I often find myself with a deep desire to create something. When the longing becomes to much it is time to act. While not as proficient or patient or daring as some of the people on the internet the projects have become larger and larger over time and I would like to share these with someone who don’t think they would be able to accomplish projects of their own, so that they dare. I want to show you that maybe the finished product does not need to become perfect, the important thing is to do it!
The picture of me is after lying underneath my Opti-Schooner (which still requires a name!) and sanding the opening for the centreboard. Not to happy with the dust…
My first boats
I have made many things over the years, both small and big. My very first boat I actually build in daycare when I was 4 or 5 years old. It is a pirate ship with the captain stearing, a watchman up at the crows nest, complete with the classic pirate flag!
I have built many boats over the years and still do. In the beginning it was a simple board, it then evolved into me sawing of two pieces diagonally so as to create a bow. Then I began experimenting with putting in alot of big nails in the bottom so that a ballast keel was created.
My first encounter with sandpaper
In Sweden woodworking and sewing classes begins, or should start at least, when you start your third year (9 years old). You start really slowly getting used to using the most basic tools. For sewing I got started on hand-sewing different stitches on a large-hole piece of cloth before taking a sewing machine drivers licence. For woodworking, it was the dreaded sandpaper. I cant remember we had to saw out the actual placket ourselfs but I suspect we did. After that the sandpapering began. And because of economic reasons it was never the newest sandpaper, it was always some old semi-worn out sandpaper that you had to use. When after asking if you where finished for the 10th time and you actually where the time had come to write you’re name with pyrography before boiled linseed oil was applied to it.
It took a few years before it made it to the door of my room, but has lived there since. Until I bought my first apartment that is. Now it hangs on the wall in the entrance. To quote Gunnar Hedin (loosely translated from Swedish):