Read an article that led me to this site about using Latex Paint on wooden boats. I Recently purchased a 40 yr old flat bottomed wooden skiff in great condition but needing a little TLC.  After a few minor repairs and stripping several layers of paint and varnish, I'm ready to get into the finish.  The question is not so much whether to use latex or not, (although I'd love to hear a few more testimonials) but if I do, what kind (deck enamel?

Hello woodenboatbloggers, 

     I'm new to this site so bear with me while I try to figure things out. I'm writing because I want to learn more about the  sweet dinghy  I bought it a few days ago.  . It is plywood lapstrake boat, fastened with copper nails, approximately 47" wide by 8'6. It was built on Vashon Island in Puget Sound.   No makers mark that I can see. Does any one have a name for the style or recognize who might have built it?  

KLM Atasita is 38 meter LOA accomodating 10 passengers in five star accomodations. She is powered by a 400 hp Daewoo Marine Engine and is presently operating in the World Heritage Site of the Komodo National Park, in Indoneisa. She services liveaboard diving operations and clients visiting the Komodo area.

Her hull is 100% Papuan Ironwood (Kayu Uline) and her super structure is local milled teak.

Having retired in 2003 from a fast paced career in NYC and knowing I could never afford the size boat I really wanted, my life path brought me to Indonesia, the world's largest archipelago and to the island of South Sulawesi. Deep investigation into the history of the Bugis People and their long time use of wooden schooners "Pinisi's" will prove to be fascinating and enlightening, I can assure you of that. These historical links will take you back before the time of Columbus, before the time of Chinese Expeditions, and way before the time of the Dutch exploitation of these SPICE ISLANDS. 

Over the past 14 plus years, our little Traditional Fleet Community has created quite a little cruise industry operating throughout this great Archipelago. Our Pinisi schooners operate liveaboard diving programs and cultural expeditions to some fascinating destinations. The World Heritage Site of the Komodo National Park, The Asmat People of Southern part of Papua and even today try to get as close as possible to the Kratatau Volcano between the islands of Java and Sumatra. Our Surf Liveaboard boats ply the waters off the Western Coast of Sumatra and Timor.

Our days are filled with smoking volcanos, crystal clear waters and sunshine abounds !

I think it was in 1994 that I constructed my first boat named Ranger I, she was a fast sleek design based on a traditional island cargo boat and cost me around 9,000 USD, which for a 15 meter vessel with Vetus Marine engine, the price was not bad. As time passed and our construction business grew and now as 2008 approaches we have come to the point that SongLine Yachts is ready to position itself to the market. I am taking advantage of this BLOG to try out some of our stories to reconfirm to myself that we have an interesting background and some interesting wooden boat products.

We look forward to discussing wooden boats with all of you and provide the photo above of our home harbor Bira, South Sulawesi in the Republic of Indonesia.