HOWB 013 – Larry Cheek - Wooden boatbuilder, author, and journalist - Interview - 12.15.11

This week I interviewed Larry Cheek of Whidbey Island. Larry is originally from El Paso Texas and had never even seen a boat growing up miles from water. But after moving to the Seattle area as a seasoned journalist, Larry was given an assignment in 2002 by Sunset Magazine to attend and write articles on two wooden boat festivals – Seattle and Port Townsend, WA. Larry attended both shows and got “hooked on wooden boats” by the craftsmanship, charm, and fascinating people. Thus began Larry’s wooden boat journey.

Larry quickly got his hands dirty by building a 14’ Artic Tern from a Pygmy Boat kit. Next he built a cedar strip kayak while in a boatbuilding class at the NW School of Wooden Boatbuilding. Boat number three was a 13’ Sam Devlin designed day sailor, which Larry aptly donned “Far From Perfect”. It was the experience of building this boat that drove Larry to write the insightful and transparent book – “The Year of the Boat” – chronicling the character building process of boat building. In the book he describes how he had to deal with his own personal inadequacies, impossible struggle with perfection, and test of patience to build this boat.

Boat number 4 – a Sam Devlin designed 18’ pocket sailor “Nil Desperandum” – was completed and launched this year. Larry is officially “hooked” on wooden boats!

You can contact me at woodenboatdan@gmail.com to share you comments, feedback, stories, and wooden boat adventures.

Keep the bright side up and the barnacled side down - Wooden Boat Dan over and out :D

PS Please note this podcast was recorded several years ago - some of the links, email addresses, phone numbers, and promos mentioned are outdated and no longer valid.