71 Year-Old Builds 57' Boat

[rebel heart]

Hopefully the Coast Guard will get involved and at least make sure there are enough life jackets so when it sinks after launch no one will die.

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by James S

Thats excelent...I wish him well.
Lovely looking work on the hull.

Your avatar is very appropriate for this thread.

[senormechanico]

Nice looking so far, but if he does get it in the water, I hope neither one of them falls down and can't get up...

[JustThinking]

Love the story!

"follow your dreams".... but lets keep our fingers crossed that he'll stay on the hard while doing so: Or else sooner rather than later some SAR-team will have to risk their lives to get him out of trouble...

Particularily liked that part:

....but I'd like to go to Greece, China or Italy,...

If in that sequence, that should keep him busy!
:-)

Also pretty cool:

"....we've been subscribing to magazines ....

Ah! Ok then! I have been worried for a second!

Oh well, on the other hand: Better to spend retirement like this than hanging around the tube complaining, and I guess especially here we all know there is no better dream to live for than sailing......

[wannago]

Hope he did his homework on how he plans to get it in the water.

Looks like he's built himself a hell of a boat.

[Aussiesuede]

I love it. 71 years old and still dreaming. While others his age have already started on their wait for the reaper, he's still chasing after tomorrow. Good on him!

[S/V_Surya]

I want to track this guy and his boat. Can he finish in a year? Cause I think he is only 10 precent done at this point.

Any estimates on man hours and cost on what he has left from the group?

I had often considered building my own boat but niether the cost savings or time commitment was there. But, as long as he is having fun I say good luck.

[sneuman]

I believe the rule of thumb is that interior/finish is something like 60% of the job - therefore, it's going to be at least 2 more years.

[senormechanico]

If you want to track him, is this the right guy?
I searched his name and Poland, Indiana.

Tom West Farms - Poland, Indiana (IN) | Company Profile

[delmarrey]

It's not the exterior that takes time but all the detail in finish work on the inside. Running wire, hoses, cabinets and electronics. Not to mention there is still the rigging and deck hardware to put up.

I wish him the best but it is unlikely he'll finish it himself before getting burned out. I'm only 60 and estimate I have 2 more years to finish a rebuild. I've been very close to a burn out but I'm so close now. This guy is 71 and never sailed on his own.

[Blue Stocking]

I have to say, I am surprised at the cynical nature of some of these responses.
If he never finishes the boat, he will at least have run his dream out.
How many of us can say that honestly.

[hummingway]

Originally Posted by Blue Stocking

I have to say, I am surprised at the cynical nature of some of these responses.
If he never finishes the boat, he will at least have run his dream out.
How many of us can say that honestly.

Never count an old farmer out. My great uncle was a batchelor farmer for much of his life. In addition to farming 6000 acres of prairie he painted, sculpted, threw pots and wrote a book. His yard was filled with giant metal sculptures, the walls of his house were murals and the shelves lined with pottery. At about 70 he cut back to 600 acres and married a blind woman. They finished out their lives very happily together. I've no doubt that he could have built a sailboat at that age.

To suceed at farming you would need many of the skills that boat building would require ... the actual sailing of the boat might be a different matter for a son of the sod.

[anjou]

Everyone has got to have a dream, even though some may say its unrealistic.

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by Blue Stocking

I have to say, I am surprised at the cynical nature of some of these responses.
If he never finishes the boat, he will at least have run his dream out.
How many of us can say that honestly.

Sometimes truth hurts, but it has to be said! Hopefully, he'll pass off his efforts to his family rather then the scrap yard.

Now, how many years of experience does it take to master a sailboat that size?

[Healer52]

As Robert Browning said, "A Man's reach should exceed his grasp, or whats a heaven for?"