(Updated
Spotlight Builders Interview
This months interview is with Paul Hadley builder of Millibee a Selway-Fisher Lynx 16
Buildboats.com : What
got you started in boat building?
Paul :
A life-long interest in creative hobbies. I loved building >> model planes as a kid,
then moved onto model gliders. At school I was top of the class at metalwork and
loved the practical work. In my 20s I got into windsurfing, then into sailing in my
late 30s. Finding the Selway Fisher website in my early 40s was the final straw,
I knew I could do it and went for it!
Buildboats.com : What
boats have you built?
Paul : A small D4
dinghy, because the plans were free. Then a Lynx 14 from Selway Fisher.
Buildboats.com : How much
time did/do you spend building? Boating?
Paul : Far too
much time building, :-) , which left precious little time for sailing. Now MilliBee is
built I plan to do a lot more sailing in 2007
Buildboats.com : Where
did you get your plans?
Paul : From Selway
Fisher
Buildboats.com : Why do
you do it?
Paul : The challenge
and the fact that I could get a special boat just for me.
Buildboats.com : Describe
yourbuilding style / philosophy?
Paul : A lot of
careful thought and planning, then an accurate approach to building with the best possible
results. I took pride in the boat diagonals being matched within 5mm (1/4") and
certain wood joints that held together with a friction fit before any epoxy or screws were
applied. I tried to build her as strong and robust and seaworthy as possible.
Buildboats.com : Materials?
Paul : Cheap and
cheerful. Exterior ply and minimal hardwood. I used pine everywhere except for some spare
cuts of oak I had. I recycled an old fence post, ripped down for cleats. I recycled a
brass door strip from my Father's old house to make slides for the hatch. I recycled
caravan (trailer) windows. The bow roller is recycled from a stainless steel gas stove
surround.
Buildboats.com : Quality?
Paul : The best I
could possibly achieve.
Buildboats.com : Taking
assistance?
Paul : A lot of
moral support from my wife. Bless her.
Buildboats.com : What does your
tool collection look like?
Paul :
A good Jet-Cut hand saw, Stanley block plane older then me, lots of clamps, table-saw
(noisy and scary), a small, rubbish band saw (should have got a good one), Marples
chisels, bench drill, welder
Buildboats.com : What plans /
designers do you admire?
Paul : Selway Fisher
for a down to earth, simple design.
Buildboats.com :8. What’s
your occupation?
Paul : Principal
Software Engineer working in high-tech CAD/CAM
Buildboats.com : What
books would you recommend? Websites? Videos? Magazines? Other info?
Paul :
Scan the web for self-build projects, Selway Fisher website and forum.
Buildboats.com : What are your
family and friends thoughts about your boat building?
Paul :
The kids think I'm mad, my wife was very supportive. Relatives and work colleagues think I
have made a super achievement.
Buildboats.com : When you
started?
Paul :
.Supportive.
Buildboats.com : During the
build?
Paul : Supportive.
Buildboats.com : Once your boat
was completed?
Paul :
You are not building another one! You have got a lovely boat already!
Buildboats.com : Given no
restrictions (Money, space, time etc) what boat would you build? Why?
Paul : Something big
enough to sail the world, to follow my childhood hero Sir Francis Chiceste
Buildboats.com : Do you have
any good anecdotes about your building or boating after building?
Paul : Why did you
build a boat Paul? "Because God spoke to me in a dream, he said Paul, there is going
to be a big flood". It always gets a laugh.
Buildboats.com : What advice
would you give to anyone interested in building?
Paul : Can you
dedicate one year of every spare hour? If not don't bother with a boat, but consider a
simple canoe.
Buildboats.com : Are you
planning of building any more boats? Time frame?
Paul : There is plenty
of fine tuning and fitting out for coastal sailing of MilliBee to be done. I won't
consider another boat until I have plenty of adventures sailing her. I have so much
emotional investment I don't think I could turn my back on her!
Buildboats.com : Do you
know any other almost famous boat builders?
Paul : Met quite a few
fellow boatbuilders at the HBBR 2006 event.
Buildboats.com : Any other
amateur built boats you like?
Paul : There are some
stunning examples of woodwork beautifully finished in varnish. Those and traditional
seaworthy designs always catch my eye, like Gaff Cutters and Cornish Crabbers.
Thanks Paul for sharing your thoughts with Buildboats.com and other boat builders. Check out Paul's Lynx !$ Morgaine at www.Millibee.com