Lessons in Fiberglass, Patience, and Restraint - Building a Skiff From Scratch
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In “Field Notes: Fool’s Gold & Fiberglass,” Hunter Leavine chronicles time spent helping build a skiff under the guidance of veteran Florida builder Harry Spear. What starts as a romantic idea - building a boat by hand - quickly becomes an education in repetition, patience, and humility. The work is slow. The materials are unforgiving. Mistakes are inevitable. And that’s the point.
Rather than focusing on technical how-tos, the piece leans into what boatbuilding feels like: sticky resin, endless sanding, quiet instruction, and the realization that competence is earned through doing the same simple things correctly, over and over.
From a boat builder’s perspective, this essay is less about fiberglass and more about craft mindset. It’s a reminder that good boats aren’t born from shortcuts or shiny ideas, but from fundamentals, mentorship, and restraint. The story reinforces a truth most builders already know but don’t always articulate: the value of a boat is inseparable from the care, discipline, and intention that went into building it.
In short, it’s a thoughtful meditation on why we build things by hand, and why stripping away excess, both in boats and in life, often leads to something better. Check out the piece over at Hunter Levine’s substack, it's worderful.