Re: WINDERMERE post script
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "Frank San Miguel" <sanmi@y...> wrote:
So that works out to about 25,8 hour days per year,or about
a months worth of time dedicated toward boat building. It is a neat
exercise to actually tally up ones hours like you have
done.Clearly,a successful build will require much patience from the
supporting actors(family,friends, etc) and even more perserverance
from the builder.This is why I have often said,in the past, that
before building a particular boat one had better be madly in love
with the design and almost obsessed with it. It is going to tax one
in ways as yet un-thought of so best to go into it with all guns
firing :-)
Sincerely,
Peter Lenihan, one passionate boatbuilding nut.........
> I've determined that, when I subtract family fun and chores from myspend
> available pool of free time I have about 200 hours per year to
> on boats. I found this out by recording my actual hours spent ontwo
> year-long boat projects.Hi Frank,
>
> Frank
So that works out to about 25,8 hour days per year,or about
a months worth of time dedicated toward boat building. It is a neat
exercise to actually tally up ones hours like you have
done.Clearly,a successful build will require much patience from the
supporting actors(family,friends, etc) and even more perserverance
from the builder.This is why I have often said,in the past, that
before building a particular boat one had better be madly in love
with the design and almost obsessed with it. It is going to tax one
in ways as yet un-thought of so best to go into it with all guns
firing :-)
Sincerely,
Peter Lenihan, one passionate boatbuilding nut.........
I've determined that, when I subtract family fun and chores from my
available pool of free time I have about 200 hours per year to spend
on boats. I found this out by recording my actual hours spent on two
year-long boat projects.
Frank
available pool of free time I have about 200 hours per year to spend
on boats. I found this out by recording my actual hours spent on two
year-long boat projects.
Frank
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, Bruce Hallman <bruce@h...> wrote:
> --- Jeff wrote:
> > me 10 months of work ...
> > to get about 40% done ...
> > with the Wyoming construction.
> > I enjoy the building
> > process ... why rush it
> > along?
> Like yesterday, when theSounds like you should start keeping a pack of hot dogs handy when
> neighbor called the fire
> department to report my
> disposal of some scrap wood
> pieces by "burning" in my
> backyard. The fireman explained
> that this was not allowed... but
> there is a loophole in the law
> which provides that I can burn
> a bonfire in my backyard for
> the purpose of cooking... had I
> only been roasting a pig!
you're burning scrap!
Peter,
I can understand the delays, though I am obviously still an underclassman
compared to your endeavors, as you've already graduated from the boat I'm
now working on. When I first went to visit David Jost back in February of
2000 to see Firefly in mid-build, I thought it would be a snap for me to
build a plywood boat like that after all my strip building experience - alot
fewer parts I figured. In my enthusiasm I even remarked to David that I
thought I could have one of those launched by the 4th of July, or some such
nonsense; I'm afraid he may have been offended, as he'd already been working
on his Micro for a year or two at that point (sorry Dave!). Now here I am
nearly 3 years later, much humbled and with my Micro still unfinished,
though I'm beginning to catch glimpses of the end. But it has been a very
enjoyable process.
I also fall into bedazzlement and moaning; thankfully bedazzlement has been
winning out lately. I can only imagine how it must feel to be laboring on a
30+ footer with such lines! But just last night I went back out to peek at
my hatch coaming about a half-dozen times after I had fitted it into place.
Seeing a piece of fine hardwood with fancy joints carefully fitted to my
lumpy, unsanded, epoxy-glopped hull felt like a real milestone. I was so
keyed up about it I had a hard time sleeping - my day job just doesn't give
me such visceral satisfactions. But then if it did, I probably wouldn't have
a yard full of boats and all the pleasant memories they've given me.
Paul Lefebvre
-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Lenihan [mailto:lestat@...]
Sent: Monday, November 10, 2003 12:50 PM
To:bolger@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bolger] WINDERMERE post script
Bolgerados,
While looking through my own album of construction photos of
WINDERMERE, the thought occured to me that "out there" some folks may
have uttered under their breath such foul thoughts as,"Jesus H.Christ!
It's been 2 summers now and that damned fool up there in Canada still
ain't got his bottom turned over!" or perhaps a young childs voice
was heard to ask,"Daddy,how come that man only shows pictures of his
bottom? Is our boat going to take that long to build too? Eh Daddy?"
Well, I can only say that both sentiments are fair enough, for
I too am somewhat amazed at how fast time is flying by!
However,if I have learned one thing in all of this so far it
would be this; working alone in the great out-doors has its limits:-)
Indeed, the simple addition of one extra pair of hands would have
gone a long way in speeding things up considerably and this not only
from the time saved fetching things,but also for the built in morale
boost when another soul is present. Talking to a marmotte ain't
exactly a booster!
With wonderfully clear 20/20 vision, a bow shed(or any other
enclosure) right from the get go also would have allowed working in
otherwise unworkable conditions.I haven't calculated it yet, but
there must be close to several months alone of lost work days due
just to weather since the start of this project.
And so,despite the fun available from being outdoors,all the
time, along with some real advantages like being able to make all the
noise you want,the winds keeping the place naturally dust-free and
toxic-fume free, an enclosure and helper should not be under-
estimated when figuring out your own big boat project.
But the sneakiest part of it all is the design! Some of
Bolgers designs just have a way of creeping up on you and sweeping
you off your feet. In no time flat,it is all too easy to view some of
his designs as simply a bottom,2 sides,one roof and 4
bulkheads.Hell,how hard can that be? In truth,it isn't hard at
all.Rather,it is just plain time consuming.Afterall,when was the last
time you had to make a 8'X31' laminated bottom or flipped over 8'X32'
side panels?
And so it goes,the bigger the boat the longer the apparently
simple tasks will take,especially when dancing around variable
weather conditions:-)
Another un-accounted for time-sink is "bedazzelment
time".This is the pretty sister to the "moaning chair" syndrome often
read about.It most often occurs near the end of a building day,when
you happen to be standing away from the boat and glance back over
your shoulder.This change of perspective from "down on your knees saw
dust in your eyes up close and personal" to "standing over by the
fence taking a leak" can be a real shocker.Suddenly the true size of
the boat comes into focus and the effort you have just expended is
now transformed into a 3 dimensional object for all to see.Its no use
trying to fight it off,for no matter what you do,you will not do
work.Instead,you will be walking around and around gawking at your
work and amazed that you did that?!?! WOW! Unfortunately, the
begining of the next days work can sometimes pick up where yesterday
left off with more "bedazzelemnt time" until you slowly come back to
your senses and get back to work!
I suffer from this unholy waste of time "bedazzelment time"
syndrome and blame a large part of my relatively slow progress on
this too :-)
Perhaps one day a cure will be found,but until then,I wish
other builders of boats,big or small,every success and hope only that
those following my"progress" will understand why it ain't goin' so
fast..............
Sincerely,
Peter Lenihan,bedazzeled,befuddled,bemazed but not beaten,from along
the shores of the mighty St.Lawrence.............
Bolger rules!!!
- no cursing, flaming, trolling, spamming, or flogging dead horses
- stay on topic, stay on thread, punctuate, no 'Ed, thanks, Fred' posts
- Pls add your comments at the TOP, SIGN your posts, and snip away
- Plans: Mr. Philip C. Bolger, P.O. Box 1209, Gloucester, MA, 01930, Fax:
(978) 282-1349
- Unsubscribe:bolger-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
- Open discussion:bolger_coffee_lounge-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject tohttp://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
I can understand the delays, though I am obviously still an underclassman
compared to your endeavors, as you've already graduated from the boat I'm
now working on. When I first went to visit David Jost back in February of
2000 to see Firefly in mid-build, I thought it would be a snap for me to
build a plywood boat like that after all my strip building experience - alot
fewer parts I figured. In my enthusiasm I even remarked to David that I
thought I could have one of those launched by the 4th of July, or some such
nonsense; I'm afraid he may have been offended, as he'd already been working
on his Micro for a year or two at that point (sorry Dave!). Now here I am
nearly 3 years later, much humbled and with my Micro still unfinished,
though I'm beginning to catch glimpses of the end. But it has been a very
enjoyable process.
I also fall into bedazzlement and moaning; thankfully bedazzlement has been
winning out lately. I can only imagine how it must feel to be laboring on a
30+ footer with such lines! But just last night I went back out to peek at
my hatch coaming about a half-dozen times after I had fitted it into place.
Seeing a piece of fine hardwood with fancy joints carefully fitted to my
lumpy, unsanded, epoxy-glopped hull felt like a real milestone. I was so
keyed up about it I had a hard time sleeping - my day job just doesn't give
me such visceral satisfactions. But then if it did, I probably wouldn't have
a yard full of boats and all the pleasant memories they've given me.
Paul Lefebvre
-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Lenihan [mailto:lestat@...]
Sent: Monday, November 10, 2003 12:50 PM
To:bolger@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bolger] WINDERMERE post script
Bolgerados,
While looking through my own album of construction photos of
WINDERMERE, the thought occured to me that "out there" some folks may
have uttered under their breath such foul thoughts as,"Jesus H.Christ!
It's been 2 summers now and that damned fool up there in Canada still
ain't got his bottom turned over!" or perhaps a young childs voice
was heard to ask,"Daddy,how come that man only shows pictures of his
bottom? Is our boat going to take that long to build too? Eh Daddy?"
Well, I can only say that both sentiments are fair enough, for
I too am somewhat amazed at how fast time is flying by!
However,if I have learned one thing in all of this so far it
would be this; working alone in the great out-doors has its limits:-)
Indeed, the simple addition of one extra pair of hands would have
gone a long way in speeding things up considerably and this not only
from the time saved fetching things,but also for the built in morale
boost when another soul is present. Talking to a marmotte ain't
exactly a booster!
With wonderfully clear 20/20 vision, a bow shed(or any other
enclosure) right from the get go also would have allowed working in
otherwise unworkable conditions.I haven't calculated it yet, but
there must be close to several months alone of lost work days due
just to weather since the start of this project.
And so,despite the fun available from being outdoors,all the
time, along with some real advantages like being able to make all the
noise you want,the winds keeping the place naturally dust-free and
toxic-fume free, an enclosure and helper should not be under-
estimated when figuring out your own big boat project.
But the sneakiest part of it all is the design! Some of
Bolgers designs just have a way of creeping up on you and sweeping
you off your feet. In no time flat,it is all too easy to view some of
his designs as simply a bottom,2 sides,one roof and 4
bulkheads.Hell,how hard can that be? In truth,it isn't hard at
all.Rather,it is just plain time consuming.Afterall,when was the last
time you had to make a 8'X31' laminated bottom or flipped over 8'X32'
side panels?
And so it goes,the bigger the boat the longer the apparently
simple tasks will take,especially when dancing around variable
weather conditions:-)
Another un-accounted for time-sink is "bedazzelment
time".This is the pretty sister to the "moaning chair" syndrome often
read about.It most often occurs near the end of a building day,when
you happen to be standing away from the boat and glance back over
your shoulder.This change of perspective from "down on your knees saw
dust in your eyes up close and personal" to "standing over by the
fence taking a leak" can be a real shocker.Suddenly the true size of
the boat comes into focus and the effort you have just expended is
now transformed into a 3 dimensional object for all to see.Its no use
trying to fight it off,for no matter what you do,you will not do
work.Instead,you will be walking around and around gawking at your
work and amazed that you did that?!?! WOW! Unfortunately, the
begining of the next days work can sometimes pick up where yesterday
left off with more "bedazzelemnt time" until you slowly come back to
your senses and get back to work!
I suffer from this unholy waste of time "bedazzelment time"
syndrome and blame a large part of my relatively slow progress on
this too :-)
Perhaps one day a cure will be found,but until then,I wish
other builders of boats,big or small,every success and hope only that
those following my"progress" will understand why it ain't goin' so
fast..............
Sincerely,
Peter Lenihan,bedazzeled,befuddled,bemazed but not beaten,from along
the shores of the mighty St.Lawrence.............
Bolger rules!!!
- no cursing, flaming, trolling, spamming, or flogging dead horses
- stay on topic, stay on thread, punctuate, no 'Ed, thanks, Fred' posts
- Pls add your comments at the TOP, SIGN your posts, and snip away
- Plans: Mr. Philip C. Bolger, P.O. Box 1209, Gloucester, MA, 01930, Fax:
(978) 282-1349
- Unsubscribe:bolger-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
- Open discussion:bolger_coffee_lounge-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject tohttp://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
--- Jeff wrote:
I never would have predicted
that Micro Navigator would not
be complete after a year.
Still, I am resisting the
urge to 'rush' anything,
taking time now to make
the first of three carved
and inlaid panels for art's
sake.
What I mis-estimated, in my
timeline were the number of
'real life' distractions.
Like yesterday, when the
neighbor called the fire
department to report my
disposal of some scrap wood
pieces by "burning" in my
backyard. The fireman explained
that this was not allowed... but
there is a loophole in the law
which provides that I can burn
a bonfire in my backyard for
the purpose of cooking... had I
only been roasting a pig!
> me 10 months of work ...I agree, eleven months ago,
> to get about 40% done ...
> with the Wyoming construction.
> I enjoy the building
> process ... why rush it
> along?
I never would have predicted
that Micro Navigator would not
be complete after a year.
Still, I am resisting the
urge to 'rush' anything,
taking time now to make
the first of three carved
and inlaid panels for art's
sake.
What I mis-estimated, in my
timeline were the number of
'real life' distractions.
Like yesterday, when the
neighbor called the fire
department to report my
disposal of some scrap wood
pieces by "burning" in my
backyard. The fireman explained
that this was not allowed... but
there is a loophole in the law
which provides that I can burn
a bonfire in my backyard for
the purpose of cooking... had I
only been roasting a pig!
Peter,
As my Chebacco begins its 6th winter without being wet, I have to concur
with your "bedazzlement time". I can't count the number of days I've made
my way to the unheated garage, fired up the kerosene heater and gone inside
to wait for the temp to rise, followed by a return to the garage and a seat
on the bench thinking "yep it's time to mix some epoxy, I'll do that right
after I drink this beer and ogle this project some more"
the end result being one batch of epoxy mixed when two could have been in
order,,,,,and so it goes.
As my Chebacco begins its 6th winter without being wet, I have to concur
with your "bedazzlement time". I can't count the number of days I've made
my way to the unheated garage, fired up the kerosene heater and gone inside
to wait for the temp to rise, followed by a return to the garage and a seat
on the bench thinking "yep it's time to mix some epoxy, I'll do that right
after I drink this beer and ogle this project some more"
the end result being one batch of epoxy mixed when two could have been in
order,,,,,and so it goes.
> And so it goes,the bigger the boat the longer the apparentlyPeter, as another builder of a large Bolger boat I can sympathize with what
> simple tasks will take,especially when dancing around variable
> weather conditions:-)
you. Call it what you will, "Bedazzlement
time", "Moaning Chair" or just the plain old "Burn Out" factor. It's taken
me 10 months of work over the last year and a half to get about 40% done
with the Wyoming construction. I enjoy the building process and with the
drought, launching next year is out, why rush it along?
Jeff
Bolgerados,
While looking through my own album of construction photos of
WINDERMERE, the thought occured to me that "out there" some folks may
have uttered under their breath such foul thoughts as,"Jesus H.Christ!
It's been 2 summers now and that damned fool up there in Canada still
ain't got his bottom turned over!" or perhaps a young childs voice
was heard to ask,"Daddy,how come that man only shows pictures of his
bottom? Is our boat going to take that long to build too? Eh Daddy?"
Well, I can only say that both sentiments are fair enough, for
I too am somewhat amazed at how fast time is flying by!
However,if I have learned one thing in all of this so far it
would be this; working alone in the great out-doors has its limits:-)
Indeed, the simple addition of one extra pair of hands would have
gone a long way in speeding things up considerably and this not only
from the time saved fetching things,but also for the built in morale
boost when another soul is present. Talking to a marmotte ain't
exactly a booster!
With wonderfully clear 20/20 vision, a bow shed(or any other
enclosure) right from the get go also would have allowed working in
otherwise unworkable conditions.I haven't calculated it yet, but
there must be close to several months alone of lost work days due
just to weather since the start of this project.
And so,despite the fun available from being outdoors,all the
time, along with some real advantages like being able to make all the
noise you want,the winds keeping the place naturally dust-free and
toxic-fume free, an enclosure and helper should not be under-
estimated when figuring out your own big boat project.
But the sneakiest part of it all is the design! Some of
Bolgers designs just have a way of creeping up on you and sweeping
you off your feet. In no time flat,it is all too easy to view some of
his designs as simply a bottom,2 sides,one roof and 4
bulkheads.Hell,how hard can that be? In truth,it isn't hard at
all.Rather,it is just plain time consuming.Afterall,when was the last
time you had to make a 8'X31' laminated bottom or flipped over 8'X32'
side panels?
And so it goes,the bigger the boat the longer the apparently
simple tasks will take,especially when dancing around variable
weather conditions:-)
Another un-accounted for time-sink is "bedazzelment
time".This is the pretty sister to the "moaning chair" syndrome often
read about.It most often occurs near the end of a building day,when
you happen to be standing away from the boat and glance back over
your shoulder.This change of perspective from "down on your knees saw
dust in your eyes up close and personal" to "standing over by the
fence taking a leak" can be a real shocker.Suddenly the true size of
the boat comes into focus and the effort you have just expended is
now transformed into a 3 dimensional object for all to see.Its no use
trying to fight it off,for no matter what you do,you will not do
work.Instead,you will be walking around and around gawking at your
work and amazed that you did that?!?! WOW! Unfortunately, the
begining of the next days work can sometimes pick up where yesterday
left off with more "bedazzelemnt time" until you slowly come back to
your senses and get back to work!
I suffer from this unholy waste of time "bedazzelment time"
syndrome and blame a large part of my relatively slow progress on
this too :-)
Perhaps one day a cure will be found,but until then,I wish
other builders of boats,big or small,every success and hope only that
those following my"progress" will understand why it ain't goin' so
fast..............
Sincerely,
Peter Lenihan,bedazzeled,befuddled,bemazed but not beaten,from along
the shores of the mighty St.Lawrence.............
While looking through my own album of construction photos of
WINDERMERE, the thought occured to me that "out there" some folks may
have uttered under their breath such foul thoughts as,"Jesus H.Christ!
It's been 2 summers now and that damned fool up there in Canada still
ain't got his bottom turned over!" or perhaps a young childs voice
was heard to ask,"Daddy,how come that man only shows pictures of his
bottom? Is our boat going to take that long to build too? Eh Daddy?"
Well, I can only say that both sentiments are fair enough, for
I too am somewhat amazed at how fast time is flying by!
However,if I have learned one thing in all of this so far it
would be this; working alone in the great out-doors has its limits:-)
Indeed, the simple addition of one extra pair of hands would have
gone a long way in speeding things up considerably and this not only
from the time saved fetching things,but also for the built in morale
boost when another soul is present. Talking to a marmotte ain't
exactly a booster!
With wonderfully clear 20/20 vision, a bow shed(or any other
enclosure) right from the get go also would have allowed working in
otherwise unworkable conditions.I haven't calculated it yet, but
there must be close to several months alone of lost work days due
just to weather since the start of this project.
And so,despite the fun available from being outdoors,all the
time, along with some real advantages like being able to make all the
noise you want,the winds keeping the place naturally dust-free and
toxic-fume free, an enclosure and helper should not be under-
estimated when figuring out your own big boat project.
But the sneakiest part of it all is the design! Some of
Bolgers designs just have a way of creeping up on you and sweeping
you off your feet. In no time flat,it is all too easy to view some of
his designs as simply a bottom,2 sides,one roof and 4
bulkheads.Hell,how hard can that be? In truth,it isn't hard at
all.Rather,it is just plain time consuming.Afterall,when was the last
time you had to make a 8'X31' laminated bottom or flipped over 8'X32'
side panels?
And so it goes,the bigger the boat the longer the apparently
simple tasks will take,especially when dancing around variable
weather conditions:-)
Another un-accounted for time-sink is "bedazzelment
time".This is the pretty sister to the "moaning chair" syndrome often
read about.It most often occurs near the end of a building day,when
you happen to be standing away from the boat and glance back over
your shoulder.This change of perspective from "down on your knees saw
dust in your eyes up close and personal" to "standing over by the
fence taking a leak" can be a real shocker.Suddenly the true size of
the boat comes into focus and the effort you have just expended is
now transformed into a 3 dimensional object for all to see.Its no use
trying to fight it off,for no matter what you do,you will not do
work.Instead,you will be walking around and around gawking at your
work and amazed that you did that?!?! WOW! Unfortunately, the
begining of the next days work can sometimes pick up where yesterday
left off with more "bedazzelemnt time" until you slowly come back to
your senses and get back to work!
I suffer from this unholy waste of time "bedazzelment time"
syndrome and blame a large part of my relatively slow progress on
this too :-)
Perhaps one day a cure will be found,but until then,I wish
other builders of boats,big or small,every success and hope only that
those following my"progress" will understand why it ain't goin' so
fast..............
Sincerely,
Peter Lenihan,bedazzeled,befuddled,bemazed but not beaten,from along
the shores of the mighty St.Lawrence.............