Wharram Building Educational Program

[Budget Boater]

Budget Boater is now offering a short-term educational program for anyone who wants to learn how to build a Wharram Catamaran. You will have the opportunity to get hands-on experience and find out what goes into building a Tiki 38. We have one in progress currently, and another to build after.

 

All experience levels are acceptable. Maybe you are considering building a Wharram Catamaran yourself, but don't know what is involved. Maybe you have built a boat before, and just want to experience the thrill (or agony, depending on your point of view) again. Maybe you have never touched a tool or mixed epoxy and just want to know what it feels like. Maybe you have a reluctant spouse who needs to get some first-hand experience to be convinced (beware, this could backfire on you.) Regardless of your motivation or level or experience, you are welcome to apply.

Singles, couples, and families are all welcome. Your attitude and enthusiasm are more important than your abilities. 

 

Some things you should know:

• This is a non-paying learning experience.

• Any clothing you wear while boat building will be destroyed in short order.

• During your learning experience, you may be exposed to any and all of the following: things that can cut you, put a hole in you, scratch you, remove a limb, or kill you, epoxy, wood, plywood, wood dust, cats, paints, solvents, power tools, heavy objects, sparks, dogs, fiberglass, music, spiders, Texas weather, kids, ladders, contortionism, glue, dirt, endless searches for that thing you just set down but has now strangely disappeared, clamps, latex, nitrile, rust, silica, polyethylene, polystyrene, balsa, and Texas hospitality.

• Our shop is located in the heart of Texas, way out in the country.

• You will be required to support yourselves during your time with us and provide your own food, drink, lodging, and adequate clothing. We will provide building supplies, tools and safety equipment.

• Having a motor vehicle will be a good thing.

• For short stays, the nearest hotels are 15-25 miles away.

• For short or longer stays, affordable State Parks (for RVs and/or camping), private RV parks, and short-term rental homes are very near our shop and abundant.

• Anyone with an adequate self-contained RV will be considered for a free-stay at our shop. Electricity, water, sewage, and internet can be provided.

• The nearest grocery stores are 8-10 miles away, and we will drive you if you do not have a car. If you are a fast-food junkie, you are going to be sorely disappointed, as the best source is 22 miles away. If you like regular finer dining, those establishments are 35 miles away. If you still prefer to eat out, there are many great, inexpensive mom & pop home diners of various cuisines in an around the area. If you enjoy the convenience of big city life, you will be far from it here.

• The nearest airports are Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW), Love Field (Dallas), and Austin. We are about equally distant between Dallas and Austin.

• If you have drug and/or alcohol abuse problems, or any other negative personality issues, please do not apply. If you are accepted, and we see a personality problem, you will be forced to leave and a trespass warning will be issued by the Sheriff's office.

• Accepted applicants will be required to sign a release form, as well as an acceptability and termination contract.

• Lengths of stay begin at one week minimum terms, and can be many months long if you desire and we agree with your attitude and ability to support yourself. You can request to come for one week, two weeks, a month, or more.

 

So long as this discussion remains open, the program is still available.

 

 

[Bob Bois]

Great idea, BB.
I lived in Austin for 10 years and the thought of working on a tiki 38 for a couple of weeks and then shooting down to Austin to visit with old friends and make music sounds like a load of fun.
But....I have a job, family, and my own boat to build, so I should get to it.

Good luck with the program. It sounds like a lot of fun.

Bob

[Jonathan Chouinard]

wow, this is a great idea! I would love to help out if only I was a little closer to Texas! Its a long commute from VA :) I wonder if this would be a good and more efficient way to build a wharram. I would think that a partnership between two builders would make the process easier as you could lean on your partner and brainstorm, etc. Does anyone want to build a tiki 21 or two in VA? I'm starting in the fall!

[Tom]

• "If you have drug and/or alcohol abuse problems, or any other negative personality issues, please do not apply. If you are accepted, and we see a personality problem, you will be forced to leave and a trespass warning will be issued by the Sheriff's office."

What's the local gun shop charging for .223? LMAO! Good luck :)

[Budget Boater]

Tom said:

• "If you have drug and/or alcohol abuse problems, or any other negative personality issues, please do not apply. If you are accepted, and we see a personality problem, you will be forced to leave and a trespass warning will be issued by the Sheriff's office."
What's the local gun shop charging for .223? LMAO! Good luck :)

I have unfortunately encountered some really odd birds in the sailing community in my days building and sailing. Most people are really good and really want to learn or gather ideas, but there is always a bad nut out there. We don't mind people who drink socially (95% of sailors, including ourselves), but people with substance abuse problems are a no-go. We don't need someone cutting their arm off in the shop with a saw because they were high or intoxicated. That clause is about nothing more than people with abuse issues and/or disfunctional personalities. I don't expect those types of people to apply anyway, but I would be remiss if I did not include it as a caveat to apprenticeship.

We have the Castle Law in Texas, but since an apprentice is invited to our shop, if we no longer want them around and they do not want to leave voluntarily, the Sheriff has to sign off first before we can take matters into our own hands again. We stick with 5.56 since it has higher pressures and better terminal velocity.

[Mike Mac]

How is the program working out?

[Budget Boater]

 

No takers.

 

 

[Tom]

No takers?  That seems kind of odd.  I used to live in Seattle where they have a wooden boat school and people just lined up for that.  Same with in Port Townsend.  Definatley'd be using that Castle Law with some of those folks, but I'll tell you what they actually paid good money to work on boats owned by or contracted to the school.

hmmm...maybe broader advertising might reach a larger audience?  Just a thought :)  I hope you get a good apprentice!

[Terry Louw]

OK, so you're in the states? Lots of boats being built where I'm at and there's no one doing anything like this here. And like Tom says, where's the line between learning and earning?

Tom said:

No takers?  That seems kind of odd.  I used to live in Seattle where they have a wooden boat school and people just lined up for that.  Same with in Port Townsend.  Definatley'd be using that Castle Law with some of those folks, but I'll tell you what they actually paid good money to work on boats owned by or contracted to the school.

hmmm...maybe broader advertising might reach a larger audience?  Just a thought :)  I hope you get a good apprentice!

[Budget Boater]

I am not sure what you are talking about, as I never made any references to guns in the OP, and the person who did lives in another county. Of course, being from a European country where guns are highly restricted and people jailed for defending their lives and property with one, I can understand your apprehension. However, here in the Free Republican state of Texas, we are allowed to openly carry our long arms around as we please and legally shoot anyone who threatens our lives and property. Therefore, there is a great chance that you may see several guns while among us Texans. Don't fear the gun, fear the man.

 

Now, when you get around to opening up your home and business to complete strangers in an effort to help them learn and grow, get back to me. There are all manner of deadbeats and scammers who would love an opportunity to take advantage of a situation. It just won't be from me. Everyone is welcome who has good intentions. If my way of scaring off the deadbeats seems unwelcoming to others, ita sit. But until you know me, nolite iudicare.

 

John Caprani said:

No takers? Not a surprise if you're making jokes about what ammo you keep your gun loaded with.

 

Perhaps a more open and welcoming approach will help you find the right apprentice?

 

I've gladly worked for no more than my lunch and a few litres of fuel to get useful experience, but would think twice if looking down the wrong end of a barrel!

 

Or maybe this is a cultural thing and non-US citizens just don't get it?

[Terry Louw]

Bit off topic, but yeah..... scary. Are there any similar programs elsewhere on the planet?

Jacques said:

"Free Republican state of Texas". This .... just scares me.

 

[Budget Boater]

Republican (not the political party) = Republic

 

Republic = The foundation upon which the Free United States was founded as well as Texas, even after becoming a State is still a Republic.

 

Republic = a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people.

 

You live in a state that is part of the Republic of the United States, and operates a Republican (not the political party) form of government. That scares you?? If so, you are in the wrong country.

Jacques said:

"Free Republican state of Texas". This .... just scares me.

 

[Budget Boater]

• I am a professional builder.

• I will not pay health insurance for "voluntary" workers. They come because they want to learn how to do it, not because I am forcing them to work for free.

• I provide all equipment and tools.

• I teach my boat building knowledge, specific to that of building Wharrams, hence the reason for the opportunity.

• No certificate or letters will be issued. This is not a school, but an opportunity for someone wanting to build their own Wharram to see what goes into the process. If you had seen as many screwed up and butchered Wharrams as I, then you would know that the average "home builder" needs help understanding what to do and  how to do it. This website is the first line of help, and is why I created it. The second line of help is for those of us who know what goes into building one, to pass on our knowledge to those in need - that is what I am offering: hands on knowledge as to what goes into building one.

 

Eventually I will have a small cabin built that people will be able to stay in for free if they decide to come. Since that is not yet built, I cannot offer it as part of coming out to learn. The reality is that this is not an apprenticeship, nor an internship, but more of a WTF learning experience for people to see if their dream of building their own Wharram is just a pipe dream or a reality. However, since they are in the presence of my family and at my home, business, and shop, I will not just accept anyone. I want people who intend to make the most of the experience and learn what it take to build a Wharram (or other similar boat.)

 

So far as I have ever been exposed to, people generally pay to be trained to do something for themselves, not the other way around, and here I am offering it for free and getting the 3rd degree about it.

isabelle & hans "wakataitea" T46 said:

-what is you "tradesman" back round? are you a professional carpenter, boat builder etc. ?

-what is about health security. will you pay health insurance form you voluntary workers...?

-will you provide SAFETY GEAR/Closes...?

-will you train although the theoretic part for build ding a boat... material science etc. ... ?

-after leaving the apprenticeship, will you give a written reverence to your student about his learned skills and success?

....good idea to do things like this...

i personal don't like the idea when people don't get payed (in any form) for there work. but this is up to them.

it is a big responsibility for you to do do this programme ... good luck