Re: Tears in paradise..........
"We actually like 'hard FAX'for a 'private channel' as we like to
touch paper and a written record of essential communication."
This is what Suzanne wrote on PCB's behalf in message 3129 (Feb. 24,
2000), found in the Group Archives. It was only after PCB&F stopped
participating that I joined this Group but I have found it
interesting with regard to CSD/CSB and such issues to look back at
what Phil/Suzanne have had to say here. They are not always entirely
coherent but, for other relative newbies, I suggest messages 1233,
1250, 1375, 1659 and 1796. It was in the last listed that I found
this intriguing (to me, at least) note by Suzanne:
"...we can't afford 'office-help', and thus are fully involved in
every aspect of this small design firm. Since Phil made an offer
in '93 Susanne could not refuse, and Susanne saved Phil's life in '94
(really!!), the bond has been strong, the work increasingly shared
and everything private and business a 'two-some'. Clearly not
everybody's cup of tea."
Can anyone tell me how "Susanne saved Phil's life in '94"? Sounds
like a good story.
John
touch paper and a written record of essential communication."
This is what Suzanne wrote on PCB's behalf in message 3129 (Feb. 24,
2000), found in the Group Archives. It was only after PCB&F stopped
participating that I joined this Group but I have found it
interesting with regard to CSD/CSB and such issues to look back at
what Phil/Suzanne have had to say here. They are not always entirely
coherent but, for other relative newbies, I suggest messages 1233,
1250, 1375, 1659 and 1796. It was in the last listed that I found
this intriguing (to me, at least) note by Suzanne:
"...we can't afford 'office-help', and thus are fully involved in
every aspect of this small design firm. Since Phil made an offer
in '93 Susanne could not refuse, and Susanne saved Phil's life in '94
(really!!), the bond has been strong, the work increasingly shared
and everything private and business a 'two-some'. Clearly not
everybody's cup of tea."
Can anyone tell me how "Susanne saved Phil's life in '94"? Sounds
like a good story.
John
--- In bolger@y..., vcgraphics@t... wrote:
> --- In bolger@y..., bgbeck55@y... wrote:
>
> > It isn't Bolger himself being excoriated so much as the
> business practices of Phil C. Bolger & Friends......
>
> Sadly, the PCB&F versus CSB/CSD controversy puts us
> bolgeristas in the same position as family friends during a bitter
> divorce.
>
> Years ago I purchased a set of Micro plans from the ad placed in
> WoodenBoat by Elroe LaRow. Bernie Wolford answered my
> request stating that he had taken over the operation. At that time,
> the literature that accompanied the plans was written by LaRow.
> I gained the impression from this material that LaRow had been
> doing this because he loved the Micro, needed something do to
> in retirement and was acting as a gatekeeper between PCB and
> the (hopefully)myriad amateur builders who would buy the plans.
> He didn't think he would get rich. I don't know what happened
> between that time and the present but the gatekeeper is gone.
>
> I suppose I should repeat here the fact that Harold Payson is still
> a gatekeeper in good standing.
>
> One ofthe boat designers (sorry, I can't remember which one)
> flatly states on his website that he sells plans not boatbuilding
> lessons. PCB&F are not so draconian. They are willing to give
> advice on plans purchased through them albiet on their terms--
> snailmail or FAX. Could be worse. In the past PCB didn't have a
> FAX. Bolger is Bolger. Not he, his designs or his business
> procedures are stamped out of a mold. That is part of their
> peculiar charm.
>
> As for Pippo and Chuck Leinweber, they ran up against that
> damn divorce.
>
> Vance
> Enjoying a sunny spring day in Tucson. What is the pot life of
> epoxy at 104 degrees Fahrenheit?
scrawford@... wrote:
I have to congradulate peter on such a well written letter, he makesHi Stuart,
some very good points. I have been reading and rereading Folding
schooner for close to 20 years now. My questioning the legitamacy of
building straight out of Bolgers books was genuine. Does any one know
his views on this.
I seem to recall a conversation with PCB in which he referred to the designs that he published as having been released to the "public domain" and felt that anyone was free to build from the plans in the books.
He also expressed that if anyone wants his help during the building process or wants any more detail than is available in the books that they ought to buy the plans themselves directly from him. He really does respond to faxed questions and is interested in how the builder is getting on.
Jim
--- In bolger@y..., bgbeck55@y... wrote:
Sadly, the PCB&F versus CSB/CSD controversy puts us
bolgeristas in the same position as family friends during a bitter
divorce.
Years ago I purchased a set of Micro plans from the ad placed in
WoodenBoat by Elroe LaRow. Bernie Wolford answered my
request stating that he had taken over the operation. At that time,
the literature that accompanied the plans was written by LaRow.
I gained the impression from this material that LaRow had been
doing this because he loved the Micro, needed something do to
in retirement and was acting as a gatekeeper between PCB and
the (hopefully)myriad amateur builders who would buy the plans.
He didn't think he would get rich. I don't know what happened
between that time and the present but the gatekeeper is gone.
I suppose I should repeat here the fact that Harold Payson is still
a gatekeeper in good standing.
One ofthe boat designers (sorry, I can't remember which one)
flatly states on his website that he sells plans not boatbuilding
lessons. PCB&F are not so draconian. They are willing to give
advice on plans purchased through them albiet on their terms--
snailmail or FAX. Could be worse. In the past PCB didn't have a
FAX. Bolger is Bolger. Not he, his designs or his business
procedures are stamped out of a mold. That is part of their
peculiar charm.
As for Pippo and Chuck Leinweber, they ran up against that
damn divorce.
Vance
Enjoying a sunny spring day in Tucson. What is the pot life of
epoxy at 104 degrees Fahrenheit?
> It isn't Bolger himself being excoriated so much as thebusiness practices of Phil C. Bolger & Friends......
Sadly, the PCB&F versus CSB/CSD controversy puts us
bolgeristas in the same position as family friends during a bitter
divorce.
Years ago I purchased a set of Micro plans from the ad placed in
WoodenBoat by Elroe LaRow. Bernie Wolford answered my
request stating that he had taken over the operation. At that time,
the literature that accompanied the plans was written by LaRow.
I gained the impression from this material that LaRow had been
doing this because he loved the Micro, needed something do to
in retirement and was acting as a gatekeeper between PCB and
the (hopefully)myriad amateur builders who would buy the plans.
He didn't think he would get rich. I don't know what happened
between that time and the present but the gatekeeper is gone.
I suppose I should repeat here the fact that Harold Payson is still
a gatekeeper in good standing.
One ofthe boat designers (sorry, I can't remember which one)
flatly states on his website that he sells plans not boatbuilding
lessons. PCB&F are not so draconian. They are willing to give
advice on plans purchased through them albiet on their terms--
snailmail or FAX. Could be worse. In the past PCB didn't have a
FAX. Bolger is Bolger. Not he, his designs or his business
procedures are stamped out of a mold. That is part of their
peculiar charm.
As for Pippo and Chuck Leinweber, they ran up against that
damn divorce.
Vance
Enjoying a sunny spring day in Tucson. What is the pot life of
epoxy at 104 degrees Fahrenheit?
It isn't Bolger himself being excoriated so much as the business
practices of Phil C. Bolger & Friends. In 1996, a comprehensive
catalog of the designs was supposedly under way. Five years later, no
catalog. If you don't have access to the books, you have very little
idea of what's avilable. Contacting PCB&f isn't terribly convenient;
USPS or fax;no phone or website. Whatever their problems with
CSD/CSB, they wiil continue until buying plans from Bolger is made as
convenient as CSD/CSB is. Even Payson is available on-line; even if
it isn't his personal site.
Most of what I've read, concerns Pippo being castigated by PCB&F
for his Micro website. Enough so that he chose to shut it down rather
than be harrassed. This was less than a year ago, not 10,15, or 20
years ago.
It is a very frustrating situation for all of us.
Bruce
practices of Phil C. Bolger & Friends. In 1996, a comprehensive
catalog of the designs was supposedly under way. Five years later, no
catalog. If you don't have access to the books, you have very little
idea of what's avilable. Contacting PCB&f isn't terribly convenient;
USPS or fax;no phone or website. Whatever their problems with
CSD/CSB, they wiil continue until buying plans from Bolger is made as
convenient as CSD/CSB is. Even Payson is available on-line; even if
it isn't his personal site.
Most of what I've read, concerns Pippo being castigated by PCB&F
for his Micro website. Enough so that he chose to shut it down rather
than be harrassed. This was less than a year ago, not 10,15, or 20
years ago.
It is a very frustrating situation for all of us.
Bruce
--- In bolger@y..., ellengaest@b... wrote:
> Bolgerados,
> It saddens me to read so many posts excoriating our hero for
His
> apparent failure in pleasing all the people,all the time.Even more
so
> when I attempt to imagine the untold number of satisfied builders
and
> dreamers out there who have been so inspired by one of His designs
to
> actually discover within themselves a bubbling brook of talent and
new
> direction in their lives.
> I suppose that it must be quite a burden to find oneself
> teetering near the top of ones profession,after a lifetime of
> attempting to articulate a seemingly endless supply of
strangers"wish
> list" into a workable three dimensional leisure vehicle,and then to
be
> taken to task for some statement you wrote 10,15,20,30 years
> ago.Perhaps this is akin to young actors who happen to hit it big
> with a particularily stunning role performance.They become forever
> typecast as that character and we feel unease when they endeavour
to
> do something different.
> Today there exists individuals and organizations who have
> profitted smartly by offering advice/consultation to others wishing
> to"succeed" in growing a business.
> Our hero began growing his business long before alot of us
were
> even born and certainly before the modern business"ethics"of today
> where brought forth.
> Admittedly,I am one happy camper regarding my dealings with
PCB
> and have yet to experience anything that might even indicate a bump
in
> the road.The two designs of His that I have built challenged me to
> exceed my own limits and the rewards have been far greater then
> anything I could have come up with on my own and a third will soon
be
> on its' way.
> I did,however,once buy a Ford and boy did I have problems with
> the car and dealer.............
> Ultimately,I feel fortunate to belong to a time and live in a
> country that allows us to be spoiled with such luxuries as boats
and
> computers and feel secure in the knowledge that I have a place
where I
> can vent my spleen without any grave consequences.:-D
> Biggest worry of my day?.........whether or not it is going to
> rain today while I play with my MICRO!
> Sincerely,
> Peter Lenihan,enjoying a wonderfully nutritious breakfast while
> looking out at a menacing sky,from the shores of the St.Lawrence...
I have to congradulate peter on such a well written letter, he makes
some very good points. I have been reading and rereading Folding
schooner for close to 20 years now. My questioning the legitamacy of
building straight out of Bolgers books was genuine. Does any one know
his views on this.
The problems people seem to be having involve Micro. Is this in any of
Bolgers books and if so why does any one feel the need to by the plans
from one of his what would seem to be unscrupulus competitors?
Stuart Crawford
New Zealand
-- In bolger@y..., ellengaest@b... wrote:
some very good points. I have been reading and rereading Folding
schooner for close to 20 years now. My questioning the legitamacy of
building straight out of Bolgers books was genuine. Does any one know
his views on this.
The problems people seem to be having involve Micro. Is this in any of
Bolgers books and if so why does any one feel the need to by the plans
from one of his what would seem to be unscrupulus competitors?
Stuart Crawford
New Zealand
-- In bolger@y..., ellengaest@b... wrote:
> Bolgerados,so
> It saddens me to read so many posts excoriating our hero for His
> apparent failure in pleasing all the people,all the time.Even more
> when I attempt to imagine the untold number of satisfied buildersand
> dreamers out there who have been so inspired by one of His designsto
> actually discover within themselves a bubbling brook of talent andnew
> direction in their lives.strangers"wish
> I suppose that it must be quite a burden to find oneself
> teetering near the top of ones profession,after a lifetime of
> attempting to articulate a seemingly endless supply of
> list" into a workable three dimensional leisure vehicle,and then tobe
> taken to task for some statement you wrote 10,15,20,30 yearsin
> ago.Perhaps this is akin to young actors who happen to hit it big
> with a particularily stunning role performance.They become forever
> typecast as that character and we feel unease when they endeavour to
> do something different.
> Today there exists individuals and organizations who have
> profitted smartly by offering advice/consultation to others wishing
> to"succeed" in growing a business.
> Our hero began growing his business long before alot of us were
> even born and certainly before the modern business"ethics"of today
> where brought forth.
> Admittedly,I am one happy camper regarding my dealings with PCB
> and have yet to experience anything that might even indicate a bump
> the road.The two designs of His that I have built challenged me tobe
> exceed my own limits and the rewards have been far greater then
> anything I could have come up with on my own and a third will soon
> on its' way.I
> I did,however,once buy a Ford and boy did I have problems with
> the car and dealer.............
> Ultimately,I feel fortunate to belong to a time and live in a
> country that allows us to be spoiled with such luxuries as boats and
> computers and feel secure in the knowledge that I have a place where
> can vent my spleen without any grave consequences.:-D
> Biggest worry of my day?.........whether or not it is going to
> rain today while I play with my MICRO!
> Sincerely,
> Peter Lenihan,enjoying a wonderfully nutritious breakfast while
> looking out at a menacing sky,from the shores of the
Bolgerados,
It saddens me to read so many posts excoriating our hero for His
apparent failure in pleasing all the people,all the time.Even more so
when I attempt to imagine the untold number of satisfied builders and
dreamers out there who have been so inspired by one of His designs to
actually discover within themselves a bubbling brook of talent and new
direction in their lives.
I suppose that it must be quite a burden to find oneself
teetering near the top of ones profession,after a lifetime of
attempting to articulate a seemingly endless supply of strangers"wish
list" into a workable three dimensional leisure vehicle,and then to be
taken to task for some statement you wrote 10,15,20,30 years
ago.Perhaps this is akin to young actors who happen to hit it big
with a particularily stunning role performance.They become forever
typecast as that character and we feel unease when they endeavour to
do something different.
Today there exists individuals and organizations who have
profitted smartly by offering advice/consultation to others wishing
to"succeed" in growing a business.
Our hero began growing his business long before alot of us were
even born and certainly before the modern business"ethics"of today
where brought forth.
Admittedly,I am one happy camper regarding my dealings with PCB
and have yet to experience anything that might even indicate a bump in
the road.The two designs of His that I have built challenged me to
exceed my own limits and the rewards have been far greater then
anything I could have come up with on my own and a third will soon be
on its' way.
I did,however,once buy a Ford and boy did I have problems with
the car and dealer.............
Ultimately,I feel fortunate to belong to a time and live in a
country that allows us to be spoiled with such luxuries as boats and
computers and feel secure in the knowledge that I have a place where I
can vent my spleen without any grave consequences.:-D
Biggest worry of my day?.........whether or not it is going to
rain today while I play with my MICRO!
Sincerely,
Peter Lenihan,enjoying a wonderfully nutritious breakfast while
looking out at a menacing sky,from the shores of the St.Lawrence...
It saddens me to read so many posts excoriating our hero for His
apparent failure in pleasing all the people,all the time.Even more so
when I attempt to imagine the untold number of satisfied builders and
dreamers out there who have been so inspired by one of His designs to
actually discover within themselves a bubbling brook of talent and new
direction in their lives.
I suppose that it must be quite a burden to find oneself
teetering near the top of ones profession,after a lifetime of
attempting to articulate a seemingly endless supply of strangers"wish
list" into a workable three dimensional leisure vehicle,and then to be
taken to task for some statement you wrote 10,15,20,30 years
ago.Perhaps this is akin to young actors who happen to hit it big
with a particularily stunning role performance.They become forever
typecast as that character and we feel unease when they endeavour to
do something different.
Today there exists individuals and organizations who have
profitted smartly by offering advice/consultation to others wishing
to"succeed" in growing a business.
Our hero began growing his business long before alot of us were
even born and certainly before the modern business"ethics"of today
where brought forth.
Admittedly,I am one happy camper regarding my dealings with PCB
and have yet to experience anything that might even indicate a bump in
the road.The two designs of His that I have built challenged me to
exceed my own limits and the rewards have been far greater then
anything I could have come up with on my own and a third will soon be
on its' way.
I did,however,once buy a Ford and boy did I have problems with
the car and dealer.............
Ultimately,I feel fortunate to belong to a time and live in a
country that allows us to be spoiled with such luxuries as boats and
computers and feel secure in the knowledge that I have a place where I
can vent my spleen without any grave consequences.:-D
Biggest worry of my day?.........whether or not it is going to
rain today while I play with my MICRO!
Sincerely,
Peter Lenihan,enjoying a wonderfully nutritious breakfast while
looking out at a menacing sky,from the shores of the St.Lawrence...