Old Town
moved on...
I worked for a Swedish boat builder up the road near Stock Island from age 20 to 31. Laakso Melanson would make any kind of craft you wanted. Power cruiser or sail. He worked in wood mostly, and could build up to 65 feet. This was the limit of his shop building and his cradle system. It was also the financial limit of 99 percent of his clients.
In all those years I used to watch Laakso fight, argue, get abused, patronize, sweet talk and generally sell his soul to customers regarding the particulars of their boat to be built. Celebrities were the worse to deal with. But ordinary customers would constantly want things changed on their boat just after Laakso's crew had built them to original plans. Whole interiors of custom paneling and cabinets ripped out because the client's wife did not like the color or how the hatches opened to the wrong side to suit her. Stuff like that.
Laakso would lose weeks of build time and many dollars to cater to these people. I would always tell my dad of the latest pain in the bum client. He was a sailing instructor and knew the type. He always found my stories amusing. I watched what went on at Melanson's with a wary eye for years and come the time I decided to go out on my own, asked my dad what he thought of the whole boat building industry. I really don't know why I asked him. I would have started my own business anyway but felt he might have something to offer in the way of advice. As usual, he did.
The best advice I ever received was my father's recommendation I build every boat I was to sell on pure speculation. No customer in mind. No person waiting on a phone to tell you of their latest idea that would cost you a dollar or a day. Make a boat like you would wish to own and make it to the best of your ability. When it's done, post an add in the various sailing or yachting journals and then sell the beast as it is. If the craft is quality there will be no problems moving it. If it's crap you will not sell it and can get on with some other occupation.
This I did. And for the last 22 years I've built 11 wooden sailboats of 38 feet waterline, 42 foot deck. I only build one hull design. A shape I feel is the ideal bluewater, heavy weather cruiser. It's a ketch-rigged, double-ended canoe hull that will get you home in one piece if you make any effort at all to point it in the proper direction. She'll sleep 6 good friends or 4 pilgrims. It takes me 18 months to complete a boat. I work in wood and make everything but the marine diesel, electronics, the sails and some of the rigging like power winches. I use carbon fiber in the masts but it's hidden inside a wooden shell. You do not see it. Clear glass protects the hull. I do a lot of wood carving of dolphins and flowers or other natural shapes on the different surfaces and lines of the sailboat. Half my time is actually spent in art work. To the unknowing eye it looks like a yacht from a Rhode Island builder of 1900. This is my aim.
I start a boat on December 1 of the building cycle. First I make the lead keel and all the brass lost wax fixtures I hand carve to whatever nautical theme moves me at the time. I use animal and bird shapes on deck for cleats and line anchors. All the hardware that shows is brass I've shaped into a running theme for each boat. This work is done in the cool of winter down here in my little foundry. Then in April I start in on the hull. By May, 18 months after starting a hull, I'm done and sell her off. For the next 6 months I goof off in a sort of early retirement taken in segments. I start up again December 1. I'm in such a rest cycle right now. Otherwise I'd never have the time to write this crap.
I work alone but for some kids on occasion when I have to have a second set of hands like when rotating a 42 foot hull that was first built inverted.
My shop is isolated. My dogs have the run. My cat likes to run, for the dogs like for the cat to run. They all have the run of the shop. Except for a few naval officers from the local base, nobody comes by. This is heaven on earth.
I have no problem selling my boats. I've even got a waiting list after having been at this for a while. And I've only got one rule: If you contact me to ask how the boat is doing or even breathe a suggestion, you go to the bottom of the list. Dad was correct, if you make a product of unusual nature, there is always a waiting customer base. No need involving them until the light bills are due.
Old Town
In all those years I used to watch Laakso fight, argue, get abused, patronize, sweet talk and generally sell his soul to customers regarding the particulars of their boat to be built. Celebrities were the worse to deal with. But ordinary customers would constantly want things changed on their boat just after Laakso's crew had built them to original plans. Whole interiors of custom paneling and cabinets ripped out because the client's wife did not like the color or how the hatches opened to the wrong side to suit her. Stuff like that.
Laakso would lose weeks of build time and many dollars to cater to these people. I would always tell my dad of the latest pain in the bum client. He was a sailing instructor and knew the type. He always found my stories amusing. I watched what went on at Melanson's with a wary eye for years and come the time I decided to go out on my own, asked my dad what he thought of the whole boat building industry. I really don't know why I asked him. I would have started my own business anyway but felt he might have something to offer in the way of advice. As usual, he did.
The best advice I ever received was my father's recommendation I build every boat I was to sell on pure speculation. No customer in mind. No person waiting on a phone to tell you of their latest idea that would cost you a dollar or a day. Make a boat like you would wish to own and make it to the best of your ability. When it's done, post an add in the various sailing or yachting journals and then sell the beast as it is. If the craft is quality there will be no problems moving it. If it's crap you will not sell it and can get on with some other occupation.
This I did. And for the last 22 years I've built 11 wooden sailboats of 38 feet waterline, 42 foot deck. I only build one hull design. A shape I feel is the ideal bluewater, heavy weather cruiser. It's a ketch-rigged, double-ended canoe hull that will get you home in one piece if you make any effort at all to point it in the proper direction. She'll sleep 6 good friends or 4 pilgrims. It takes me 18 months to complete a boat. I work in wood and make everything but the marine diesel, electronics, the sails and some of the rigging like power winches. I use carbon fiber in the masts but it's hidden inside a wooden shell. You do not see it. Clear glass protects the hull. I do a lot of wood carving of dolphins and flowers or other natural shapes on the different surfaces and lines of the sailboat. Half my time is actually spent in art work. To the unknowing eye it looks like a yacht from a Rhode Island builder of 1900. This is my aim.
I start a boat on December 1 of the building cycle. First I make the lead keel and all the brass lost wax fixtures I hand carve to whatever nautical theme moves me at the time. I use animal and bird shapes on deck for cleats and line anchors. All the hardware that shows is brass I've shaped into a running theme for each boat. This work is done in the cool of winter down here in my little foundry. Then in April I start in on the hull. By May, 18 months after starting a hull, I'm done and sell her off. For the next 6 months I goof off in a sort of early retirement taken in segments. I start up again December 1. I'm in such a rest cycle right now. Otherwise I'd never have the time to write this crap.
I work alone but for some kids on occasion when I have to have a second set of hands like when rotating a 42 foot hull that was first built inverted.
My shop is isolated. My dogs have the run. My cat likes to run, for the dogs like for the cat to run. They all have the run of the shop. Except for a few naval officers from the local base, nobody comes by. This is heaven on earth.
I have no problem selling my boats. I've even got a waiting list after having been at this for a while. And I've only got one rule: If you contact me to ask how the boat is doing or even breathe a suggestion, you go to the bottom of the list. Dad was correct, if you make a product of unusual nature, there is always a waiting customer base. No need involving them until the light bills are due.
Old Town
When you can be nice to other pictures as well. You know this forum is addicted to pictures like some sort of bad drug. 
