Dave Corcoran R.I.P. (Bullhouse Boats) [Archive]

Hwyl

04-13-2007, 10:02 AM

I heard this morning that Dave Corcoran, who was perhaps the finest boat builder in America, and certainly the finest Herreshoff builder in the world, succumbed to the ravages of depression last week.

He posted on here for a short time as Orphan 314. I'm proud to have called him my friend, my life is the better for having known him.

TomF

04-13-2007, 10:18 AM

I am so sorry.

Depression is a devastating condition, and far too often a terminal one. You and his family have my deepest sympathy.

t.

Doug Wood

04-13-2007, 10:25 AM

Terrible news. My heart goes out to his family and friends.

John of Phoenix

04-13-2007, 11:47 AM

Too, too sad.

Don Olney

04-13-2007, 11:58 AM

I am very sorry to hear that. I was hoping to get to meet him
on the next run up to Maine. He built some very beautiful boats.
My condolences to his family and friends.

http://bullhouseboatworks.com/photos/coquina1.jpg

Dave Corcoran and Coquina

JimConlin

04-13-2007, 12:02 PM

I had the good fortune to have the stand next to Dave at three years' Maine Boatbuilders Show.
He was a truly gifted boatbuilder and great fun to be near.
A great loss.

Hughman

04-13-2007, 12:06 PM

Very sorry to hear this. Peace to his family. :(

lvergara

04-13-2007, 01:39 PM

terrible sad news, ... all I knew about him was from his website and publications but I find hard to believe something like this could happen to someone that could produce such beatiful works of art. My condolences

bob goeckel

04-13-2007, 01:54 PM

we can build beautiful boats and SEEM ok outwardly but......sometimes this:

"And so it is
That now I've learned
It's possible to laugh
With a lump in your throat
And tears can be hidden
If you really try
And the roles we people play
Would earn more Academy Awards
Than the screen ever knew"

Hwyl

04-13-2007, 02:21 PM

I couldn't get on his website this morning. Works now www.bullhouseboatworks.com

here is his picture

http://bullhouseboatworks.com/photos/IMG_7652-400.jpg

htom

04-13-2007, 02:31 PM

Sad news. Depression is one of the great killer diseases.

JimConlin

04-13-2007, 02:39 PM

Found this
http://www.mainecoastnow.com/articles/2007/04/11/courier_-_gazette/obituaries/doc461cf795e21a4345832804.txt

John B

04-13-2007, 03:23 PM

...

katiedobe

04-13-2007, 04:04 PM

Thad

04-13-2007, 05:30 PM

It was a long fight and he did beautiful work. Watching him sail was a great pleasure. He was a very good man.

Clinton B Chase

04-13-2007, 09:23 PM

This is sad news. I had a number of excellent conversations with Dave when i was a student at the Landing School...he always zipped by me in his Bullhouse truck as I walked to the deli for lunch. I'd see him there and we'd talk while we waited for the orders. He gave me great advise about boatbuilding and I remember every word of it. I think he was one of the best boatbuilders around, known for his speed in planking a boat and ability to prep and paint a boat better than most.

Clint

rufustr

04-13-2007, 11:07 PM

The black dog ravages some of the best.
My condolences to his family and friends.

Robbie

04-14-2007, 12:28 AM

Take care of yourselves and family/friends....
A beautiful boat is a thing of joy but a good friend is even better.

Tylerdurden

04-14-2007, 07:41 AM

God rest his soul, I can relate having been battling the monster for years now and its the toughest fight I know. I go into what I call robot mode when it gets bad but it still pours through the cracks and one cannot keep doing that forever. Past month has been the worst waiting for spring and hoping for a rebirth. Don't wish it on anybody.
Got to get back to building that damn boat, the water makes me sane.
I hope he is doing what he loves on the other side, and may what he created here go on forever.

TomF

04-14-2007, 05:15 PM

There is help for depression I am so sad that he was not able to get it.
If you see depression in your family or friends try and get them help.
It sucks to lose good people when it is preventable.

What a wonderful boatbuilder.About 85% of folks respond to one degree or another to depression meds. That leaves the other 15% ... the fact of being in that minority gives the black dog another avenue of attack. Guilt.

I dunno which category Dave was in, but either way ... I'm so sorry.

t.

Ian McColgin

04-14-2007, 05:36 PM

Our community loss. More his family's loss. Sail on.

Hwyl

04-14-2007, 05:46 PM

There is help for depression I am so sad that he was not able to get it.
If you see depression in your family or friends try and get them help.
It sucks to lose good people when it is preventable.

What a wonderful boatbuilder.

Jimmy, he'd been getting help for decades. I know he'd had great rapport with his doctors in the past. There is some question about them changing his meds. It's not an appropriate question for this thread.

beetlecat

04-19-2007, 08:47 PM

I worked with Dave many years ago and I really loved him.
He was a great person and I'm deeply saddened to hear of this.
For the last couple of years, I had been thinking of showing up and surprising him with a visit.
I guess this is another lesson to not procrastinate with friends or keep silent.
I will miss ya friend and I pray for red skies at night for you.
Rest in peace Dave:(
John Chase

Hwyl

06-13-2007, 11:07 PM

From the Bullhouse website

Memorial Celebration: A celebration of Dave's life will be held in Kennebunkport on September 15th for his friends and family. More information will be available in the coming weeks.

Dave Fleming

06-14-2007, 02:08 AM

I never heard of the man nor of his work till this thread started.

No matter, we have suffered a loss in the Wooden Boat Community that will affect many, I'm thinkin'.

It baffles me trying to grasp how someone with that level of talent, skill, imagination can have persisted, as has been mentioned for some time, dealing with the demon Blackdog, yet finally succumb to the ravages of the illness..

Our loss, for sure.

Sail On Fellow with fair winds and following seas.

paladin

06-14-2007, 05:05 AM

I only knew of him through his work. A very great loss indeed, My sincerest thoughts to his family.

GoldDogs

06-14-2007, 06:07 AM

I didn't know Dave Corcoran either but we have much in common.

To have clinical depression is hard enough... to hold a job, pay the bills and deal with people while battling depression can be nearly impossible.

1 in 4 people will experience major depression in their life, John Gardner battled it as well.

They suffer no more.

gmeadows

07-23-2007, 09:27 PM

... such a terrible loss. my condolensces.

I talked with Dave while at the portland builders show and also at the woodenboat show in newport. The passion, conviction to perfection and the desire to be part of extending the herreshoff lineage in exact detail through extensive research at MIT's Hart Nautical Museum is heart warming.

I've been down on my knees all day lofting and my pencil marks have gone missing with the drops of my tears. I had to knock of early.

I believe it was Winston Churchill who himself suffered from depression and was the first to give it the name 'Black Dog'. Let all know that the dog is not 'mental illness' but instead just an illness much like a broken arm and although it can be treated, it never goes away when it is chronic.

Dave, I have learned that you fought the battle for a long time. Rest in peace my friend. You will be missed.

JimConlin

07-24-2007, 12:15 AM

I knew Dave from having the stand next to his at the Maine Boatbuilders Show for several years. Being next to Dave at a show was a mixed blessing. The bad news was that, next to Dave's boat my offering looked less than stellar. The good news was that Dave and his work drew a crowd. He was usually showing an exquisite Herreshoff E boat (aka buzzards Bay 15) and the boat was the brightest light in the room. Dave was a gifted boatbuilder and, generally had a lot of fun with his visitors.
This year, at the MBBS, he was clearly blue . I spent some time with him and I feel badly that it wasn't more.
I feel thankful for having been in the presence of Dave and his boats .

Hwyl

08-28-2007, 09:04 AM

Someone has done a great job on his website. http://bullhouseboatworks.com/index.shtml
I'm almost certain that I cannot make it on the 15th (unless the weather turns sour). I hope others of this community will make it.

JimConlin

08-28-2007, 10:29 PM

I'll be there.

JC 72

08-29-2007, 12:34 AM

What a tragic loss. My condolences to his family.
My wife suffers from this horrible condition, and nothing has caused us more pain, and suffering in twenty-one years of marrige, than clinical depression. Fair winds, and following seas to you Dave. You and Nate are having a grand crack. John