Phlod

Jim June 13th, 2007

Well this past weekend was my last weekend as a part-time boat builder. Soon I shall leave the ranks of the gainfully employed to pursue a full-time career as a boat wright. Actually, I guess I will still be gainfully employed, and I expect the gains to be much higher that those available in corporate America. Unfortunately, they will also be significantly less monetary in nature. In fact, the title of this post is a misnomer, as I will be paid approx. $0/hr. Some things you do for money; some you do for love.

Also, some things you do for health insurance. Please pray I don’t injure myself.

I’m reminded of a description of the Atlantic Challenge boat building apprenticeship program:

… young people would be eager to learn a demanding trade abandoned by most of its practitioners a half century earlier. And that in pursuit of this knowledge they would willingly place themselves outside the economic mainstream for two years or more, participating in an exchange of labor for learning during which they would receive no wage for the extensive work they would perform. Apprentices labored long hours at arduous tasks, emerging perhaps only with the satisfaction of having begun to master skills for which there seemed at best a marginal demand.

Well, it was either this or go to cobbler school …

Memorial Day weekend included hanging the first plank on the boat!

The outside of the boat will be painted while the inside will be finished bright. Here’s a picture of what the inside might look like, at the forward bulkhead.

Here’s where we’re currently. Four planks out of six have been hung. Way behind schedule!

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