"This Old Boat" or "The Boat Barn"

Bob L · Post by **Bob L** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 4:41 pm

Tim (a.k.a. "Norm of the Boating World"),

Picture this: Wide angle shot of your house and boat barn. Two feet of snow on the ground. Your back door opens and you come trudging out to an already worn path in the snow.

With a cordless mike strapped to your belt you start talking as you step out the door, "Welcome to this week's edition of The Boat Barn. Last week we laid bead board underlayment and plywood to form a deck on our Triton daysailor project. This week we are going to show you how we applied fiberglass and faired it to prepare it for paint, (then, as you are unlocking the door to the boat barn) let's take a look."

Narrator: "Our show is brought to you by: West Epoxy Systems. Providing craftsman with high quality resins for x years, and Interlux, makers of fiberglass and wood finishes. When you think of paint, think Interlux..."

It?s foolproof.

OK, who out there knows a producer and film crew?

Bob

Post by **Tim** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 6:23 pm

Oh, but I've a face made only for radio! ;<)

Post by **dasein668** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 6:29 pm

Ahhhh, how many times have I said "and these, your safety glasses" when starting up Tim's table saw? hehe

Shark · Post by **Shark** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 8:36 pm

No really ... Why aren't there any good TV programs about sailing, boat restoration in general etc etc.

Aside from Shipshape TV (enough said), a few one-off specials and the America's Cup coverage, there is precious little on TV about our sport, hobby, passion, obsession etc. There must be millions of TV viewers who, like us, are interested in boats. Yet compared to the number of programs about cars, home decoration and improvement, fishing, you name it, there is hardly any air time devoted to boating!

Whew, I needed that!

Lyman

Bob L · Post by **Bob L** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 9:20 pm

You're right. Just look at how popular American Chopper is, and those people are certified buffoons. The sponsorship potential is incredible, and there is no shortage of subject material rotting away in boatyards.

Tim can't be that ugly... but on the other hand, I don't recall seeing his visage in any of the restoration pics... hmm... maybe Technical Advisor? ...

Figment · Post by **Figment** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 9:34 pm

Call me "elitist", but do any of us REALLY want to see MORE people out on the waterways?

I do, however, think that Tim needs a hanging wooden sign for his yard like Norm Abrams has in the credits of The New Yankee Workshop.

Substitute a big RO sander for the table saw, of course.

Post by **Tim** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 8:42 am

Bob L wrote:Tim can't be that ugly

All right, before my attempt at self-deprecation turns into a free-for-all, I think I'm probably better looking than Norm! You'll find a few pictures of me scattered throughout the various websites, but since I'm the one taking the photos, it's hard to include myself very often!

Figment wrote:Call me "elitist", but do any of us REALLY want to see MORE people out on the waterways?

NO! But at least I'd prefer to see more sailors with small boats, rather than more high-speed freaks with fishing boats who've watched "Shipshape TV".

And you'd never catch me dead or alive wearing one of those stupid khaki "look at how nautical I am" shirts with the dumb epaulets on the shoulders, like whats-his-name on Shipshape.

Shark wrote:There must be millions of TV viewers who, like us, are interested in boats. Yet compared to the number of programs about cars, home decoration and improvement, fishing, you name it, there is hardly any air time devoted to boating!

Obviously, there are indeed many people who might be interested in more about sailing and boat repair. However, the market is admittedly tiny in comparison with those other ones. Somehow the obsession with boating doesn't translate well to TV, even such events as the America's Cup and other ESPN-covered events. We have the 1987 AC races in Australia to thank for what coverage there is now, but even so it's pretty pathetic.

Boats are complex creatures, and it would be hard, I think, to create an interesting, informative TV show about the restoration process that could be neatly slotted into 22 minutes. It's likely that a significant amount of "dumbing down" would have to occur (i.e. Shipshape TV), despite best intentions, in order to provide the show with a wider appeal than just those few restoration nuts out there.

No, it's better to just keep tuning in here to the forum to get my sage and incredibly indispensible advice! :<)

Robert The Gray · Post by **Robert The Gray** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 4:31 pm

I would think that by deciding to live in Maine, one has stated ones relationship with the bright lights of fame and paparatzi. I get the picture that tim is not about to get seduced by the call of Antigua Week or anything. but a nice clear how to video on how to do a decent recore of a deck would help a lot of people. On my mac I have been creating my own instructional videos with still pictures and voice over. I do it all in Imovie and then burn the dvd in Idvd. I think that this could be done with the material on the website but it would be portable and you could add the voice over explanation. put the tv in the shop and go to it. now that I think of it I would rather see a film of the daysailer, scooting along in a 15 knot breeze, with the ensign flying gracefully from the stern, the mighty tim at the helm ,a salty squint in the eye, as he adjusts her trim to grace. Make a movie of that first!

Out here on the left edge of the map,
robert[/b]

Post by **Tim** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 7:27 pm

Figment wrote:I do, however, think that Tim needs a hanging wooden sign for his yard like Norm Abrams has in the credits of The New Yankee Workshop.

Like this? Photo courtesy of the fathomless talents of Nathan.

Bob L · Post by **Bob L** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 8:13 pm

Nice Pic!!

I have a theory that most men are builders, tinkerers, and creators. Even if they don?t have to time to ?do?, they still like to watch. This is why This Old House is so popular even after 15 years. How many viewers actually went out and restored an old house? (OK, I did...). The attraction of The Boat Barn would be the work, not the sailing. There are so many disciplines involved ? carpentry, fiberglass repair, diesel engine repair, electrical work, electronics, upholstery, and plumbing. It would never get dull. The side trips would be awesome in themselves, for example, trips to the Yanmar factory, interviews with GPS gurus, tour of boat builders, not to mention a few vignettes of people living aboard ( ?to get input on our galley design, we consulted with Beth Leonard, currently aboard her semi-custom cutter, Hawk, somewhere in the South Pacific. Let?s check it out??)

I?ll volunteer for the trips to Tahiti.

Post by **Tim** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 8:34 am

Bob,

Sounds like you're producer/marketer material! You've got this well thought out, and I agree with your statements. I know I'd watch such a program if it existed--and it if bore no resemblance to "Shipshape TV".

(I actually typed "Shipshape IV" just now, which, upon reflection, seemed to also sum up that show quite well. Oh, that's intravenous, not four.)

A30_John · Post by **A30_John** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 6:19 pm

I'd probably buy a TV if a show like that existed.

John