The short answer is: It is a more fun way to make a living than working as an engineer for the Navy. But this doesn't really answer why this particular way.

I started this path because I had designed some boats for my own use which I thought were good enough that other people would like to build them. I continued because I enjoy the design process. I also like figuring out how to do things. And once I've figured it out, I don't think there is any point in keeping it a secret. Any positive value of this bulletin board and the other resources are really just side effects of following a series of whims.

I can not say I had really altuistic reasons for doing this. I started the bulletin board because I like talking about kayaking and building kayaks. Other places for such discussion got too busy with other topics so I started my own. I would like to say that I do this for other peoples benefit, but I really do it for my own selfish enjoyment. And I thought a BBS would be a good way to get people to come back to my site more than once.

I learn a lot from everyone else on the board. Just look at which way the information flows. I post less than 1% of the messages. That means over 99% of the time someone else is posting information and I am doing the learning. Often times this information includes new ideas and techniques. All I need to do for this benefit is pay a relatively small fee for a internet server, delete the occasional spam and a couple times a year do some maintanence. The relatively small effort is worth it.

Because of the questions and information that comes through this bulletin board I learn what people have trouble with and I see when people have a better idea. As a result the boats I build are significantly better than they used to be. It helps me make a better product.

I am glad that other people enjoy and benefit from my whims and selfish pleasures. I am lucky that there are so many people out there that share similar interests.

: As you interact with the boat building community, I would ask a question that
: I posed to Mr. Ted Moores on the Bear Mountain Boat Shop's "peer
: talk" bulletin board: There is a diverse range of woodworking
: experience with in the community, with a wide variety of building styles
: for this art form. Has your interaction with the boat building community
: influenced your approach to design, construction and instruction? If so,
: in what ways?

: Has your interaction with the boat building community influenced you
: personally?

: I'm grateful to participate in this forum, which you provide. As I paddle my
: own course, striving for that "perfect boat", I'm considering my
: own contributions as a novice, to those who help me get to where I'm
: going.