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!!

An Award winning hull...(kinda)

I reworked our own hull of Gatekeeper to serve as a trophy for a race at our yacht club.

I think it easily beats a dusty piece of phony brass and plastic marble.

Islander Bahama 30...

This hull just done and on it's way to Washington State.

One of the joys of this craft is keeping the owner involved all through the process, not to mention it helps avoid problems. The owner of this boat properly pointed out that I had the boot stripe located incorrectly...easy fixed here. Annoying if it finds it's way to the client like that.

Here's a progression...

This is what makes it worthwhile...

Dan,

I am totally thrilled with the models.

Earlier today I posted an "open" letter to you as a thank you on SA; (see below) your work is outstanding and I hope you don't mind the admiration on a public forum.  It was a true pleasure to work with you.  I had a lot of fun thinking about the models, watching the progress, and ultimately opening the box and seeing them for the first time.  You did a fantastic job.

As I mentioned in my post on SA, my wife wants a third model of our little powerboat; a 1964 Bertram 20.  This is totally unlike her; she thinks we have too much boat stuff in our house (so much so that I bought her a painting of a beach for Christmas; hey it still has water in it!  but no boats)

So, if you're up for it, when your schedule allows please slot me in for model number 3.  Same scale, same backboard, new color. ...Again, many many thanks for your work on the Quest and SC.

Best regards,

T***f

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Susan and I just cannot walk through that door (which we use dozens a times a day) without stopping and admiring the white twin.

When we sit in our family area we look through the passageway and see the twin which really stands out.

Your hull is now a daily part of our lives Gate!

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It is f----ng beautiful.  PSR.

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Gate:

A box that was labeled as containing vacuum cleaner parts, bearing Canadian postal markings, and marked "Fragile" confounded my family when it arrived yesterday morning. Having had a sneak peak of said box, and having known of its contents, I was very much looking forward to opening it. However, I managed restraint and the box was opened with due pomp and circumstance over cocktails.

Amidst cries of "what is it?" and "is it for us?" from my kids, I carefully unpacked the box (the packaging material precisely arranged, almost a work of art itself).

And finally, the unveiling... of two gorgeous half hull models, one of our last boat, a Quest 32, and one of the current boat, a Santa Cruz 37. Scaled identically on matching backboards with the colors faithfully replicated. Absolutely beautifully done. Seeing pictures of the hulls in progress did not do them justice; in person they are even better. The craftsmanship is first class and the models are stunning.

So much so, that my wife said that they were not going to be hung in my office, but instead needed to be put somewhere more prominent. High praise, indeed. But then she asked, "where's the third one?", referring to our Bertram runabout. Therefore, Gate, consider this a third order.

I am thrilled with the models and am proud to show them off. With sincere thanks and appreciaton,

PS Thanks, also, to Bob Perry, who provided some behind-the-scenes guidance to Gatekeeper, and to Rodger Martin and Tim Kernan, who both generously provided the lines.

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Ours was a total surprise, a gift from a beloved crew member and Cruising Anarchist. I had actually contacted Gate about doing one for me, but got sidetracked by business and never got him photos. It lives in perhaps the most visible spot of the most trafficked room in the house - the kitchen.

Yeah, we love it. Thanks Gate! 

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...I got carried away and meant to congratulate Gates for his efforts and loyal customer base. It has been very rewarding for me as well to be able to contribute to his efforts at providing these icons that represent the love and affection that people have for their boats. Keep up the good work Gates, your devotion to your craft is evident...

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I treasure my Gate model of K**'s boat. I can see it from where I sit all day.