A boat builder's apprentice

[djswan]

I just got back from visiting my first boat building shop. I had been gone for a week raising a barn in Steamboat Springs, CO. My mother gave me an article in the Bigfork Eagle the day before I left about a wooden boat builder in Ferndale, MT. HOLY MOLY, I'm thinking, this could be a dream come true. I, of course, forget to bring the article with me on the trip. My wife, of course, throws it away. I lost the argument with the "If it is was SO IMPORTANT" line. I found it in the recycle bin.
The article it titled " A labor of love". It's about Bob White. I call him before I have even read the article. I go visit his shop. What a wonderful and enjoyable time I had. He's been building boats his whole life and about 250 of them by his estimates. There was copies of Wooden Boat laying around. He was working on a mahogany runabout. I began begging him to let me help anywhere, sweep the shop, mow the lawn, shine shoes, anything to let me hang around.
I was not the first peson recently to beg him for knowledge. Since the article ran, a few others were able to get there before me seeking the same thing. He was thinking that he should start a school and pass his craft on. He needs a bigger shop. I told him I could help with that. He told me he would think on it a bit. I gave him my number and he invited me back for another visit. I look forward to helping anyway I can as an apprentice. Derek

[mmd]

Dunno if this is common knowledge, or if it is supposed to be, but the Nova Scotia Boatbuilder's Association, in partnership with the NS Dept. of Education, is administering a Certified Boatbuilder Apprenticeship Program. The program is modelled on the New Zealand aprenticeship program and is supported by the local boatyards. There are three career paths to follow - wood, metal, and composite boatbuilding. It takes about three years to complete the apprenticeship, but you are working full time while learning. We are working with NSBA and Dept of Ed to recognize my course in advanced composites as creditable to the composite boatbuilder aprenticeship.

[Rob Stokes, N. Vancouver]

If only in BC....

<sigh>

Rob

[Bark]

Here's a link to the story ...

http://bigforkeagle.com/articles/2006/09/20/news/news01.txt

[capt jake]

Wow Derek, that sounds like a sweet opportunity! :)

[djswan]

I was nervous talking to him. I swear it wasn't five minutes after meeting him before I was begging to let me help in some way. I hope I didn't make an ass out of myself. Although I don't need to beg to do that, sometimes it comes out naturally.
When he said I wasn't the first person to volunteer help, my heart sank a bit. I figured I would have a tactical advantage having worked wood myself, my entire life. I own similar hand tools to Bob's. He said the others who volunteered were also very enthusiastic to help. This is when he mentioned starting a school but needing a bigger shop, like a monitor style barn. My heart sprang out of my chest at this point and I ran to get my portfolio. The boat builders shop, I can do.
He says he has got plenty of people wanting boats from him and could support a school. He worried about getting future work. I told him I'm a fairly good spokesperson for anything finely crafted.
Wood working and time has taken it's toll on his body. He was telling me a recent horor story of chemical burns from epoxy. His hands look like they should be turning pages and not holding hand planes anymore.
Yes, I understand the opportunity. I think it is an opportunity to share. I look foward to meeting the other enthusiastic volunteers. Derek

[dbaker]

Jump at the chance, or idea of a chance, or the idea of an idea of...you know, a chance.

When I wanted to start woodworking, I approached every furniture maker I knew, a dozen or so, there was not a possiblity of working with them... focus was on getting more work, not more help...

So being a jake-leg carpenter, I started building furniture myself, teaching myself... I have re-invented the wheel, oh a 1000 times...

that was 5 years ago, went to a demo of one of those furniture makers last week, and learned a dozen things in 5 minutes, Think about what you can learn in 5 years worth of 5 minutes...

Jump... and ask questions in mid-air...

Good luck, wish I could be there too...

Darren

[djswan]

I'm jumping, I'm jumping. This thing keeps getting better. I talked again to Bob today. We are going to set a date to meet everyone interested. One person attented a boatbuilding school for a year in PT, Wash. Bob says he is calling some folks to see if they would like to start thier boats sooner. I have a few folks interested in boats that I'm calling. There is a catch. The boatbuilding shop. Bob doesn't have much money, he's a boatbuilder. I am thinking of starting a timberframing class to build his shop. Wannabe boatbuilders are going to learn how to timberframe first. I can donate some wood and time to the cause. It would be fun to see boatbuilders hewing a log for a shop. I'm going to visit him again on Monday. Derek

[djswan]

I'm going to be working on my thistle with Bob. and then he starts talking about a wooden trimaran. This could be a good topic.:) Derek

[bholderman]

Or San Diego...


If only in BC....

<sigh>

Rob

[Brahm Thexton]

Keep on looking!!!

I e-mailed every single boatbuilder I could find, asking if I can help anywhere around the shop... Now I'm working full time building 20ft and under traditional lapstrake boats! It's awesome!!!!!!

Just wanted to say, It is possible.....

Brahm

[bholderman]

Brahm,

Yeah, I realize that. My problem is I already crew the tallships at our maritime museum, killing my weekends (in a good way). With 3 kids and a mrs demanding the rest of my time, I'll probably read these forums and keep dreaming.

[Rob Stokes, N. Vancouver]

My problem's my mortgage!

Rob

[Spokaloo]

DJ, Im over here in the 'kan, and have a rotating schedule that would allow me some time to dedicate to giving a hand to this project (in 2-3 day increments). Let me know what might be needed.

E

[djswan]

Spokaloo, I'm in Spokane alot helping a timberframing buddy of mine with his house. I would love a hand. Bob has been a bit ill but recovering. There is so much knowledge there in his head, about life in gereral . Each bit of knowledge comes with a story of how he got it.

For everyone with "the dream" Keep your senses open for a chance to jump and jump. It still is good advise. Derek

[djswan]

http://www.dailyinterlake.com/articles/2007/03/06/obituaries/obit03.txt

I had stopped by a local boat building shop, on the way back from a long business trip. And got this news.:(

Derek

[katiedobe]

How sad, another older boatbuilder passes away.

I am assuming he never got to start that boatbuilding aprenticship school eh?

What about his pending clients? Any chance you can help them find wooden boat builders for them to patronize?

[djswan]

I feel sick, for not visiting him more often. I never got to ask him about the wooden tri-maran he built. I was a sponge around him soaking up knowledge. I barely even tapped into any of it.

The runabout is still not finished.

I don't know what to do to help.

The school he wanted to start. We we're going to start with my thistle. He said it would win our local wooden boat show.

I could use some good advise on protocol. Derek