A few more words from my clients...(awww shucks)

The boat arrived today!!!! 

Yuuhuuuu its so nice!!!! Exactly what I wanted!! Thank you

So cool to watch the pieces come together and to see the other boats in your line-up.  I'm proud to be a customer!

It's already a long time since I started thinking about a half hull model, but only now I came across someone that was actually doing so, happy with the experience, and with the price ;-)

Great to hear from you again.

You obviously have some wonderful practical skills judging by the obvious quality of your new models.

Having built one myself I know what's involved. But they do like great on the wall - just for looking at.

All I can say is WOW!  I feel privileged that you even displayed it in Gates place of honor.  The color backboard would match our mantle, but I don’t think I will get to put it there.

 

Really excellent work on getting the hull form fair and exact you have a great eye. 

Good catch Dan!  Here is a shot from 1980 and she had the stripe that ended
before the stem.  Thanks for the attention to detail!

"So Mr.Gatekeeper...you want to carve hulls"

So after a rewarding career running a small business it came time for me to retire...but watching TV and dreaming about sailing wasn't quite making me feel, well...fulfilled. So with the encouragement of Bob Perry and support of my wonderful wife and dogs. I started carving hulls.

The first hulls were a bit "iffy" but Bob continued to encourage me while still being tough with me. Bob is a great teacher he always finds something good in my work, while never letting me slide on anything that isn't perfect.

So here's what I have learned about carving hulls...

- no hull is easy...some are REALLY not easy

- 80 grit paper in a bench sander removes finger tips quicker than it removes wood

- I'm working for under minimum wage

- I can't wait to get to my minimum wage job each day

- this is not a hobby....it's a passion (see above)  :)

- if you don't love the artistry of hulls, you can't carve them

- I'm learning to hate the smell of cedar...it makes me sneeze!!

- not all sandpaper is created equal

Here is my staff...they work for less money than I do.

Jib, Quality Control...his energy is contagious

Mr Bob Perry, Mentor...Legendary designer. Great cook. Good friend. Tough teacher. Dog lover. Proud new Grampa. Fastidious housekeeper. Gracious host.

Rasputin...world class UN-engineer. Anyone who says "you can't make chicken soup out of chicken s**t"... hasn't seen the work he's done for me. 

I give him nothing but fuzzy photos and crappy drawings, and he gives me fine art in return.

(I believe this may be a yearbook photo :)

http://www.c111design.com/

Mrs.Gatekeeper, First mate...and only mate.

(this photo was taken at the latest management retreat...I'm becoming a bit suspicious about the two of them)

 Calypso, Finance Specialist...accounting & collections (leg breaking)

And to all my WLYDO colleagues...

My first powerboat...a whole new world

I good customer requested a powerboat to complete his set...and while a bit tentative, I decided that I owed it to him to try with the understanding that if I was not happy with the product I would not send the hull and there would be no charge. So the pressure is on me to figure it out.

The boat is a very handsome Bertram 20, and if pretty means anything, this boat is pretty. VERY pretty!

First was lines...sailboat lines can be a challenge to get...powerboat lines are impossible to get. Enter Rasputin from Cruising Anarchy. I don't know how he does it, but he does it. In short order I have a full set of lines and a solution to a serious problem (later). I love working with sharp people!!

The big problem is handling the very flat bottom...Rasp suggested that the lifts below the chine be vertical, not horizontal...EUREKA!!!

So here are some pics of the progress...

In time my skills will progress to a point where I will simply apply clear finish to the carving...this hull is close, but not there yet.

Here are a few more hulls in progress....

Another off to Europe...a 12 metre missle

This beauty will soon find it's way to Portugal. Will will document the building of it soon...but I'm off to beer and wings at our sailing pub.

This is Alex's beautiful custom build 12 metre. It looked fast when it was nothing more than cedar lifts!!