(Updated 30-October-06)

Spotlight Builders Interview 

This months’ interview is with Thomas Schmidtt builder of Molly B a Forty Foot Trawler

Buildboats.com :  What got you started in boat building?

Thomas S. :    I wanted a boat on which I retire and live aboard but couldn't  afford to buy one so I decided I would try to build one. It's probably not  going to cost me much less building it, but this way I can invest in the  constructions costs a little at a time instead of having to borrow the money to buy a boat and then make payments on it.


Buildboats.com :  What boats have you built?

Thomas S. : I have built a couple of smaller boats when I was younger but  nothing of this size.


Buildboats.com :  How much time did/do you spend building? Boating?

Thomas S. :  During the summer I only work 3 to 4 hours a day on the boat  because it's too hot down here in Florida. In the winter months I often  work 6 to 8 hours a day.


Buildboats.com :  Where did you get your plans?

Thomas S. : I bought two sets of plans from Glen-L, one for a 35 foot trawler  and one for a 42 foot trawler. I used the hull of the 35 foot and  stretched to around 40 feet and used the 42 ft. plans for scantlings and  superstructure.


Buildboats.com :  Why do you do it?

Thomas S. :  It's a lot of fun and I'm learning a lot as I go, and as I  mentioned before I wanted a retirement boat but can't afford to purchase  one outright..


Buildboats.com :  Describe yourbuilding style / philosophy?

Thomas S. : As a vessel master in the military, I have been fortunate enough  to spend considerable time at sea. I know what the sea can do to a boat so I build a little on the strong side of the design. If the plans call for a 2" x 4" member, I use a full dimension, vertical grain, clear, air dried  2" x 4", instead of a 1-1/2" x 3-1/2" lumberyard size 2" x 4".

Buildboats.com : Materials?

Thomas S. : My boat is built from Clear Douglas Fir, full dimension, air  dried lumber. I used Meranti marine plywood for the hull, decking and the  bridge, covered with Xynole polyester fabric wet out with system three  epoxy. I use Silicone Bronze fasteners throughout except for the larger  bolts where I use stainless steel. For exterior fasteners I use 316  stainless steel.


Buildboats.com : Quality?

Thomas S. :  "There is never enough time to do it right, but always enough  time to do it over". I believe if you are going to do it at all, you might as well do it right the first time. I have probably built every part of this boat at least twice, once out of scrap and once out of the real  material, just to make sure I get it right the first time.

Buildboats.com : Taking assistance?

Thomas S. :  I am not proud, I will take assistance from anyone that is  willing to offer it. As I mentioned, I have learned a lot during this project, but I have a lot more to learn.

Buildboats.com : What does your tool collection look like?

Thomas S. : I have a table saw, a planer, and a shaper. Other than that I have a very modest collection of hand tools. I rely a lot on my disc sander for everything from shaping to finish sanding. I have worn out three 7" disc sanders, two belt sanders, and three palm sanders to date.  These were Porter Cable sanders so they weren't cheap tools. They just don't make tools to be used for hours on end every day.


Buildboats.com : What plans / designers do you admire?

Thomas S. : Glen-L has some great plans and they are very supportive when  you have questions. I also admire George Buehler's no nonsense approach to boat building. I used Reuel Parker's "New Cold Molded Boatbuilding"  methods on my boat and am very satisfied with how it has turned out so  far.

Buildboats.com :8. What’s your occupation?

Thomas S. : I am retired from the military..


Buildboats.com :  What books would you recommend? Websites? Videos? Magazines? Other info?

Thomas S. :  Glen-L has some very good books on boatbuilding with plywood,  and engine installation. I would also recommend: The Elements of Boat  Strength by Dave err, Elements of Yacht Design by Norman L. Skene,  Understanding Boat Design by Ted Brewer, Introduction to Naval  Architecture by Eric Tupper, Propeller Handbook by Dave Gerr, Buehler's  Backyard Boatbuilding by George Buehler, The New Cold-Molded Boatbuilding  by Reuel B. Parker, Boat Interior Construction by Michael Naujok, Powerboater's Guide to Electrical Systems by Ed Sherman. I also enjoy the Passage Maker Magazine.

Buildboats.com : What are your family and friends thoughts about your boat building?

Thomas S. :  The jury is still out on that one. Most of them support me, however skeptical they may be with respect to the completion of my  project. My wife says I have to go out on the maiden voyage by myself, and  IF I come back she will go with me on the next one. I think she's joking,  but you never know.


Buildboats.com : When you started?

Thomas S. : I started construction in mid January of 2002, but I started my  research a few years before that. I was initially undecided as to what  kind of a boat I wanted to build and ended up choosing the trawler because  of the economy of operation and the seaworthiness of the design.


Buildboats.com : During the build?

Thomas S. : It's been like a rollercoaster ride during the build. Things go  well for awhile and then something catastrophic happens and you have to  work through it and keep going. In 2004 we had three hurricanes hit us dead center, and needless to say I didn't get much work done that summer.  I spend most of the time rebuilding what the storm tore down. I got a lot  of  help during that period from my family because I had just fallen off  my scaffolding and broken my heel. I was on crunches and unable to do much but hobble around and watch.

Buildboats.com : Once your boat was completed?

Thomas S. : It's an ongoing project at this point. I would guess I am about  half done with maybe another year or two to completion.


Buildboats.com : Given no restrictions (Money, space, time etc) what boat would you build? Why?

Thomas S. : I think I would build the same basic boat except that I might  make her another 10 feet longer with a little wider beam.


Buildboats.com : Do you have any good anecdotes about your building or boating after building?

Thomas S. : Finding the right location is probably the most important aspect  of prior planning for the build. I received permission from a land owner to use a vacant lot he owned to build on. I went to the county seat a  spoke to the permits people and explained what I wanted to do and where  and they told me I didn't need a permit to build my boat there. I put up  my temporary buildings and started working on the foundations for the  building form when the building inspector came by and told me he had  received a complaint from one of the neighbors about me building a boat  there. I told him about my conversations with the permits people and he said he would check into it. I received a letter about a week later  stating that I couldn't build there and if I didn't have my structures  removed in seven days both the land owner and I would be fined $250.00 a  day. Fortunately, I guess, we had a bad storm that night, and it blew my building down so I didn't have to tare it down, just clean up the debris and move to another location. I spent two days with the people at the permits office along with environmental impact people and about a half  dozen others and got my permission in writing, signed by all six different  department heads at the county seat before I started construction again. I  have since received another complaint about my building project and the  inspector came out and just smiled and said have fun. Be sure you get it  in writing before you start!

Buildboats.com : What advice would you give to anyone interested in building?

Thomas S. : It's not easy building a boat of the size I am building, and you  have to keep focused on the short term goals because if  you think too  much about things too far down the road you will get discouraged and give  up on the project. Everything seems to take three times longer than you thought it would and the months turn into years before you know it. It's  not something you can do in a weekend or two, nor a month or two, but it  takes years and you have to be determined enough to see the project  through to completion.


Buildboats.com : Are you planning of building any more boats? Time frame?

Thomas S. : I don't think so. When I finish this one I am going to retire at  sea and enjoy the fruits of my labors.


Buildboats.com :  Do you know any other almost famous boat builders?

Thomas S. : Not right off hand, but there are a few who have left posts in  my guest log on my website saying they are planning to start construction  soon so there are many out there I'm sure.

 
Buildboats.com : Any other amateur built boats you like?

Thomas S. : I like the Argosy by Glen-L, that is the boat that inspired me I  think.

Thanks Thomas S. for sharing your thoughts with Buildboats.com and other boat builders.   Check out Thomas Schmidtt.'s 40’ Trawler at Journal of the Molly B