a cheer for every project

[mrjoel]

being pretty new to wooden boats and wooden boat building/restoring, within the past 2 years or so i feel like i have noticed something obout our human nature when presented with ambitious projects that some one has taken up passionatly

since taking on my project with the wanderer (my seabird) this past fall, i have had a lot of friends and aquaintances family or otherwise, stop by to see what i have been working on under that big tarp in the backyard. and i must mention most of these people having nothing to do with boats, wooden or otherwise. but the overwhelming first comments are "wow you have a lot of work to do." or something on those terms, and i know it is a small and mostly true statement. but this has really started to get to me and i have been wondering why this comes up. not once yet have i got a positive comment right off the bat. (i must say except for the posts that i have put on here..as most of you fellas have been right in my shoes before and know where im at) but still, it kills me, and i reckon that it strikes me as when someone sees another person doing something ambitious (like rebuilding a big old wooden sailboat) there is an attempt to make themselves feel better for not being so particularly ambitious. or having that kind of passion in their lives. be it in a simple comment like i just mentioned. or be it in the form of different critizisms on the methods of work or materials used or time involved.

this, along with the many hours of sweat and hard work i have put into my project, have given me a great respect for anyone who is brave enough to step out of the normal track and take on the project of their dreams. to quote george buehler in the introduction to his backyard boatbuilding book " Damn but i love to see folks doing stuff! i like seeing guys hop up cars or kids building tree houses, and the rare sight of a half built boat next to a house makes me feel positivly good!"

i know that there have been a few replies or posts on here recently that are confusing as to whos being a critic or whos trying to help out the cause, and it seems it sparked this little ramble from me. so i guess this whole long drawn out post is simply getting to the statement i wanted to make from the get go and that is to everyone on here or everywhere who is chasing that ambition and passion and going for that project or goal, whatever it may be. wheather by your own work or by your own funds, or in most cases lots of both. basically you all got a big thumbs up from me. dont sweat the critics and keep doin your own thing! thanks for sticking with all that if you got this far.

[Wild Wassa]

Where I most often work on boats, beside where I work weddings and wakes are held.

Those non boaters who attend weddings are only into themselves and don't notice the boats but when a wake is being held the number of non boating mourners who come and talk to me about restoring boats, have discussions about boats that they have known have been restored, or just boats in general, some days can be nearly overwhelming.

What is it about boats and death? ... I wish that I knew ... the celestial vessel? When the boats are up on the hoist, several metres off the ground, could it be symbolic of a crucifixon and the restoration represents the resurrection?

There could be a theological thesis in this topic.

Warren.

[S/V Laura Ellen]

I personally think it is similar to peoples fascination with train wrecks. people love to see things go off the tracks. It make them feel better about there own set backs.

Which of the two TV programs would rate better with the general population:

1. A documentary on the restoration of an old steam engine.
or
2. An entertainment show that depicts spectacular train wrecks.

I would guess that only the train wreck shown would be played during sweeps week.

[Bill Perkins]

Don't brood Joel; don't brood ; but yes I know what you're talking about . When you're more than halfway done speculation will begin as to when you Will or "Should" be Done .It's a question any idiot can ask ,and it seems society gives them some vague moral right to an answer . You're in violation of its rules by creating something for and by yourself ; Absent WithOut Leave from the great communal circle ,when you work on your boat not to earn money to buy mass produced things ,but instead to make the thing itself .

This is treasonably direct , and unsettling . As you near completion you'll be faced with increasingly adamant demands for an exact launch date ! When will this hideous apostasy end ?They're eager to bring you back into the fold . You'll be pressed to give a dollar value to the finished boat in the marketplace and asked ,gently but sadly ,exactly how many man hours you've put into this project ? Material costs? You'd have been way ahead to just concentrate on your day job , as they have done !

[rbgarr]

I choose to interpret questions like those as genuine concern for my being able to complete the project and be happy with the result.

It seems that if I respond with something like "Yes, it is a TREMENDOUS amount of work but I'm very happy doing it" kibbitzers calm down, and follow up with offers of help... which I usually don't take for some reason.

But that's a whole new topic.

[outofthenorm]

Joel, whenever I get the "must be a lot of work" line or similar, I assume it means "you must be some kind of lunatic". You have to get used to the fact that in this convenient, labour-saving, instant gratification world, they think that anyone who voluntarily undertakes physical work outside of a gym is simply nuts. Who knows? Maybe we are. But after many many years of it, I just say, "Yeah, but I like it." Doesn't change anything, though. They still think I'm nuts. The best revenge is to finish the job and go sailing on a boat that lives because you did something. That's a feeling the civilians will never know.

One of the best things about this place is that you're among some fellow travellers - and we (mostly) respect each other's madness.

- Norm

[SawmillBrook]

Wow, and I thought that I was the only one who thought that when I was building my boat 4 years ago.

People would look at the boat, then look at me as if I had a mess on my hands and you could literally see the wheels turning in their heads. Their countenance was clearly screaming "better you than me".

I get the same looks from people in my startup business.

The point is, in my humble opinion, very, very few folks in this world attempt truly great things. They think about risk and how to avoid it, which is good, but then the abundance of risk thinking clouds the timing and eventuality of the jump off point. The result is paralysis.

I remember a cartoon as a kid - the Roadrunner and the Wiley Coyote. The Roadrunner would run right off the cliff and keep going because he never looked down. The Coyote on the other hand looked down and focused on the risk and splat he went.

Don't take offense to those words, take joy in the fact that you are in a very small club. Get it done and then people will be fascinated that you actually built it. I love it when people don't believe that I built my boat.

I'll admit, when it was 1:30 AM and I was on my 14th hour of draping cloth and epoxy on the hull without a bathroom break, I would think to myself, wouldn't it be nice to have bought a boat instead ; )

Keep going...

[Concordia...41]

I was always honored that someone expressed interest in the project and enjoyed chatting with folks.

My late husband threated to get a sign that said:

"Wear work clothes and bring beer or go away"

:D

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

People walk down the dock and always say to me as I'm working

"It's a labour of love!!!"

My stock reply is:

"Yep, and some days it's just a goddamned labour"

:D

[paladin]

my comments...mostly from family....was...."why do you waste your time like that?....but then again....they are all within 50 miles from where they were born, except baby brother was born in SF during the war when mom followed day.......

[Canoeyawl]

Quote-
“I remember a cartoon as a kid - the Roadrunner and the Wiley Coyote. The Roadrunner would run right off the cliff and keep going because he never looked down. The Coyote on the other hand looked down and focused on the risk and splat he went.”

Well you see, the Road Runner had a secret -
He could fly

And so can we who build boats…

[mrjoel]

They still think I'm nuts. The best revenge is to finish the job and go sailing on a boat that lives because you did something. That's a feeling the civilians will never know. -norm

right on mate. im glad for all these positive responses, thanks guys, it makes me feel like im not totally crazy and there are actually some other people who are in the same boat as me. figurativly speeking.

i try not to brood on the comments of that instant labour saving, gym going, near sighted world. i know that im happy in my own labours and that is good enough for me. i feel like i can relate to all the responses that have been put up for one reason or another and its great to hear. so keep em coming, anyone who is doing their own thing and maybe ostrasized or looked at strangly for it but none the less are happy as can be. there are many ways that people can get to this place i think, but i reckon that the wooden boat community knows this feeling more than most communities. because like you said "outofthenorm" something is coming to life from these efforts and that is a pride most people will never know.

[katiedobe]

We who take risks beyond the norm get a benefit that the others cannot understand.

The bottom line is they are afraid to move out of their comfort zone and you being out of the zone makes them more uncomfotable as well so they want to get you back in.

Keep up the good work and soon you will be sailing along and looking at a line of sheeple in their cars driving to work, being in their comfort zone.

[Jim Ledger]

"You must be a glutton for punishment."

"Boy, I'm glad I'm not you."

"You've sure got a long way to go."

Sound familiar?

Joel,when you're done with the boat just send them all a Christmas card that looks something like this and write "Gee, I wish you were here.":D :D :D

http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL441/8755859/16199889/250941504.jpg

[S.V. Airlie]

Joel,when you're done with the boat just send them all a Christmas card that looks something like this and write "Gee, I wish you were here."

Umm Jim.. Joel may not be the only one sending out cards like that at Christmas.:rolleyes::rolleyes:

[Rum_Pirate]

All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible. - from The Seven Pillars of Wisdom D. H. Lawrence
Just about says it all for us, doesn't it?

[Tom Hunter]

Harold Burnham puts up a sign that says "we will launch her when she it done."

When people tell me "it looks like a lot of work" I used to tell them that I enjoy it, but lately I have started telling them "No it's not." That is usually good for a nice period of silence.

We do the photo thing around here too, and that works rather well.

[dmede]

I've always interpreted comments like "looks like a lot of work" to be praise of a sort. I think they are just commenting on themselves more than you and saying that they couldn't imagine taking on such a project themselves.

Of course I'm not in the restoration game, I just build small easy boats... you guys with the big sail boats and waterlines over 15' are nuts, I mean that looks like a lot of work! :D

[John B]

I've lived that for the last 24 years and still going.
I think if I had a $ for every " that looks like a lot of work', or "that must be high maintenance" I'd have a paid off mortgage.
It happens less these days now that I think about it, maybe its the mad eyes and dropping brow that pre empts comments:D
I was up my mast yesterday scraping and sanding and varnishing, about 10 people went past and none of them spoke to me ,maybe I'm emanating " just shut the hell up" microwaves or something.

[Ron Williamson]

"That looks like a lot of work" is nothing compared to my B-I-Ls famous,"Why,if you have a TV and a couch,would you want anything like this?"in reference to F-I-Ls 32' trawler.
R

[Concordia...41]

Quote-
“I remember a cartoon as a kid - the Roadrunner and the Wiley Coyote. The Roadrunner would run right off the cliff and keep going because he never looked down. The Coyote on the other hand looked down and focused on the risk and splat he went.”

Well you see, the Road Runner had a secret -
He could fly

And so can we who build boats…

That is really good.

As is Rum Pirates'.

- M

[Dan McCosh]

You don't even have to be building. The usual first word is "lottaworkeh". We were painting the hull this spring, and SWMBO threatened to set out a can and asks for a quarter for everytime she heard that one. Someone heard here, and walked over and said: "Looks nice."
"Now do I get the quarter?"

[Stephen]

"Wow - you've got your work cut out for you."
and
"That must keep you out of the bar."

[Robmill0605]

It has taken me 10 years to get to this point in my project. I have taken a lot of kidding about " when will it be done?"
I always say the same thing:

" we will serve no wine, before it's time".

This where I'm at at this point.http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g148/robmill54/boatplanking7.jpg

[outofthenorm]

Rob, that mahogany looks like swiss chocolate. Very tasty! - Norm

[Robmill0605]

Rob, that mahogany looks like swiss chocolate. Very tasty! - Norm


Thanks, here's another bite.

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g148/robmill54/boatplanking8.jpg

[Robmill0605]

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
— Mark Twain

[Matt J.]

A topic I’m sure most here can relate to.

Sometimes it bugs me but lately I’ve taken a pleasure in saying, “sometimes things worth having are worth doing…” or “if I had a plastic boat I’d be bored - and that’s bad, or so I’m told…” or “it’s not a lot of work if you love doing it… I think it’s fun.”

When I was in high school I figured out quickly I didn’t have mommy and daddy’s money to compete with the toys and such… eventually I realized it was more fun to do different things. First and foremost, it’s seriously fun to just do your own thing, not only because it’s different, but because it interests you regardless of how “normal” it is. But, too, it drives people absolutely CRAZY to see someone thumbing their nose at the normal, conventional, accepted stuff.

Really, though, Margo – I love Dave’s idea, and might steal it in the next few weeks when we start framing Rarus. It’s perfect!

[Ken Hutchins]

Now I find myself saying the follow your dreams BEFORE your heath goes to hell, I didn't do it soon enough.:( :( :( :( :( :( :(

[Concordia...41]

...

[JimConlin]

Ken has a very real point. I'm almost six years into a one-year project and part of my delay was because of health problems. All's fine now. Of course, another part of the delay is my shop motto: "We don't do good work, but we're slow."

I once had an elderly neighbor who spent a lot of time maintaining his boat and it was lovely. I complimented him one day and he allowed as how he thought that the Lord did not subtract from a man's alloted years the time spent working on his boat. A comforting thought. Would that it were true.

What Ken said.
Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first.

[TomHaven12]

I live in a corner house so the garage is very close to the sidewalk. We get a lot of dog walkers, strollers, joggers etc. going by. Some of the women have asked: "Do you do kitchens?" Or: "I wish my husband was handy like that." Rarely someone is genuinely appreciative of the workmanship and sincerely says so. Many more fall into the "wow you have a lot of work to do" category. I usually replied that I enjoy the work almost as much as the sailing.

Now that the boat is finished and I am thoroughly enjoying the sailing part, I miss the building part. Maybe there's a Rozinante in my future!

[Bill R]

bump

[Bill Perkins]

Oh; that's a good one Tom . Could your skills and energy be redirected toward produceing something usefull to society ?

[Iggy]

Thank you all, as I get ready to start my first boat, this thread has served as a valuable warning and given some ammo for rebuttals.
Iggy