Wooden boats and typewriters?
On the first sight there is no clear connection. Wooden boats need water to exist, typewriters hate water.
How come I have them both on this web page?
Well, if you think about it more - it’s all about slowing down and taking time with doing something valuable. And beautiful. That’s how I see it.
Sailboat - and especially wooden one - is by far inferior to GRP motorboat regarding time needed to cover sea miles. Yet we admire them and some of us chose to maintain old sailboats. It’s a lot of work and dedication.
Why do we do that?
Is it only because they are beautiful, organic and we feel better in wooden interior than in plastic space? Or is it sanding and varnishing which gives us time to freely think while the body is busy with swift but simple movements?
And typewriters - why bother? Word processor is by far quicker and simpler to use, with all its features (and distractions). How come many still chose old, mechanical machines to write their thoughts on paper? Is it because, again, mechanical movement of ones fingers and hands is freeing the mind to more creative tasks? Most folks who tried typewriting admit that somehow thoughts flow easily towards the paper compared to computer-aided writing. Is it the noise of click-clacking machine, the rhythm, which sets the mind in rails and eases “brain-dumping” onto the page?
There are many reasons.
Today I made yet another connection between typewriters-world and wooden boats: I took my Nano for a ride to buy wood for more typewriters shelves!
This trip could take around 20 minutes if I used my car: crossing the bridge over Vätösund and driving along for a few kilometres to reach Woody-shop. But that would be too easy on this hot, sunny day.
I decided to save the planet and do all with muscle power.
Nano got some floatation aids - not because this trip is long or that I’m worried about boats integrity but because motor-boaters - these folks often don’t realise how much wake they make! Small boat like Nano can be tripped over and swamped if caught by abrupt, steep wave.
So as a prudent mariner I added air-bags under seats, taped to hold them in place. Bucket to move water back into the sea hanging close at hand.
I’ve modified oars to fit my arm-span better. Old holes in wood plugged with copper nails.
Equipped with big “beach-wheels” the boat can be rolled like a wheel-barrow. We hit the road to our harbour, 30-minutes walk through the woods.
Upon arrival to the slipway I still had 1 hour left before Woody closes for today. Launching the boat.
Sweating heavily after the walk at this hot day I felt relieved once we danced on the water. Our destination is visible on the other side.
Not very far away but the wind was against us so rowing took a while. I was hoping that, once loaded with wood and stuff I will have easy trip back, with the wind. Nope! Somehow it always turns against us!
Boat loaded with materials, ready to head back home.
Nice and easy.
Overall it took me 1,5h to get back to my workshop (instead of 20 minutes by car).
By I saved the planet and it was fun!