Author Michael Ruhlman spends some time at the boatyard of Gannon and Benjamin, learning about the craft of wooden boatbuilding. He offers up the definition of "boatstruck" in his book Wooden Boats: In Pursuit of the Perfect Craft at an American Boatyard.
"Some people become boat smart; others are simply struck. Something happens to certain men when they see a boat, and they become crazy. A man, or the occasional woman who is boatstruck shows no discernible outward signs of the illness....On the contrary, the boatstruck look more than reasonable. They are successful people. They are smart, cool, self-possessed, and they are pretty good on the water. They brim with a free and adventurous spirit. You tend to like these people - - they can be inexplicably magnetic.
And yet there is something exquisite about the condition of being boatstruck. An ecstasy runs through it, compulsive and contagious. You can see it, sense this delight, even if you happen to be free of this affliction yourself or don't sail or even if you don't particularly care for boats. Sometimes a beautiful boat is simply worthy of devotion, reverence and awe, and no one doubts it. A beautiful boat is as obviously invaluable as a Leonardo sketch or Monet's water lilies. The boat can be a magnificent structure." (p.11)
" Wooden boats have a soul, living drawn from the forest...wooden boats teach us about our purpose on the planet...wisdom, beauty, science...as old as mankind." (p.4)
Along the way there are notes on finishing and preserving planking:
-Paint ok on one surface.
-May take a year or two to seal up and find its "home."
-Saltwater is excellent for pickling.
-Wood needs to expand and contract, so look for some bug juice, i.e. modified blends of tung oil/varnish/linseed oil/maybe CETOL.
-If leaks persist, look for checking or cracking, especially around fasteners/screws/rivets.
-Stain not recommended due to oil base fighting preservative finish.
"The greatest fun in boating usually comes from the simplest boats." (p.152)
Ruhlman, Michael. 2014. Wooden boats: in pursuit of the perfect craft at an american boatyard. New York: Penguin Books.
Small Boat Restoration Library
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