Meeting a Master Boatbuilder / 1905 Pilot Cutter - Rebuilding Tally Ho EP33 

I watched Leo with Tally Ho soon after he started, and I have re-watched the series (skipping bits) a couple of times now. The present is October 20223 and Leo must have dreamed of the day that Tally Ho in in one piece and waterproof. that is where he is now, Tally Ho is about to get her mast stepped. I think watching these early episodes that he is a really special person. the videos right from the very beginning were quality watchable masterpieces. But it is his vision that one has to admire so much, as well as his dedication, right from the very start to QUALITY. This channel is what RU-vid has enabled! Keep it up Leo. I am so glad the world has supported you. 463k subscribers now.

Nice video Leo. One of Pete Culler's favorite sayings: "Mostly, boatbuilding is simply correcting one mistake after the other, and possibly the first mistake is to begin....but it's so much fun." Thanks for showing us some of the fun :)

Thanks for the inspiration Leo. My learning to be a boat builder journey has begun aged 43 years, something I’ve successfully put off for 20 years. A huge part of the draw and reward is to learn from and be around experienced, passionate, like minded guys and girls, in such a wonderful environment. I hope over coming months and years I can pull together even a fraction of your knowledge and adventures but I’m already happy with the decision I’ve made to start learning now rather than waste time wishing I’d done this years ago or bemoaning bad decisions or missed opportunities of the past. Great quality films, fantastic subject matter, fascinating people - thank you for all your hard work and sharing your experiences with the wider world.

I am pleased that you know so many people involved in this work, Leo, it means we get to know that these are not so lost arts as maybe we thought.

I LIKE this stuff, Leo.Gives me Warm Fuzzies to know that guys are keeping the Old Ways Alive. I'd thought they had all Died Out decades ago, until I discovered Luke's site on a Cutter search. SOMEBODY HAS to keep building Wooden Ships for the few Iron Men we have these days.I wish I'd discovered this a few decades ago, myself. I might have had a MUCH better Life.

Hats off to you Also, you managed to squeeze more than a few words out of a man of very few words.

Really glad you got to interview Chris. The Greyhound was a fantastic build to watch, and I can't believe he no longer has her. At the same time, I can't imagine anything better than doing what he's doing now. That ferry project would be awesome to see on RU-vid. Chris should start a channel and document his progress. Might even earn a few quid here and there for a pint at the pub!

Two master boatbuilders.

Hi. Iam glad to see the ferry being saved. Old ship's like this should not be left to rot away , just because they are not glamorous. Thanks for showing us these boats.

"What portion of the work of building a boat is in the fit-out compared to the hull?", asks Leo, nervously...

I've just watched these two wonderfully natural interviews back to back. Great content and I love the absolute down to earth character of both.

Aw, makes me want to dance a wild jig at the continuation of these old skills and the wonderful rebuilt and reproduced ships and yachts being produced. Thanks, Leo, yer a lion!

One comment to another of your videos mentioned the altruistic or unselfish angle of your channel: everyone gets a mention and their work documented, too. I am sure some of this is for practical purposes because it takes a lot of your time to film and edit. Be that as it may, I must commend you for giving the spotlight to others. I have followed your channel for a while. I am not easily impressed when it comes to wood working: I am the son of an old-school cabinet maker and the fifth generation of a wood working family (I am myself merely an amateur wood worker.) I really enjoy following your project. You own example in skills and enthusiasm is infectious. You are giving a lot of inspiration to a lot of people. Wooden boats need enthusiastic and committed people with oodles of skill and passion. It is an integral part of humanity and our shared culture, especially for those of us who hail from seafaring nations (I was born in Denmark a long time ago, but we won’t mention the battle of 1807, Mr Fawlty. I have, however, lived most of my life in the UK and the US.) What you are doing is, in fact, a great service to history. I am sure there are more immediate goals for your work, but it should not be lost on any of us how important (in my view) your work is. I trained on Georg Stage, a fully rigged schooner, when I was a teenager. I always wanted to sail and your videos put me in daily touch with that urge, and with the memories of my dear father, who peacefully passed away a few months ago at the age of 98. So thank you very much. May you carry on for a long time with your wonderful work.

Love these short documentaries Leo. Also looking forward to see more updates on Tally Ho. Keep it up!

So satisfying to see the traditions of wooden boat building being preserved. Deep inside it is what we are all are doing or want to do. Thanks Leo.

Leo. I have been watching your story.. Wow! You are a talented young man. It is so nice to see someone with such determination to do something that most would say, leave it. throw it away.. I am a home builder. I work on a lot of old homes. I thought I new what I was doing..... ! You are crazy talented. Love your videos. John H. Oregon

Skill and artistry involved in the rebuilds. Much respect for those involved in the projects.

Pretty dam cool Leo. These trips are awesome and I am so glad to have found your channel. Cheers!!!

Greetings Leo. Thank you for so many hours of fascinating, pleasantly relaxing and thoroughly enjoyable entertainment. During your conversation with your acquaintance named Chris you discuss a vessel he formerly owned named the Three Brothers. I have an old hard cover book titled The Burning Shore first published in 1956 by Michael Joseph Ltd of 26 Bloomsbury Street London # W.C.1 in 1955. Within the book a former triple mast Italian yacht named the Tre Fratelli which translates in English as Three Brothers is prominently featured. The Three Brothers had been a shark fishing vessel when the British forces appropriated her during WWII. The book is a narrative of experiences had by a British Naval Officer named John Doody while he was posted to Italian territory seized by allied forces in Africa during World War Two. During that time Captain Doody was assigned to the Three Brothers operating out of a port called Massawa with a crew of Local Danakil tribesmen and tasked with patrolling an extensive area along the Red Sea coast of Eritrea. I wonder was the vessel formerly owned by Chris the same vessel featured in the book?

A really good point was by Chris regarding potential boatbuilders is to have some experience at sea. I was working in a busy production yard in the late 60's when they took on some hands from a caravan building firm to do internal fit outs. They were very fast workers who designed jigs to speed up production but had no concept of how strong things needed to be to withstand the pounding a yacht takes in heavy weather.

The more I watch your channel Leo the more impressed I am with the skill and true dedication expressed by yourself and the other Cornish crew you have introduced to us. I reckon you guys must be born with a tiller in one hand and a mainsheet in the other. Well done mate.

I remember the Cremyll Ferry when I was a kid growing up near Plymouth. Cheers for these videos Leo!

Great post. I really enjoyed this.

Letty's Hull was rebuilt by Scott Metcalfe at Waterfront Marine in Porth Penrhyn, Bangor. I spent about 13 years working with Scott in the late 90's until around 2006/7. He has restored a number of old wooden boats and has his own converted Danish Cotter 'Vilma' rigged as a tops'le schooner. Only saw your channel when I came across the pouring of the lead keel, (reminded me of doing a similar thing with Scott's old boat 'Tasma' built in 1896.) I am working through from be beginning of you 'Tally Ho' project. Its great to see you doing such excellent work, keep it up.

I really love your cuter project which is exactly in line with Eric Tabarly's Pen Duick affair. I just finished reading the amazing story of that boat designed by Fife in 1898 and built in Ireland. The Tabarly family owns is since 1938 and in the 50s Eric, an officer of the French navy, the eldest of the family, took over its renovation and hand glassed the hull which could have been rebuilt as you are doing it with your boat, but they had no means to do it. As you know Tabarly died in a sea race in 1998 and his daughter Marie took over the management and upkeep of Pen Duick. I hope many patrons will help you in your project. Please return soon!

It's good to see that the old traditions are still being carried on in the UK. You showed some interesting designs to see and it's nice to know people are still interested in the traditional wood boat. It's a shame to see the old hulls just sitting and rotting away.

Always enjoy your updates thanks

Great episode and interview. Documenting the rebirth of Tally Ho has been amazing to follow along with. I really dig the interviews and meeting the personalities along the way.

I can't thank you enough for making these videos. They are so very interesting to watch. God Bless you and yours and safe boat building.

Chris is doing really nice work. Always nice to see the work of a craftsman. Thanks!

What an awesome guy. Thanks a bunch for the video.

That was great to watch. It`s nice to see people restore old wooden craft like these. well done.

Fantastic Leo. What a great tradition that is being kept alive.

Love seeing the wooden boats that are being saved. Thanks for the video...

I can certainly understand your passion for wooden boats from this period..... Thanks for creating a fabulously interesting channel..

It’s great that you are documenting these short stories of other renovations besides your own. They are really important pieces of social and maritime history. Looking forward to you returning to Tally Ho though.

Love this sharing of history important that the history of boats be recorded.

Nice to see Chris on your channel. 👌

Thanks Leo for another great video.

Cool to see one of the guys from the Greyhound build. I've watched the time-lapse vids of that build several times from start to finish. I liked his advice about just finding a boat you like the look of and just going for it. Sort of what I'm planning to do when I get started. Will be some years in the future, but everybody needs a dream.

To Australia in a fish boat. Nowadays we don't go anywhere without GPS, plotters, autopilots, ideally a fridge, and of course, the ability to motor. This was a very inspirational conversation. Might have to go look for some dinghy plans to download.

Super...lovely documentary!

Thank you Leo for highlighting another talented shipwright. It's nice to see people that are carrying on the traditional crafts in the boating industry. Had I known there were so many working in the industry 40 years ago I might have forsaken engineering for the craftsmanship of wooden boat building. Hope that your work and the work of many other builders and restorers will pull more young people into the craft. Have a safe trip and hope to see you back in the States.

Great Boat of Chris, thank you for showing Leo. I also use for my trexandiri Iroko for the outside and Mahagoni for the inside.

Great thanks Leo

I keep pausing to admire the woodworking, curves, arcs, and joinery. Hardly hearing a word.

Real nice and informative episode.

We were at Cremyll this afternoon just ove the water from us in Torpoint, thanks Leo and Chris great interview. The Grayhound if back in Brittany now it would be great if you could have a chat with Marcus and show everyone his lovely boat.

In Japan, in Kansai, woodworkers who love a particular tool are said to be "cut by the _______, "(saw in my case), sounds like Chris was cut by a pilot cutter. Lovely interview, well done! :D

Interesting information and conversation!

Fantastic new episode(s), Thanx Again

epic story on that ferry.

Grew up just down the road from there. Beautiful part of the UK

Great interview of a cool guy. He's got some neat stuff going on and that ferry will be a great example for others if he's successful. With his track record I'm sure he'll find a backer that's interested in saving history while going green. Last but least is thanks to the owners of the cutter. They deserve some credit for banking a build like that and I hope to see her sailing soon.

its nice when you do these interviews I hope it inspires some more young people to take up the craft thanks

Enjoyable ,easy watching .

Enjoyed the episode Leo. Safe travels!

Always interesting thanks for sharing 👍👍

I feel like I’m 10-12 months behind.. binge watching now! Lol. Great videos Leo! Keep it up

that was a really cool looking ferry. I would live on that.

Another fantastic share. Thanks so much. ,,,,,,,/),,,,,,,,fair winds sir.

Drat. I found your youtube channel yesterday and now I'm at the end of all your videos. But the good news is now I can get some work done. Looking forward to your new videos to come.

Thanks hope he gets the ferry electric and back in the water. Enjoyed 👍

I love hearing and seeing all your goings on in and around cornwall and the scillies as someone who grew up in penzance.

fast approaching the 100k mark there Leo. Keep up the great work and honest interviews. You tread well the balance between modern and traditional. Tally Ho! Drink Up Me Hearties Yo Ho!

what a total star!

Thank you for the free content

AWSOME video.

man whoever built the cremyll was no joke, they knew exactly how to build a boat

Love your stuff . . When I retire I ll.come help you , we'll maybe not ,but it is running through my head !!

Another cracking Vid...👍

Good stuff.

fascinating!! thanks

Dude!!! You are getting some great interviews, i think you certainly have skills for it! by the way i want a t-shirt for shure

You make interesting videos, well done!

Thanks for sharing your visit thanks to Chris for his time and info. Would have loved to have met up with you Cornwall or Bristol; been too ill recovering from Cancer. So pleased you're doing this and I've enjoyed it from day one. I'm doing up a 70's bilge keel yacht 24Ft, hoping to get her so I can follow or be around when you bring Tally HO back on the Avon ;)

Yes...you doing a great job, should be on 📺!

My names Leo and I’m a sailor... No you’re not! You’re Classic Yachtsman of the year 2016!! 👏👏

Another great story Leo. I think your vocation in life (apart from completing Tally Ho restoration project) may well be in making these documentaries to record the stories that people have to tell. Stories that are worth recording otherwise the history of these guys and their passion of boat building will never be seen outside of a boatyard. Keep up the wonderful work and look forward to the next instalment of your journey. Your channel is one of the best on RU-vid, along side that of Salt & Tar.

There are some great projects going on in the area. I was in Exeter this summer and looked at a lovely Thames barge rebuild at Topsham - if you run out of subjects, which I doubt.

Hope you're enjoying England, thanks for the update... I hope you have someone looking after Tally Ho back at the yard as you never know who will be walking around your property. I have a bad feeling at the moment about Tally Ho being damaged while your away. Get someone to walk around the property for you... Be safe and be happy.

RIP Chris.

Thank you Tally Ho

A tally ho sweatshirt it starting to get Cold here in the Pacific Northwest!!!

Hey Leo, great progress, been enjoying your videos from the beginning!! Just an FYI if you need I live in Seattle right by the Fauntleroy ferry. I know you come though here when flying. Your welcome to a shower and/or couch overnight if you need. I hope to come help some weekend in the future. Wood crafter myself

Always great to find Leo in another video. Get back to washing state before Pancho files for a divorse!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Much more interesting than repeated phuttocks

Yeah, battery ferry, thats how I like it! Hope you will cover that big roof are with solar panels.

wowa, her beautiful lines

Quite a revelation seeing the profile of the Letty, she has the shallow forfoot and long straight slope down , similar to Alpha and Kindly Light the fast Pilot Cutters built up in the North West (Morcambe Bay?) But Letty’s Cross section is Straight out of the Rowles copy book. Very interesting Video. Glad you are enjoying your time at home in the UK

Crafts people , how to become one that was a good question and one many like to know more about. Im at the coast of China at the yellow sea watching wooden fishing boats.The same problem here is there are to less craftsman and the job isnt a well payed one here so very hard to impossible todo. Its all about love for the boats.

Fantastic, I love seeing these other yards as much as your own project!

ooh did I hear Chris say composite deck laid on ply and GLASS, good to see you thinking about us glassers here boys. I bet that was hard for him to do as a classic wooden boat builder.

That ferry is interesting

"Now, it is a law in Lloyd's that the Jane repaired all out of the old until she is entirely new is still the Jane." --Joshua Slocum

Watching the Cremyll Ferry being overhauled would be a good YT project to watch.

"Yeah." *shakes fist at the sky* JK! Good video as always.

Used to go sailing out of Pill, top of tide sailing round Denny and a few trips over to Welsh coast and then longer trips down to the Scilly Isles. Wind against tide in the Channel was fun (or not at times).

It would be great if you could do a follow up on the Ferry Cremyll, that looks like it would be very interesting.

ye & ye ... goooooood