Thread: Paddlepop - 8ft Mini Mouse new build

Well done Alex!
It was inspirational and educational watching your project unfold

Originally Posted by technogeekery

I agree more with the statement "I have built a boat with minimal tools" - the excellent part might come with later builds (or not...)

Alex, I've just realised how my comment may have sounded.
I meant it complimentary.

I grew up on the Great Lakes of Canada in the 50's when timber boats were the norm. And some were beauty beyond description. There's still nothing quite like a varnished cedar clinker hull with red below the waterline and red leather interior and lots and lots of chrome to make my heart go pitter-pat.
(A flathead inboard V8 doesn't hurt either)

I've therefore always considered the building of a boat as the zenith in woodworking.
That was the thinking behind my comment.

Its interesting you describe yourself as a non-wooodworker. I would describe myself as a woodworker, although chippy or wood machinest may be more accurate.
I still have no immediate plans to ever build a boat, but watching you in this WIP has opened my eyes that maybe it may not always be beyond my reach.

Cheers
Jim

Jim, I didn't take your comments badly at all. On the contrary, I've appreciated the interest and comments.

I'm not a woodworker. I've had a very basic grounding from my father in basic woodworking techniques, and did about 2 years of woodwork lessons at school when 10-11 yrs old. More importantly, from my Dad I got a strong grounding in the the ability to do anything yourself, a certain striving towards doing things the "right" way, offset by an equally strong understanding of when something "will do for now" If I can get across those same attributes to my kids, they will be able to make almost anything for themselves, and understand the difference between a good job and a bodge job, and when each is applicable / desirable!

But I must confess I do want to improve my skills. It would be fun to do a real woodworking / boatbuilding course - and depending what new job/employment I find (I've just moved back to Australia) I hope to have the time to do more of this kind of thing.

Alex

Originally Posted by technogeekery

More importantly, from my Dad I got a strong grounding in the the ability to do anything yourself,

And then....

If I can get across those same attributes to my kids, they will be able to make almost anything for themselves,

I had to smile when I read that.
Since the WIP is now complete, perhaps it won't be considered hijacking if I go off topic for a minute.
I too, raised my boys with the same philosophy.
"Never let any man tell you you can't do something. If it is something you really want or need to do, then focus on the task, learn whatever you need to know and do it"

I often used the example of myself as a young lad being told by all and sundry that rebuilding an automatic transmission was way beyond the scope of a handyman. Long before the days of Google, I learnt what I needed to know and successfully rebuilt a Borg Warner 35 auto.

Well, the eldest boy, at that point 30 yrs old with a family of his own calmly showed me the LPG installation he had done on his ute from bits and pieces from different cars. INCLUDING....welding new brackets to the second hand LPG tank. To say I freaked out is an understatement and I immediately berated myself at not putting limits on what should be attempted.
As it turned out I had the opportunity to take his ute to my mechanic who checked it out for me, unbeknowed to eldest son.
The verdict was that it was competantly done although he could tell it wasn't a pro job.

So...what's the moral of the story?
Damned if I know. But the pics of your young sons made me think that perhaps it may be worth passing the story on.

What you described is a worthy lesson to teach our sons, and putting limits on a child is seldom a good thing. But!
I'll leave you to raise your boys as you see fit and hope that someday you are half as proud of them as I am of mine, and may they never scare the crap out of you.

Cheers Alex,
Jim