Dream Big, Work Hard, Stay Focused, and Surround Yourself with Good People.

Measuring the height for the floor supports.

I’ve had a wonderful vacation.  Met some great people from all across the USA and an old friend Johan from Sweden.   We got plenty of sun and exercise and we happened to get a ton of things done on this little boat project we have in the front yard.  Tomorrow I can go back to my regular day job and rest up.

Next weekend is Mermaid Weekend!

Conner Lowry from Dumas Texas

Tinka,seeing the world from above.

Dont’t forget your PPE

Bart Robinson

Figuring out the supports for the wood deck.

Marking the floor supports.

Cutting steel for the forward cabin.

Checking an anchor for fit.

Johan making last years welds perfect.

Salty Dog

Engine Room Floor Grid version of Twister.

A huge amount of work has gotten done and it’s because of a great crew. I’m on vacation, so Johan and I have been cutting steel and welding every day and this last weekend we had Randy and Arron in from Bismarck North Dakota who along with Bart, cut fuel tank hatch opening, hatches and drilled and tapped over 224 holes. And we had some great visitors too, who stayed long enough for us to put some tools in there hands. And Betsy has made great progress on learning to make Junk Sails. The Mizzen will be done soon and we’ll need to put a mast in the lawn just to give it a try.

All and all it’s shaping up to be a wonderful vacation. One of those that make you want to quit your job and work on your passion full time. Thank you to everyone for your support. A lot of things have transpired in my life to bring me to were I am and I am grateful for all of it. Embrace change and be true to yourself. LIVE!

People often thank me for being an inspiration, but I am only the organizer.  I am not the inspiration behind Seeker.  The people who get on a plane and fly across the ocean, or on motorcycles and ride down from North Dakota, or move to Tulsa to be my neighbor, or drive in from Butler Missouri to just see the boat and then end up spending the day helping out.    Those are the inspirational people, and I am lucky enough to have them in my life.  We are all capable of living richer and deeper lives and Seeker crew lead the way.  –Doug

Fuel Tank Hatch

Rae and Bart helping Johan

Arron cutting tank lids and hatches.

Randy taking a welder.

Arron, Randy. Johan, Betsy, Theresa, and Rae.

Johan in charge of the forward deck.

I like my day job, but I love being on vacation and being about to work full time on the boat.   You often hear that old adage “A boat is a hole in the water that you through money into.”   And for many that certainly is the case.  Their boat’s sit in storage yards or tied to a dock for years at a time.  Then they complain about all the money they have to spend on it.  If you love work, you’ve got exactly what you need if you have a boat.  If you want to sit on a beach, then sell the boat and get a condo.   But please stop bitching about it to those of us who love the work.

Another fine day for boat building.   We say good bye to Rob and Jack who headed back to Canada in the morning.  We bid them a warm farewell and that will last them through the winter.   Johan stays on for a couple more weeks.  We are have made great progress.  The plates over the lead in the keels are sealed up tight and the frames above the keels will go in tomorrow.  Rob got the frames in on the bow so we can easily mow down fiberglass and wooden boats.   And Jack did us a solid by cleaning and rebuilding all of our clamps and bad extension cord ends.   And Betsy got a couple more sail sections make up.  We almost know what we are doing now.

It’s amazing what we can accomplish when we’re in it together.

Alan and two helpers working on one of Seeker’s mermaids in Shasta California.

Ellie and Brooklyn scaling the mermaid.

New dust connection hose. 🙂

The Canadians have arrived. Father and son, Jack and Robert from Grimsby Ontario.

Betsy helping unload the main mast.

Bart and Johan prepping for welding.

First 5 sections of the Mizzen.

Looks like we are going to have to finish the sails before we build the tender.

Growing the Sewing Table

Tinka celebrating Johan’s return from Sweden.

I endured 30 seconds of the presidential debate last night.  I saw nothing presidential, honorable or respectable.   Only two rabid dogs. If you stay too long on the side of the baiting pit you too become covered in their mud and excrement.   So I Seek something true and find it in the words of the poet.

Hannes Stauffer, Brenzikofen Switzerland

David Sharp, Groveland, California

Jim and Nancy Bambenek

Hannes flew to the USA from Switzerland, purchased and old Volvo to get around, and spent 57 days traveling the length of the Mississippi on a raft.  David rode in on a bike from Northern California  on a loop through the USA, and has build his own boats including a trimaran.  Jim and Nancy spend weeks each year traveling about the USA in their camper enjoying outdoors.  They all have a desire to learn, share their skills, and to make the most of life.   Building Seeker is a passion for me, but it is also a magnet for people I love learning from.   Seeker crew continue to amaze me.