My Wooden Boat of the Week

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