I started building boats where I grew up in Costa Mesa, Ca. during the 60's & 70's
more boats were built in C.M. than anywhere else ( boatbuilding capital of the world )
so working in the boatbuilding industry was a natural.
I started w/ Larry Kendall at Kendall yachts in 1970, a builder of a 32' double
ended cruising sailboat. The owner Larry K. started me in the mold shop & then
moved me to the carpenter shop ( everyone started at the bottom & worked up).
I apprenticed w/Larry, very extensive training w/hand tools & understanding
all power tools.
Then to Westsail Yachts , Yankee yachts, to Challenger Yachts w/Howard Stearn
& Hans Werman Coastal Recreation yachts, Islander Yachts, back to Yankee
yachts where I did the 1 off custom 1st boat pattern making etc.
Then off to the custom work in Dana Point Harbor, My own business
customizing boats, a long stint working w/ Uniflite yacht sales L.B. CA. Next to
Willard Yachts building the bigger yachts, I was foreman in charge of a
65'er & a 70'er also. Since 1980 I have run my own business customizing
yachts mostly in the Newport Harbor exclusively.
I have specialized in new teak deck construction for most of my career, installing hundreds of decks from design to completion. I have a system that is screwless using epoxy as the complete bonding method, mostly using quarter sawn Burmese teak, caulked w a silicone based black teak deck caulking, sanded smooth w /a dust collecting system that allowes me to do my installation right at the slip, with no working on the docks, but completely on the boat.
