February’s BROTM is SCOT BELL…

[Joe (SoCal)]

Sterling Hayden / scot composite?

[Ted Hoppe]

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[Lugs]

A new month, a new King Rat, and not the James Clavell kind. The thoughtfulness of your appointment is much appreciated.

My new status is of course taking a bit to get used to. I’ve worked for Jon since 1986, and have run the Forum since setting up a simple, albeit crude version in 1995. At that time new threads were buried, so time was spent re-arranging posts on a daily basis. The precurser to the WoodenBoat Forum was a Professional Boatbuilder message board. We plugged a few modem cards into Carl’s desktop, strung different phone lines into his office. It was short-lived.

There are so many remarkable threads here, but I’d like to point out one in particular. Under Building / Repair is an Archive, which includes Lucky Luke’s Schooner thread. That Archive was set-up specifically so his impressive postings didn’t just sink to the bottom. As I write this, I don’t recall the status of that schooner, but thought it was not completed after Luke’s passing. If anyone has an update, I’d be interested in seeing it.

Now at home, but on my office wall for years is a lacquer and eggshell piece of art which Luke sent to me. IIRC it was a thank-you for getting him some special 3-D glasses that he was not allowed to buy/import into Viet Nam at the time. We bought, re-packaged and Fedex’d these “sunglasses” to him. They were used by his marine design firm for viewing renderings in 3-D.

That particular thread of Luke’s ran 1445 posts, and he closed it while in France for medical treatments. Luke also extended other kindnesses to me, inviting me to Viet Nam, and he would include photos of his gardens… in the dead of Maine winter. At one invitation I had to tell him I was laid-up in the hospital for some cardio work, so he sent me photos of his daughter’s wedding (stunning setting, attire) as consolation.

I am quite fortunate, as Luke was just one of many folks here who have had a positive impact on me.

-Scot

I am still in occasional contact with a senior member of Luke's team. I seem to recall it being completed. I will see if I can look him up and get an update. I'd met Luke and he subsequently gave me a tour of the boat. Oh, and congratulations.

Edit. The news is not good. It is still in the industrial estate. Nothing much has changed in the last 8 years. What a pity.

No body takes care of the boat, now the keelson gets rotted terribly and somewhere in the plywood bulkheads is destroyed by termite.

[Ted Hoppe]

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[Ted Hoppe]

The forthcoming book for children and for folks who act like children.

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[Hwyl]

Scot, may I add my thanks for all these years.

[Ted Hoppe]

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[L.W. Baxter]

if i had known he was so handsome, i would have behaved better.

[Scot]

If I was that handsome, I'd not be so handy. Apologies to Red Green.

[JayInOz]

Scot come back here- I have a list of grievances........

[gypsie]

Never has a man who has banned so many been so loved. Best wishes for the future Scott, looking forward to you sticking around.

[Canoeyawl]

You've created quite a thing here.
The combined I Q's must be an internet first

Thank you!

[wizbang 13]

Anybody ever win those oars ?

[Tom from Rubicon]

If I was that handsome, I'd not be so handy. Apologies to Red Green.

Head Rat speaks with true tongue.

[Tom from Rubicon]

In case we all forget. Scot like Putin has the dirt on all of us, which may be in the data base for future management.

[Canoeyawl]

Anybody ever win those oars ?

"Them ain't oars"

[Syed]

It is like conversation with gods.