never mind.

the point is if ya wants to start yer crankey old two stroke, ya gotta keep yank'n on'er. (that doesnt sound right either)