A Project That Should Float

  

Today I have been obsessing about rowboats.  I am not much of an ocean person, or I suppose even a water person in general, so it may fairly be considered an odd thing to be pondering.  Without climbing partners, though, my mind is prone to wandering.

Probably about a year ago my friend Ian was telling me that he was considering building a wood strip water craft.  I assumed that he meant a canoe, but in fact he said he would rather build a row boat.  To back up a bit, I met Ian at work, where his renovation grew into a big beautiful custom build.  He and Catherine, his partner, are clients like I never expect to have again.  On the build Ian was around most of the time, and I enjoyed working with him a great deal.  Anyhow, after our conversation once in a while the idea of building a row boat has crept into my head.

To build the row boat Ian had planned to purchase a kit, which includes all the instructions and materials necessary to complete the job.  Not a bad idea, but to me it is a bit more like putting together a jig saw puzzle rather than actually learning to build a boat.  On the other hand, I have little inclination to mill the bead and cove into thousands of board feet of strips, either.  Purchasing the strips seems to me to be the way ahead, and taking the time to learn the process of constructing the moulds and creating the constituent pieces seems more deeply satisfying.

I have been thinking about all the furniture that I would build when I am back, so it is odd to make the leap toward building a boat.  I think what attracts me to both the row boat and furniture building is the fact that I am doing it just for the sake of it, and when it is done there is something beautiful to enjoy.  For the boat, though, I also get to enjoy the company of friends.  I found that my friend and business partner Okko is interested as well, which would make for a party of three.  Obviously, as much as this is about building a boat, it is about having an excuse to spend time with people I like.  Also, Daniele has been keen on building some chairs, which would easily be done along side and be a great way for us to spend time together as well.

For all of this I think that it will not be something that I leap right after when I get home.  Unfortunately work will have to take the lead, and the materials for the boat won't come cheap.  Also, there is the logistics of where the boat will be built, and the fact that I haven't even floated the idea with Ian, chosen a boat, etc.  I will actually probably end up building some furniture first just because of the financial factor and that there is free material sitting in Okko's garage.  All that said I hope to get it going in a few months.  I think it will be fun.  After all, I met all three people through building in one way or another, so why not keep building together?