FAQ and the Perfect Answer

The more I dreamed about building a boat, the more obsessed I became.  I Googled, read books, and watched Youtube videos.  Within a day, it was all I could talk about.  Everyone I came across had to hear me talk about boats, building boats, wooden boats, types of wooden boats, and online boat building communities (i.e. http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/).  About 96% of everyone I encountered thought this was nuts...like it takes an expert to float a boat (though people have been boating for over 40,000 years.  Pretty sure those ancient people didn't go to Harvard).  These are the typical questions I was asked:

Q: A BOAT?

A: ….yes

Q: How are you going to build a boat?

A: Plywood, glue, fiberglass

Q: Where are you going to keep this boat?

A:  There are a number of boat houses within 15 minutes of walking from my bungalow.

Q: What are you going to do when it sinks?

A: Swim.

Q: Why wouldn’t you just buy a boat?

A: ………………..um………………….because. It’s cooler…it’s more self-satisfying to build your own stuff. I dunno…

I didn’t have a better answer than that.  Then I started reading Devlin’s Boat Building, and as soon as I cracked open the book, Devlin answered that question so perfectly.  He says,


Few things are more satisfying than crafting a pile of rough wood into a beautiful, graceful boat.  It is a soul-satisfying psychological and physical adventure.  For me it is the essence of creative expression, and anyone can benefit from it…a boat is a living structure that reflects the builder and his or her spirit.  As it takes shape you can stand back and survey it with pride, and see what you’ve created with your own hands.


Beautiful, Devlin.  Absolutely beautiful.