Notching a transom frame for stiffeners.
While I now live in Lake Bluff, IL, I grew up in the Pacific NW. My passion for woodworking, and boatbuilding more specifically, came from my father who was a shipwright in Bellingham, WA in his younger years including serving in the US Army as a shipwright in Dutch Harbor, AK. He left the trade following the war and worked as a carpenter and then as the owner of various businesses. However, he was a good craftsman and working with him on various projects growing up was inspirational. He even coached me through building a flat-bottomed skiff as early as the 10th grade.
After college I joined the USAF and flew the F-4 Phantom (2000 hrs) in several duty assignments including a year flying out of Ubon Royal Thai Airbase, Thailand. Following SE Asia I was assigned to RAF Lakenheath, UK where I served to the end of my active duty and later served with the NY Air National Guard for 3 years still flying the F-4.
When I left active duty in 1977 I began a career in finance and marketing with several large corporations and 10 years as an independent manufacturer’s representative. My business career spanned 40 years in total.
In 2005 I made the decision to fulfill a lifelong dream and enrolled in the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding in Port Hadlock, WA. There I was amongst an inspirational staff of instructors for approximately 10 months. I focused on Traditional Large Craft and my class section built the hull and deck structure for a Wilcox 36 motorsailer.
When returning to Illinois, I built a shop in my basement and can handle small craft up to about 16 feet in length. Projects much longer than 16 feet usually require negotiating with my family for the additional space.
I generally consider myself to be a serious amateur boatbuilder, yet I take on various paid jobs and sell the boats that I make. My wife’s rule is: 1 boat in the shop, and 1 boat in inventory!