Hooked On Wooden Boats Podcast | Celebrating the Art, Craft, History & Tradition of Wooden Vessels Worldwide

PODCAST SHOW NOTES Diana is a NOAA brat - her dad was a commissioned officer in the the NOAA Corp and met her mom - a civilian deckhand - on board a research vessel in the Bering Sea. Diana was born in San Diego, and lived in Maryland for a few years before her family settled in Seattle. After getting her undergraduate degree in Anthropology from Western Washington University, she had the rare opportunity to do an internship at the Maritime History department of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC.  This was a home run museum experience so Diana enrolled and completed her graduate degree in museology at the University of Washington. After graduating, she worked for 4 years at the Northwest Seaport in Seattle where she had done her Masters Thesis on the historic tug Arthur Foss.  Northwest Seaport's mission is to preserve maritime heritage thru large craft such as the Arthur Foss. Next stop was the Center For Wooden Boats where Diana is the Visitor Services Manager today.  She loves her role of finding creative ways for the community to interact and engage with the Center as an outdoor small craft living museum.  Diana loves her parents sea stories and has taught sailing in the San Juan Islands. Click on green player button above to listen to the interview and find out more about Diana and her adventures. Here's some pics to enjoy (click to enlarge):     Thanks Diana for taking time for the interview.  Best to you and the CWB! HOWB Produces First Video Interview I have produced the first ever HOWB video interview.  The interview is with Lloyd Shugart of Seattle, WA and he owns and is restoring a Ed Monk Sr. designed bridgedeck beauty.  Check out  the video here:  HookedOnWoodenBoats.com/Video1 WANT TO HELP?  PLEASE LEAVE FEEDBACK! I want to build a community of people from all over the world who want to connect, learn, share stories and photos, and have fun with wooden boats. I would REALLY appreciate you sending me wooden boats pics, stories, or projects you are working on. You can also write comments on this blog, email me at Dan@Hookedonwoodenboats.com, or call my feedback hotline at 424 261-2360. Click HERE to subscribe to my email news list for the latest and greatest fun stuff and click on one of the buttons below to subscribe to my show. Keep the bright side up and the barnacled side down - Wooden Boat Dan "over and out"! Subscribe to the Hooked On Wooden Boats Podcast here:

PODCAST SHOW NOTES Dan Leach is one of those gents that makes you feel right at home from the first time you shake his hand - which for me was October 2011 when I went to the Center For Wooden Boats to interview the founder, Dick Wagner for HOWB 004.  I had the privilege to interview Dan a few weeks ago - which was a real blast for me (hanging out at the CWB comes natural - haha). Dan grew up in Seattle, the son of a woodworker and grandson of a home builder.  His parents owned a 14' Rhodes Bantam racing class sloop - and his grandparents a 17' ski boat.  Dan water skied behind the power boat, but preferred getting out on his parents sailboat and occasionally racing.  After studying political science and history at the University of Michigan, Dan moved to Eugene OR, started his news radio career, got married and had a couple kids. Eventually moving back to Seattle, Dan continued his radio career, and did a marketing stint a Microsoft before deciding to enroll in the 2 year Marine Carpentry Program at Seattle Central Community College to "learn more about boats" and gain some woodworking skills.  After graduating Dan went to work at Dunbar Marine in Seattle restoring and repairing wooden vessels. Dan had been a volunteer at the Center for Wooden Boats for years.  One day in 2011, he was talking to Betsy Davis (exec director) and she said "we need you" to lead business engagement and sponsorship development to keep the programs and museum collection of small craft alive and well.  Dan agreed, on the condition, that he could work one day a week as a boatwright.  Dan enjoys his role and loves having his office on a floating dock. Click on green player button above to listen to the interview and find out more about Dan and his boating adventures. Here's some pics to enjoy (click to enlarge):     Thanks Dan for taking time for the interview.  Best to you and the CWB! Wooden Boat Hack of the Week - #11 - How to give your sandpaper Superhero Powers! Here's some tips to make sandpaper work like your favorite Superhero: Get yourself a sandpaper brush (also know as a metal file brush).  Gentle rub over your sandpaper when it clogs up.  This keeps the sandpaper clean and working longer. Change the sandpaper frequently - when it stops cutting properly, ditch it and use a fresh piece. There are several grades of sandpaper being sold.  Buy the more expensive sandpaper - it lasts longer, stays cleaner, and sands better. Save money by buying sandpaper in bulk.  Instead of buying singles or five sheet packs, buy packs of 25, 50 or 100 to save money per sheet. HOWB Produces First Video Interview I have produced the first ever HOWB video interview.  The interview is with Lloyd Shugart of Seattle, WA and he owns and is restoring a Ed Monk Sr. designed bridgedeck beauty.  Check out  the video here:  HookedOnWoodenBoats.com/Video1 WANT TO HELP?  PLEASE LEAVE FEEDBACK! I want to build a community of people from all over the world who want to connect, learn, share stories and photos, and have fun with wooden boats. I would REALLY appreciate you sending me wooden boats pics, stories, or projects you are working on. You can also write comments on this blog, email me at Dan@Hookedonwoodenboats.com, or call my feedback hotline at 424 261-2360. Click HERE to subscribe to my email news list for the latest and greatest fun stuff and click on one of the buttons below to subscribe to my show. Keep the bright side up and the barnacled side down - Wooden Boat Dan "over and out"! Subscribe to the Hooked On Wooden Boats Podcast here:

PODCAST SHOW NOTES Behind Jeff Hammond's laid back demeanor and Wisconsin drawl is a Master Boat Builder and seasoned instructor who is the Real McCoy.  He's been instructing at the Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building since 1985 and is on top of his game. As a youth in Wisconsin, Jeff built model boats and canoed with his family on local lakes.  After school he entered the construction trade, building houses and cabinets and messing with a few boat building projects here and there.  It was a tough time for the construction business, so in 1984 Jeff visited a schoolmate in the Seattle area to look for improved work opportunities.  When he told her of his interest in boat building, she suggested they visit Port Townsend and the 4 year old Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building. Jeff got a tour of the school one fateful day in December 1984 and knew the minute he left, that he would return as a student. Four months later he was enrolled in a 6 month course at the school with 8 classmates.  At the end of the term, he enrolled for another 6 months and was asked to work for the school, which he did as instructor, shop person, and student helper. Five weeks after finishing his second term, Jeff was asked by founder Bob Prothero to return to the school as a regular instructor to replace a retiring instructor.  Jeff couldn't have been more excited for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with beautiful woods on hand crafted boats.  He has been at the school 27 years now and never looked back. Click on green player button above to listen to the interview and find out more about Jeff Hammond and his boating building adventures. Here's some pics to enjoy (click to enlarge):     Thanks Jeff for taking time for the interview.  Best to you and the NW School of Wooden Boat Building! Wooden Boat Hack of the Week - #10 - Can You Spell Ambidextrous Worker? "Equally skillful with each hand" is how Webster describes ambidextrous.   And here's several reasons you need to use both hands (and related arms, shoulders, elbows etc.) when working on your boat(s): You won't wear out one side of your body before the other.  Seriously, your shoulders, hands and other parts eventually wear out. Why not take the burden off one side and share with the other?  Delay that shoulder cuff surgery a few years or maybe completely. It takes your intelligence to new heights - you'll be making the other side of your brain work more and this takes, well, it takes work. Geometrically speaking there will be times when you have a mechanical advantage using one of your hands versus the other.  Think of sanding the hull of a small boat near the bow.  If you stand just to the right of the bow, you can reach around with your left hand and gain decent leverage as you sand. HOWB Produces First Video Interview I have produced the first ever HOWB video interview.  The interview is with Lloyd Shugart of Seattle, WA and he owns and is restoring a Ed Monk Sr. designed bridgedeck beauty.  Check out  the video here:  HookedOnWoodenBoats.com/Video1 WANT TO HELP?  PLEASE LEAVE FEEDBACK! I want to build a community of people from all over the world who want to connect, learn, share stories and photos, and have fun with wooden boats. I would REALLY appreciate you sending me wooden boats pics, stories, or projects you are working on. You can also write comments on this blog, email me at Dan@Hookedonwoodenboats.com, or call my feedback hotline at 424 261-2360. Click HERE to subscribe to my email news list for the latest and greatest fun stuff and click on one of the buttons below to subscribe to my show. Keep the bright side up and the barnacled side down - Wooden Boat Dan "over and out"! Subscribe to the Hooked On Wooden Boats Podcast here:

PODCAST SHOW NOTES Wendy grew up the daughter of a Navy dentist, who made frequent military moves.  When her dad was given an assignment in Hawaii, Wendy's parents bought a Cal '27 sailboat and enrolled the entire family in sailing lessons.  At the age of 7, Wendy was getting her sea legs sailing the Hawaiian Islands.  Next, Wendy's family moved to Washington, DC and began sailing the Chesapeake Bay on a Catalina '30.  Soon Wendy was teaching sailing utilizing the advanced skills she had learned as a youth. Wendy's husband Garth also grew up in a sailing family.  In fact, during his youth, Garth spent 5 years circumnavigating the world with his parents and siblings. Their trip included a shipwreck in Fiji and other extreme adventures and all navigation was celestial (can you spell sextant?). It's not surprising that early in their marriage, Garth and Wendy made plans for their own blue water extravaganza.  The first order of business was to save money and pay off their home so they could "get away" for several years and live off the modest $1,000 per month their home would rent for.  In 1998 they bought a 31' Tom Wylie designed cold molded cutter - Velella - and 2 years later they were off on their 7 year, 34,000 mile adventure around the Pacific.  Wendy has chronicled their blue water undertaking in her newly released book - Tightwads On the Loose: A Seven Year Pacific Odyssey.  You can also check out Wendy's website:  WendyHinman.com. Click on green player button above to listen to the interview and find out more about Wendy & Garth and their blue water adventures. Here's some pics to enjoy (click to enlarge):         Thanks Wendy for taking time for the interview.  Best to you and Garth, and Velella!   Wooden Boat Hack of the Week - #9 - Purchase and Organize Equipment, Materials and Supplies in Advance So you want to build a wooden boat?  After selecting the boat to build and preparing a budget for your new boat you will want to do some planning for equipment, material and supplies. Start with the following: List of equipment and tools needed - saws, planes, rasps, wrenches, screwdrivers, power tools, squares, etc. List of supplies needed - glues, epoxies, fasteners, paint, varnish, brushes, sandpaper (the list goes on and on) List of materials needed - lumber, plywood, fiberglass cloth, hardware, etc. Next, organize your project into phases (on paper) and determine which equipment, supplies and materials you will need for each phase of the project.  Then purchase at least enough products to finish one complete phase of the project.  The last thing you want is to run out of a part or supply while you have some project momentum going - and have to wait a week or two to order and receive the part. HOWB Produces First Video Interview I have produced the first ever HOWB video interview.  The interview is with Lloyd Shugart of Seattle, WA and he owns and is restoring a Ed Monk Sr. designed bridgedeck beauty.  Check out  the video here:  HookedOnWoodenBoats.com/Video1 WANT TO HELP?  PLEASE LEAVE FEEDBACK! I want to build a community of people from all over the world who want to connect, learn, share stories and photos, and have fun with wooden boats. I would REALLY appreciate you sending me wooden boats pics, stories, or projects you are working on. You can also write comments on this blog, email me at Dan@Hookedonwoodenboats.com, or call my feedback hotline at 424 261-2360. Click HERE to subscribe to my email news list for the latest and greatest fun stuff and click on one of the buttons below to subscribe to my show. Keep the bright side up and the barnacled side down - Wooden Boat Dan "over and out"! Subscribe to the Hooked On Wooden Boats Podcast here:

PODCAST SHOW NOTES Judging by her enthusiasm and passion for her work at the NW School of Wooden Boat Building, you'd think Katie Whalen had been a hard core wooden boat devotee since her childhood.  Quite to the contrary, Katie grew up in southern California as a complete land lubber.  It wasn't until she visited Washington state as an adult that she got a on "boat" for the first time - a Washington state passenger ferry. Katie was first introduced to the Boat School in the early 1990's, fell in love with it, and immediately began volunteering.  She was fascinated by the school's mission and the dedication of the small staff, including shipwright Jeff Hammond (who is still at the school today).  Katie was working in Port Townsend in 2006 when she heard the School's business manager position was being vacated.  Katie applied and has loved her dream job ever since.  In Katie's own words, the Boat School "is the real deal"! In 2011 Katie couldn't pass up the opportunity to purchase her first wooden boat -  a 26' William Atkin's designed gaff rigged cutter - Barakah.   She is a traditional plank on frame carvel planked beauty (see pics below) that was built by the School in 1995. Click on green player button above to listen to the interview and find out other fun facts about Katie and the NW School of Wooden Boat Building. Here's some pics to enjoy (click to enlarge):       Thanks Katie for taking time for the interview.  Best to you and Barakah! HOWB Produces First Video Interview I have produced the first ever HOWB video interview.  The interview is with Lloyd Shugart of Seattle, WA and he owns and is restoring a Ed Monk Sr. designed bridgedeck beauty.  Check out  the video here:  HookedOnWoodenBoats.com/Video1 WANT TO HELP?  PLEASE LEAVE FEEDBACK! I want to build a community of people from all over the world who want to connect, learn, share stories and photos, and have fun with wooden boats. I would REALLY appreciate you sending me wooden boats pics, stories, or projects you are working on. You can also write comments on this blog, email me at Dan@Hookedonwoodenboats.com, or call my feedback hotline at 424 261-2360. Click HERE to subscribe to my email news list for the latest and greatest fun stuff and click on one of the buttons below to subscribe to my show. Keep the bright side up and the barnacled side down - Wooden Boat Dan "over and out"! Subscribe to the Hooked On Wooden Boats Podcast here:

PODCAST SHOW NOTES Today's interview is with Captain Robert d'Arcy.  d'Arcy grew up in Rhode Island, the son of a shipwright.  In fact he is a 4th generation shipwright - his great grandfather learned the trade in Scotland and the skills were passed down thru the generations.  Robert worked in his dad's boat shop as a kid starting with sweeping, cleaning, stacking, then moving on to building and restoring.  After high school he worked beside his dad to restore a 1914 Nova Scotian schooner that was 46' on deck.   Next was a 5 year stint at the Mystic Seaport Museum (CT), doing restoration work on vessels such as the 1841 Wooden Whaling Ship Charles W. Morgan, and the 123' fishing schooner L.A. Dunton. Robert had friends who owned a 1910 Victorian B&B that needed work, so he switched gears and began using his woodworking skills to repair and renovate Victorian and Colonial homes.  In 1995 he moved to the Puget Sound area and met mariners from the Schooner Zodiac and the Northwest Schooner Society.  The Society was to become the recipient of a 1907 BB Crowninshield designed 84' Schooner - Martha.  They asked Captain d'Arcy if he would be willing to set up a sail training foundation, spearhead the restoration of Martha, and become her Captain. The boat needed significant restoration work so Robert did his homework on her pedigree and history.  She was a worthy steed with a rich and documented history, so he took on the project and established the SchoonerMartha.org Foundation.   Martha has been fully restored under d'Arcy's care over a period of several years and she is being used for sail training on the waters of Puget Sound. Click on green player button above to listen to the interview and find out other fun facts including the history of Martha's elegant green color. Here's some pics to enjoy (click to enlarge):       Thanks Robert for taking time for the interview.  Best to you and Martha! HOWB Produces First Video Interview I have produced the first ever HOWB video interview.  The interview is with Lloyd Shugart of Seattle, WA and he owns and is restoring a Ed Monk Sr. designed bridgedeck beauty.  Check out  the video here:  HookedOnWoodenBoats.com/Video1 WANT TO HELP?  PLEASE LEAVE FEEDBACK! I want to build a community of people from all over the world who want to connect, learn, share stories and photos, and have fun with wooden boats. I would REALLY appreciate you sending me wooden boats pics, stories, or projects you are working on. You can also write comments on this blog, email me at Dan@Hookedonwoodenboats.com, or call my feedback hotline at 424 261-2360. Click HERE to subscribe to my email news list for the latest and greatest fun stuff and click on one of the buttons below to subscribe to my show. Keep the bright side up and the barnacled side down - Wooden Boat Dan "over and out"! Subscribe to the Hooked On Wooden Boats Podcast here:

PODCAST SHOW NOTES Today’s podcast is Part 2 of my interview with John Lockwood, founder and owner of Pygmy Boats in Port Townsend, WA.  If you haven't listened to Part 1 of the interview, I recommend you start there first by clicking on HookedOnWoodenBoats.com/060. In Part 2 of the interview, John talks about how he excelled as a computer programmer for 12 years (although it drove him crazy to be indoors all that time), and programmed the first commercially available Plate Expansion Software for "developable surfaces".  He also got the bug big-time to blend his passions and skills together to start a business where he was in control.  The result was the 1986 birth of  Pygmy Kayaks (now Pygmy Boats) -  a stitch and glue boat kit business in Port Townsend.   Pygmy Boats offers a large selection of kayaks kits to choose from in addition to a canoe and WineGlass Wherry kit. To listen to Part 2 of the interview, click on green player button above. Here's some pics to enjoy (click to enlarge):         Thanks John for taking time for the interview.  Your story is fascinating!  Best to you and your Boat Business! HOWB Produces First Video Interview I have produced the first ever HOWB video interview.  The interview is with Lloyd Shugart of Seattle, WA and he owns and is restoring a Ed Monk Sr. designed bridgedeck beauty.  Check out  the video here:  HookedOnWoodenBoats.com/Video1 Welcome to our new HOWB eNewsletter Subscribers: Jonathan, Tony, Jonathan, Peter, Jonathan T., Mike, Dan, Randy, Bjorn!  Welcome aboard the good ship HOWB! WANT TO HELP?  PLEASE LEAVE FEEDBACK! I want to build a community of people from all over the world who want to connect, learn, share stories and photos, and have fun with wooden boats. I would REALLY appreciate you sending me wooden boats pics, stories, or projects you are working on. You can also write comments on this blog, email me at Dan@Hookedonwoodenboats.com, or call my feedback hotline at 424 261-2360. Click HERE to subscribe to my email news list for the latest and greatest fun stuff and click on one of the buttons below to subscribe to my show. Keep the bright side up and the barnacled side down - Wooden Boat Dan "over and out"! Subscribe to the Hooked On Wooden Boats Podcast here:

PODCAST SHOW NOTES Today’s interview is with John Lockwood, founder and owner of Pygmy Boats in Port Townsend, WA.  John is originally from St. Louis, Missouri where he bird hunted, and played and fished on the lakes and rivers with his family in their 20' canoe. During this time, John got HOOKED (no pun intended :)) on exploring, fishing, swimming, camping and enjoying the great outdoors. After a one year stint at Union College in New York, John launched into a 5 year adventure of traveling and exploring the mountains, rivers, wildernesses, and outdoors of the US and Mexico.  The recurring theme was to work and save, then travel and explore until funds needed replenished; then work and save, and repeat.  John's stops included the Palouse in eastern Washington (wheat farm), the Snake River (drillers helper), the Wollowa Mountains in Oregon (horse packing fisherman to high lakes), and Aspen, Colorado (ski area), among others. In 1968, John broke his hip and was on crutches for 7 1/2 years.  This turn of events took John abruptly out of the wilderness and to the halls of Harvard where he studied Anthropology and Computer Science.  He was especially intrigued by his studies of the Pygmy people (thus the company name: Pygmy Boats) who are "hunter gatherers". During his years in Cambridge, he yearned to get back to the wilderness.  In spite of his limited mobility on crutches, John knew he could propel himself thru the water in a kayak using his upper body strength.   So in 1970, he strapped a collapsible Klepper kayak on his back, took a train to Whitehorse, Yukon Canada and solo kayaked 900 miles down the Yukon River. This was just the beginning of John's many adventures on and off the water designing, building, and using small boats. To listen to Part One of the interview, click on green player button above.  (Part 2 will be in HOWB #61 next week). Here's some pics to enjoy (click to enlarge):       Thanks John for taking time for the interview.  Your story is fascinating!  Tune in next week for Part 2! HOWB Produces First Video Interview I have produced the first ever HOWB video interview.  The interview is with Lloyd Shugart of Seattle, WA and he owns and is restoring a Ed Monk Sr. designed bridgedeck beauty.  Check out  the video here:  HookedOnWoodenBoats.com/Video1 WANT TO HELP?  PLEASE LEAVE FEEDBACK! I want to build a community of people from all over the world who want to connect, learn, share stories and photos, and have fun with wooden boats. I would REALLY appreciate you sending me wooden boats pics, stories, or projects you are working on. You can also write comments on this blog, email me at Dan@Hookedonwoodenboats.com, or call my feedback hotline at 424 261-2360. Click HERE to subscribe to my email news list for the latest and greatest fun stuff and click on one of the buttons below to subscribe to my show. Keep the bright side up and the barnacled side down - Wooden Boat Dan "over and out"! Subscribe to the Hooked On Wooden Boats Podcast here:

PODCAST SHOW NOTES Today’s interview is with Sean & Inger Rankins of Port Townsend, WA.  The Rankins own and operate Northwest Sail and Canvas Makers. Inger is originally from Norway, and as a youth was regularly rowing the families wooden clinker workboats to and fro the island her grandparents lived on.  Inger learned to sew her own clothes at a young age, and in 1990 began applying those skills to marine canvas work.  She has had her own marine canvas business since 1999 and enjoys the creativity of making sail covers, boat covers and other canvas boat parts. Sean grew up in southern California boating and fishing in his dad's classic woody boats.  After college, Sean began sailing and became a sailmaker apprentice at North Sails in San Diego.  Sean crafts custom sails from his loft in Port Hadlock, WA.   He enjoys working with his hands, and getting out on the water every chance he gets. Among other boats, Sean and Inger own a 26' Danish Spidsgatter 38 meter class - Cito, and a 20' Norwegian Spissgatter keelboat - Havhesten. To listen to the full interview, click on green player button above. Here's some pics to enjoy (click to enlarge):             Thanks Sean and Inger for taking time to do the interview - and best to you with your sail and canvas business and your beautiful boats.  You can contact Sean & Inger by email at NWCanvas@Olympus.net. HOWB Produces First Video Interview I have produced the first ever HOWB video interview.  The interview is with Lloyd Shugart of Seattle, WA and he owns and is restoring a Ed Monk Sr. designed bridgedeck beauty.  Check out  the video here:  HookedOnWoodenBoats.com/Video1   WOODEN BOAT TIP OF THE WEEK  -  #8. Prepare a Detailed Budget Before Building A Boat! Before you start your boat project prepare a detailed budget, and here's why: You want to make sure you can afford your dream boat before you start (1/2 finished boats are a bummer). You will be mentally prepared to build a nice boat - no surprise later on about the final cost of your boat. Small kit boats are the most predictable to budget for since 80-90% of what you need is included in the kit. Sail and motor boats will cost more to build than a small row boat. If you build a good quality boat that will last, IT WILL COST MORE THAN YOU THINK (most likely).  Building quality wooden boats is not cheap - but its very rewarding and if you take care of the boat, she will last a long time!   WANT TO HELP?  PLEASE LEAVE FEEDBACK! I want to build a community of people from all over the world who want to connect, learn, share stories and photos, and have fun with wooden boats. I would REALLY appreciate you sending me wooden boats pics, stories, or projects you are working on. You can also write comments on this blog, email me at Dan@Hookedonwoodenboats.com, or call my feedback hotline at 424 261-2360. Click HERE to subscribe to my email news list for the latest and greatest fun stuff and click on one of the buttons below to subscribe to my show. Keep the bright side up and the barnacled side down - Wooden Boat Dan "over and out"! Subscribe to the Hooked On Wooden Boats Podcast here:

PODCAST SHOW NOTES Today’s interview is with Kaci Cronkhite of Port Townsend.  Kaci grew up on a cattle ranch in Oklahoma riding horses and waterskiing behind her family's Chris Craft runabout.  Her ancestors were dutch, and the first family emigrant to the US was a shipbuilder. When Kaci was in her 30's, she sailed for the first time and it felt eerily familiar to horseback riding - position, balance, wind in your hair.  She was intrigued and hooked at the same time.  A few years later she sailed Australia to Hawaii upwind with a friend (with 10 days "hove to") and then was on to a 6 year circumnavigation which included training others to sail. When Kaci arrived in Port Townsend in 2001, she was asked to become the Wooden Boat Festival Director. She dove in head first and for the next 10 years gave it 110%.  In 2007 Kaci purchased her first wooden boat - a 28' Danish Spidsgatter "Pax" built in 1936.  Kaci is finishing a restoration on the boat and is writing a book about her history - Finding Pax - to be published shortly. Freya Fennwood of Fennwood Photography joined me the day I interviewed Kaci, and has written a blog about her along with taking some really cool photos. Please check out her blog at FennwoodPhotography.com/blog.  Thanks Freya! To listen to the full interview, click on green player button above. Here's some pics to enjoy (click to enlarge):       Thanks Kaci for taking time to do the interview - and best to you with your future endeavors.  Please visit Kaci's website at KaciCronkhite.com. HOWB Produces First Video Interview I have produced the first ever HOWB video interview.  The interview is with Lloyd Shugart of Seattle, WA and he owns and is restoring a Ed Monk Sr. designed bridgedeck beauty.  Check out  the video here:  HookedOnWoodenBoats.com/Video1 WANT TO HELP?  PLEASE LEAVE FEEDBACK! I want to build a community of people from all over the world who want to connect, learn, share stories and photos, and have fun with wooden boats. I would REALLY appreciate you sending me wooden boats pics, stories, or projects you are working on. You can also write comments on this blog, email me at Dan@Hookedonwoodenboats.com, or call my feedback hotline at 424 261-2360. Click HERE to subscribe to my email news list for the latest and greatest fun stuff and click on one of the buttons below to subscribe to my show. Keep the bright side up and the barnacled side down - Wooden Boat Dan "over and out"! Subscribe to the Hooked On Wooden Boats Podcast here:

PODCAST SHOW NOTES Today’s interview is with John Harris of CLC Boats.  John spent his growing up years in South Carolina – the son of a “sailing obsessed father (and he still is)” who built stuff and was an engineer.   He sailed with his dad on inland lakes in a Snipe, Sunfish and other small boats.  John grew up thinking it was perfectly normal that if you needed a piece of furniture, you went out to your shop and built it.  When he was in his early teens, he wanted a boat, so he built one (a rowing shell)- and got addicted to the process of designing and building boats. After college, John went to work for a boatshop in Maryland where among other things he cut out boat parts for Chris Kulczycki's fledgling kit company, Chesapeake Light Craft.  In 1994 John joined up with Chris full time.  He loved the fact that he could mess around with wooden boats all day and somehow get paid for it.  In late 1999 John purchased CLC Boats from Chris and has grown the company to offer more than 100 different designs including kayaks, rowing boats, sailboats, paddle boards, and proas. To listen to the full interview, click on green player button above. Here's some pics to enjoy (click to enlarge):       Thanks John for taking time to do the interview - and best to you with CLC Boats. WOODEN BOAT TIP OF THE WEEK  -  To be continued next week.... WANT TO HELP?  PLEASE LEAVE FEEDBACK! I want to build a community of people from all over the world who want to connect, learn, share stories and photos, and have fun with wooden boats. I would REALLY appreciate you sending me wooden boats pics, stories, or projects you are working on. You can also write comments on this blog, email me at Dan@Hookedonwoodenboats.com, or call my feedback hotline at 424 261-2360. Click HERE to subscribe to my email news list for the latest and greatest fun stuff and click on one of the buttons below to subscribe to my show. Keep the bright side up and the barnacled side down - Wooden Boat Dan "over and out"! Subscribe to the Hooked On Wooden Boats Podcast here:

PODCAST SHOW NOTES The first interview in today's podcast is with Steve Stone of Brooklin, Maine.  I met Steve at the 2012 Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival and he is one of the founding partners of OffCenterHarbor.com video website.  Steve grew up sailing, later studied filmmaking, and fell in love with wooden vessels along the way.  Steve is super excited about the videos he is producing for OffCenterHarbor.com. The second interview is with Eric Blake of OffCenterHarbor.com and Brooklin Boatyard of Brooklin, Maine.  Eric began building cedar stripped canoes as a teenager in Vermont, and studied boatbuilding at The Landing School and at IBTC in England.  He has worked as a shipwright at boatyards around the US and in the Caribbean.  Eric is also a partner in OffCenterHarbor.com. OffCenterHarbor.com is a video website with a growing collection of expert videos and blogs on topics such as boatbuilding, seamanship skills, and a host of other fun stuff.  Click on the video below to go to their website and view sample videos.  Note: If you sign up for a membership thru the link below, you will receive a 15% discount (and I get paid a little for referring you - thanks!).   To listen to today's podcast interviews, click on green player button above. Here's some pics to enjoy (click to enlarge):       Thanks to Steve and Eric for doing the interviews.  Best to you in with your new classic boat membership video website!  Note:  to receive a 15% discount off the regular membership price, click this link: OffCenterHarbor.com/Hooked.   WOODEN BOAT TIP OF THE WEEK  -  To be continued next week.... WANT TO HELP?  PLEASE LEAVE FEEDBACK! I want to build a community of people from all over the world who want to connect, learn, share stories and photos, and have fun with wooden boats. I would REALLY appreciate you sending me wooden boats pics, stories, or projects you are working on. You can also write comments on this blog, email me at Dan@Hookedonwoodenboats.com, or call my feedback hotline at 424 261-2360. Click HERE to subscribe to my email news list for the latest and greatest fun stuff and click on one of the buttons below to subscribe to my show. Keep the bright side up and the barnacled side down - Wooden Boat Dan "over and out"! Subscribe to the Hooked On Wooden Boats Podcast here:

PODCAST SHOW NOTES The first interview in today's podcast is with Thomas Scheinpflug.  Thomas crews on the Pacific Grace Schooner and was one of the shipwrights who built her, finishing in May 2001.  Pacific Grace is owned and operated by the non-profit S.A.L.T.S. Sail and Life Training Society of Canada. The second interview is with Dave & Linda Burright of Albany, Oregon.  Dave & Linda built a 26' George Caulkins designed Bartender in their outbuilding over and 6.5 year period.  It is a gorgeous boat and they spent a lot of money on her.  So they aptly named her Kala Lua -  translated Money Pit in Hawaiian!  Here's a great Article about the boat.  And you can view pictures of the building process at Flickr. Press on the green player button above to listen to both interviews. Here's some pics to enjoy (click to enlarge):         Thanks to Thomas and to Dave & Linda for taking time for the interviews.  Best to you in your wooden boat adventures!   WOODEN BOAT TIP OF THE WEEK  -  #7. Buy Quality Tools and Keep Them In Tip Top Shape! Don't settle for cheap hand tools or power tools.  Buy "good", "better", or "best" quality tools because: Good tools last longer, work faster, and are more accurate. Good tools result in a better built boat. They require less maintenance such as sharpening, adjusting, tuning up, etc. They are more pleasurable to work with - they WILL enhance the boatbuilding experience. Keep your tools in tip top shape because: They will last longer, work better, and be easier to use. It's more fun to sharpen your plane iron than to wash your car. If you ever go to sell them, they will be worth top dollar!   WANT TO HELP?  PLEASE LEAVE FEEDBACK! I want to build a community of people from all over the world who want to connect, learn, share stories and photos, and have fun with wooden boats. I would REALLY appreciate you sending me wooden boats pics, stories, or projects you are working on. You can also write comments on this blog, email me at Dan@Hookedonwoodenboats.com, or call my feedback hotline at 424 261-2360. Click HERE to subscribe to my email news list for the latest and greatest fun stuff and click on one of the buttons below to subscribe to my show. Keep the bright side up and the barnacled side down - Wooden Boat Dan "over and out"! Subscribe to the Hooked On Wooden Boats Podcast here:

PODCAST SHOW NOTES Today's interview is with kayaker and boatbuilder Freya Fennwood.  Freya grew up in Port Townsend and was hanging out at her dad's boat shop (Pygmy Boats) from the tender young age of zero (wow!).  At 18 months she recalls falling asleep between her dads legs while he was paddling the family kayak.  At age 12, Freya had her own kayak and was doing multiweek outings with her dad in wilderness areas of Canada and the US.  Freya is an avid paddler these days, and has recently added the Greenland Roll to her kayaking repertoire. Freya has a degree in professional photography from Colorado Mountain College and is a professional videographer and photographer.  You can find out more about her business at FennwoodPhotography.com.   If you want some great pics or video contact Freya.   Her work is incredible! Press on the green player button above to listen to the complete interview with Freya. Here's some pics to enjoy (click to enlarge):   Thanks Freya for taking the time.  I look forward to seeing you in Port Townsend soon!   WOODEN BOAT TIP OF THE WEEK  -  #6. First Time Builders - Think Big and Start Small! If you are getting ready to build your first wooden boat, consider starting with a small boat such as a 8'- 12' rowboat, or a 12' - 16' kayak or canoe.  Going small makes sense because: It costs less, period!  Plus if you mess up and have to buy additional material, it's not such a big deal. It takes less time to build.  Generally speaking a simply designed small boat will take 40 - 100 hours to build.  You can probably accomplish this on weekends and evenings (if you have a day job) and get the project done within 3 - 12 months.  This means the positive reinforcement and gratification of completion is just around the corner! The finished boat can likely be stored in your garage or apartment, and transported on top of your car.  This is called Keeping It Simple! The hassle of trailers, boat ramps, and moorage goes away, and you are more likely to get out on the water with a small boat .  And that is the purpose - to use that beautiful piece of artwork you built. Next, consider buying a boat kit: The kit comes with 90% of the materials you will need to build the boat including the wood, epoxy, fiberglass cloth, copper wire, etc..  You don't have to think about where to get the supplies and what quality of material to purchase. The boat parts are precut - and this saves a lot of time (approximately 10-20 hours for a small boat).  The parts are typically cut by computer controlled machines so the shapes and sizes are super accurate. You can call the kit manufacture for technical support WHEN you have questions.  And YOU WILL have questions. Kits are typically only slightly more expensive than buying all the material yourself. Kits come with a detailed step by step manual THAT YOU WILL NEED.   WANT TO HELP?  PLEASE LEAVE FEEDBACK! I want to build a community of people from all over the world who want to connect, learn, share stories and photos, and have fun with wooden boats. I would REALLY appreciate you sending me wooden boats pics, stories, or projects you are working on. You can also write comments on this blog, email me at Dan@Hookedonwoodenboats.com, or call my feedback hotline at 424 261-2360. Click HERE to subscribe to my email news list for the latest and greatest fun stuff and click on one of the buttons below to subscribe to my show. Keep the bright side up and the barnacled side down - Wooden Boat Dan "over and out"! Subscribe to the Hooked On Wooden Boats Podcast here:

PODCAST SHOW NOTES Ten days ago, I attended the 36th Annual Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival.  I recorded 3 hours of interviews with more than a dozen people over that three day period (and had an absolute blast - btw!). This week I am playing four short recordings/interviews (total of 37 minutes): The first HOWB Podcast "Meetup" on record.  HOWB fans Ralph Duncan, Christina Cogan, and Korey Ruben. Tug Buse small boat adventurer. Follow up to the interview I did with Tug for  HookedOnWoodenBoats.com/016.  Josh and Anika Colvin - An update on SCAMP and Small Craft Advisor Magazine.  Check out HookedOnWoodenBoats.com/040. John Welsford and Howard Rice - update on SCAMP CAMP, Small Craft Skills Academy and other fun stuff.  Check out HookedOnWoodenBoats.com/039 (Rice), and HookedOnWoodenBoats.com/048 (Welsford). Press on the green player button above to listen to the fun and informative audio content. Here's some pics to enjoy (click to enlarge):       Thanks to Ralph, Korey, Christina, Anika, Josh, Howard, John, Tug for taking the time!  Best to you with your wooden boats adventures!   WOODEN BOAT TIP OF THE WEEK - #5 - Build and Utilize an Epoxy Locker. One of the challenges with using epoxy in cold temperatures is to keep the epoxy at a warm enough temperature to dispense easily from your pumps and to mix thoroughly.  Even if using a "fast" hardener, you may have to mix the resin and hardener for several minutes to ensure the product is ready to use. One solution is to store your epoxy in a heated and insulated "epoxy locker".  I made a simple locker for myself from scrap OSB and mounted it to the wall at a place convenient to my mixing area.  It is approximately 18" x 18" x 18".  I stapled home insulation to the inside, mounted a ceramic bulb receptacle inside, and put a hinged door on the front.  With a 60 watt bulb turned on, the resin and hardener stay at a nice warm temperature.  The other benefits include keeping the epoxy containers clean and in a convenient place  - the last thing I want to do is have to hunt down my epoxy when I am ready to fillet, laminate, or roll out epoxy!   WANT TO HELP?  PLEASE LEAVE FEEDBACK! I want to build a community of people from all over the world who want to connect, learn, share stories and photos, and have fun with wooden boats. I would REALLY appreciate you sending me wooden boats pics, stories, or projects you are working on. You can also write comments on this blog, email me at Dan@Hookedonwoodenboats.com, or call my feedback hotline at 424 261-2360. Click HERE to subscribe to my email news list for the latest and greatest fun stuff and click on one of the buttons below to subscribe to my show. Keep the bright side up and the barnacled side down - Wooden Boat Dan "over and out"! Subscribe to the Hooked On Wooden Boats Podcast here: