Dear All,
I was going to post someone else’s blog this week about a solar, globe-trottin’ wooden boat expedition….. but I couldn’t gather enough information to make me feel comfortable.
Instead, I’ll ask you about an idea I’ve had for quite a while.
It seems to me that amateur boatbuilding is, once again, on the rise. And this gladdens my heart in so many ways. Amateur boatbuilders have always been a HUGE component of WoodenBoat’s readership, and they lie at the heart of our mission.
Due to the current economic crises, and/or the pure inverse of hi-tech, hi-touch era, we are (re-) entering the concept and enactment of beginners building their own boats or kits, many for the first time.
So, I’ve been thinking… How about a stand-alone event, dedicated just to amateur boatbuilders?
Please don’t get me wrong. I love so many of the current wooden boat shows.
But what about one dedicated to nothing but first-time or about-to-be’s?
Maybe in the Chesapeake in the spring? Florida in the late winter? Somewhere very central any time of the year?
I think I love this idea. Here’s a LINK to a survey. Answer in sufficient quantity and quality and we’ll produce it.
A great way to grow our industry, I think. But I need to learn what you think, either by your comments below, or through our survey.
Imagine what we can do, together. And then — Let’s do it. It’s the way that greatness happens. And isn’t that what we all want?
I’m off to IBEX later this week. The ultimate boatbuilders’ show.. but not of an amateur-boat bent. We WILL have the winning wooden Design Challenge boat in our booth (#1801). I’ll try to get some remarks from the winning designer to post here next week. We’ll also have in our booth many of the other notable designs. These will be announced and shown in the Nov/Dec issue of WoodenBoat.
Thanks for reading this week, Carl
Tags: boat builders, boat building, boat show, how to build, wooden boats
I’m in favor of it, filled out the survey to that effect but want to add a suggestion. Have it (or one) held in conjunction with the John Gardner Small Craft Workshop in early June. It may help further kick start that event … and the builders who have been working on their boats so they “git ‘er done” and have the boats underway for the summer months.
I agree with Dave’s comment. Perhaps events like the John Gardener Small Craft Workshop and the Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival would be good. On the West coast, the small craft event that was organized by Tim Yeadon and others would be good to be associated with as well.