Plans too small

[Darrells]

Now thats a set of plans..... Thanks Matt. The questions shall begin arriving shortly.
For those wondering, Matt drew these up for me, a fully strip built Freedom 15.

[jem]

What's this? You don't have that strong back put together yet?

[Oldsparkey]

An open letter to Matt from Oldsparkey...........

Matt....

You never cease to amaze me from the time we talked about this a few years ago , you are more then willing to work with the guy's , design new boats for them , modify the ones you have that they want and come up with ideas that no one has the nerve to do.

You even go to extremes to help folks , way more then anyone in your business would ever think of doing , or would want to. It is really something when a paddler and designer understands what the normal person wants and then provides it , not saying we are normal. Normal as in not a designer but as a person that wants a custom boat the way they think it should be and then making it to there way with your help.

It is my pleasure to say I know you and to have you as a part of my web site because of the way we believe in the same thing , helping builders accomplish what they want , not what we tell them that they want.

I have all the faith in this world that as time progresses all of your ability will increase and make everything better for us the wood boat builder. These last few years have proven that to me , the progression is remarkable.

Chuck.
Your help for them outweighs anything I can or would ever do for them. Just some of my thoughts and I want folks to know we have a decent , hard working and considerate person here for us. ( Besides I love his Sasquatch 14 x 30 Canoe)

[jem]

Thanks Chuck.

[Oldsparkey]

Matt....

Not speaking for myself ( If I can take that liberty ) but for all of us ...

My above statement does not even say it or express the appreciation for what you have done and are doing , especially the ones of us that did not , or could not locate the help in the past that you are so wiling to give so freely today. I guess you had to be there , back then like you were and a few of us when we were stumbling around in the dark looking for help and suggestions. ( You had to be there to appreciate the advancements Matt has made , I was and I appreciate what he is doing , It's a long story folks which all of you are enjoying and don't know it. )

I'll give you a hint........ Just a few short years ago if you were lucky a designer would answer your email or phone call and that alone was a miracle , as far as working with you... Ha Ha Ha. Now the idea of designing a boat the way you wanted it .... Can you swim up Niagara Falls ?

Times change and in there changing things do get better and your willingness to work with us has proven it. Besides I think it is something you like to do since you are one of us. Either that or you are just a lost cause in the wood boat building addiction and want to make others addicted to it. Not a bad addiction if I have to say so.

Choice and help are good things and today they are there and we know where to find them , Right here TODAY. Something that was not there a short time ago.. Trust me on that. Matt would not say anything about what he is doing to help all of you ( Myself included because I need all the help I can get ) so I thought I would say something.

Chuck.
OK .... Back to the business of helping folks.

[Kayak Jack]

As an observer and sometimes commenter, I think that Matt goes beyond merely helping builders. He believes in them, and in their ability to achieve their dreams. In the process, he achieves some of his dreams too.

For a person to have the ability of extending themselves this much, they must first have a firm understanding, and appreciation of, who they are themselves. Matt has these, and the self-confidence to put it to work.

A tip o my hat to ya, Matt.

[craiggamesh]

Darrell,

If you have not yet purchased your router bits, this is a great company to get them from. I purchased the #7715. Its a 1/2 inch shank router bit. It has worked wonderfully for me for a few builds. The #5415 is the 1/4 inch shank, and I may purchase a set soon. That way I could have two seperate router tables set up at once. I only have one 1/2 inch shank router but several 1/4 inch.

Best of all, free shipping. http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite ... flute.html

[Darrells]

craiggamesh,
Thanks for the link. At first I thought of ordering my strips,but decided I want to build every aspect of this boat. This project is going to take awhile to complete, but I will be posting lots of updates all the way from stiff back construction to varnishing.

Matt,
I do not have any experience with other designers nor do I see the need to. You have everything any builder could wish for. You always are willing to help and have a great group of members that are also willing to help. When I started the Pirogue I thought this thing will never float because I usually cant even build a square box, but with your help it turned out pretty nice. I have high hopes for this Stripped Freedom and am in no hurry to throw it together,so I'll take my time and make it as perfect as possible. I want to say thank you again for taking the time to redesign these plans for me.
Darrell Sykora

[jem]

Thanks all.

[Wannabe]

Who ever gives the best service should get the business. I hope Matt winds up stinking rich.
Bob