(Updated
Spotlight Builders Interview
This months interview is with Adla C. Earl builder of Morgaine a Stevenson's Project Weekender
Buildboats.com : What
got you started in boat building?
Adla : I’m not really
sure. I have been looking at boatbuilding projects and sites for years. My first
inclination was to build a mahogany runabout, but after spending more time at the second
home I have on a terminus lake in Northern Nevada, it occurred to me that a motor boat
wasn’t really what I wanted to take on. Once I decided I should build a sailboat it
opened up a whole new world of ideas and possibilities that were environmentally friendly
and more challenging as a sport.
Buildboats.com : What
boats have you built?
Adla : I have
completed a Stevensons’ Weekender and I have a Stevensons’ Triad partially
complete. I bought a partially built Stevenson’s Vacationer on e-bay and hope to have
that done in the next year or so.
Buildboats.com : How much
time did/do you spend building? Boating?
Adla : My building
time was really short comparatively but there was a long hiatus. I returned to college and
it severely impacted my boat building time. Morgaine, my Weekender, would have possibly
only taken 3 months at the most, but I stopped work on her for over a year and a half.
Buildboats.com : Where
did you get your plans?
Adla : I bought my
Stevensons’ plans directly from the Stevensons. I bought the plans for the Welsford
Navigator from Duckworks.
Buildboats.com : Why do
you do it?
Adla : I like the
challenge and I wanted to boat.
Buildboats.com : Describe
yourbuilding style / philosophy?
Adla : My building
philosophy is still being formed. My Weekender was the first major woodworking project I
have ever taken on. I knew a lot about fiberglass but not woodworking. I think that the
experience taught me to really listen to other builders and what they went through. I
still made decisions that were a bit contrary to recommendations and it has worked out
most of the time. The biggest issue was paint.
Buildboats.com : Materials?
Adla : I used marine
grade plywood on the hull sides and bottom of Morgaine but just regular ACX for the deck.
My triad is all ACX. Morgaine’s keel is clear pine and the triad is not. I think that
depending on the boat I build and what I will do with it is the most important factor for
building material. The Triad is just a little fishing boat that I would like to keep at
the other house. I wanted Morgaine to last me my entire lifetime.
Buildboats.com : Quality?
Adla : I was
meticulous about lofting and measuring. I overbuilt some places and used high quality
material. I am happy with the results. I used West System epoxy and 6oz glass. Also, the
chines were covered in Kevlar strips. She is a strong hull that won’t leak –
ever.
Buildboats.com : Taking
assistance?
Adla : I would have
taken all the help I could get, but there wasn’t much around. I had neighbors help me
flip the boat and a friend help me put the sides on, but most of the work was done by me.
My niece did help with the little projects like making the wheel and the mahogany brite
pieces.
Buildboats.com : What does your
tool collection look like?
Adla : The one thing that
building boats did for me is increase my tool collection. My favorite tool now is the
bandsaw. I have a full
shop with some really nice tools – I am a bit of an irrational chick and wanted
everything to match so, my big tools are mostly Jet, my planers, jointers, and grinders
are Delta, and my smaller power tools are all DeWalt. I think I might have gone overboard
on tools but I love my shop.
Buildboats.com : What plans /
designers do you admire?
Adla : I really admire
John Welsford projects and boats. I think the open boat Navigator and Pathfinder are just
beautiful and their seaworthiness is impressive.
Buildboats.com :8. What’s
your occupation?
Adla : I sell Real
Estate but prior to that I was a mechanic, a welder, and a bodywork (fiberglass) person. I
worked since I was 15. I would hardly define myself by the line of work I am in. I work to
pay the bills and the rest of my time and life is my own.
Buildboats.com : What
books would you recommend? Websites? Videos? Magazines? Other info?
Adla : I subscribe to
Woodenboat Mag, and frequent their forums. I love the BYYB and Frank Hagan’s
Messing-About sites. The Gaff Rig handbook was very helpful and so were several of the
boat joinery books that were suggested on those forums.
Buildboats.com : What are your
family and friends thoughts about your boat building?
Adla : My friends and
family are impressed – but they think I am mad crazy and it started way before I
decided to build boats. I like to do the seemingly impossible and yet I am fairly careful
when I take on projects, but many people perceive it to be outlandish. The truth is, I
just think outside the box and always have. Boatbuilding is a manifestation of that.
Buildboats.com : When you
started?
Adla : I went from wanting
to build boats to building about 2 years ago. My dad was thrilled and my mom kept asking
me if I was really going to put a boat I built in the water.
Buildboats.com : During the
build?
Adla : People just
came over and starred.
Buildboats.com : Once your boat
was completed?
Adla : I have had a lot of
good feedback from people since the completion of Morgaine. I think that because I
didn’t fret too much or ever act like it was something I couldn’t do – my
friends just believed it was going to turn out. Attitude is important in building a boat.
Making careful and accurate measurements is only part of the process. I think it is
important to have faith in yourself and realize that nothing is beyond fixing.
Buildboats.com : Given no
restrictions (Money, space, time etc) what boat would you build? Why?
Adla : No
Restrictions? I would build a Ted Brewer Morgane Le Fey. If I built that boat I would have
to move to a place that I could use it. It is too large for the lakes that are near me. It
is completely impractical but I just love it.
Buildboats.com : Do you have
any good anecdotes about your building or boating after building?
Adla : My dog ate my
plans. Just after I had the keel ready and the bottom ready to fasten down, I had to go to
the store. My dog is a Mastiff and managed to grab the plans from the bench and tear them
to shreds. I taped them back together and Xeroxed them. Some other builder helped me out
with pages that were ruined – the dog never liked the project because she
doesn’t like anything that keeps me from hanging out with her. But now we have a
boat. She likes the boat.
Buildboats.com : What advice
would you give to anyone interested in building?
Adla : Just do it.
Buildboats.com : Are you
planning of building any more boats? Time frame?
Adla : Yes – but
I am trying to Graduate from college – so, I can stop going. I have a hard time not
finishing things anymore and college is on my nerves. Once I am free of that place I am
going to build the Navigator.
Buildboats.com : Do you
know any other almost famous boat builders?
Adla : I know lots of
them. I hang out at the BYYB forums and Frank-Hagan’s place. There are lots of great
almost famous boat builders there.
Buildboats.com : Any other
amateur built boats you like?
Adla : I really like
the work a guy nicknamed Oyster does. He builds boats out of ideas in his head. Now that
is impressive. I like the Pathfinder and Navigator in New Zealand, Jaunty and Varuna. I
LOVE Phil Gowan’s Aloha, a Weekender. I love Steve Down’s Black Falcon. James
Sanders is building an exceptional Vacationer in Phoenix and I think Roland Blais is a
great builder. I am partial to the Southwest Fleet of the BYYB and there are now 3 other
builders in Utah to watch out for. On the BYYB there are a lot of fine boats and fine
people. The Stevensons’ design is simple and a good first build but more importantly
the people that build their boats are some of the finest people around.
Thanks Adla for sharing your thoughts with Buildboats.com and other boat builders. Check out Adla's weekender Morgaine at www.adlacearl.com