A Well Worn Book

One of the most thumbed over, bookmarked, and dogeared books (no excuse me, I own two copies of it (!)), is Jay Hanna’s The Marine Carving Handbook. I bought a copy as soon as it was published because I was living in Mid-Coast Maine and my father-in-law had plans for me to make money carving house signs and marine doodads. This led to a commission for some quarterboards, which, at the time, I knew nothing about or how to carve. Hanna’s book was, and remains, one of the most important books for someone who is interested in Marine carving. Over the years, I’ve used it for many projects, and one of Hanna’s traditional eagle designs is a favorite of mine, and I’ve carved it frequently.

My father-in-law’s ( I refer to him as the Cap’n in my stories) plan to do well from my carving came to naught. His daughter, my first wife, chose the end of that summer to put our relationship on hold and then end it. The old man was so mad that he held onto most of my tools, and I wound up replacing almost everything. But Hanna’s little book made it to graduate school with me, and was in my library when I ceased to be an anthropologist and became a marine carver many years later.

Does the book hold your hand and tell all? Definitely not. There are interesting places where Hanna just hints at the steps needed to successfully complete projects. But it was at least thirty years before anyone else tackled the topic, and they also lack specifics on everything.

Marine carving and ship carving are not everyday things you can readily go down to the harbor to enjoy watching. Besides, the average carver doesn’t normally work at exactly what would be considered flank speed. Yup, we are dodgy that way. Time for coffee, some conversation, some coffee, and catching up on the gossip.

I would recommend Hanna’s book if you are interested in marine carving. In enlightened self-interest, I recommend my blog too! But you expected that I’d say that. Right?

Daily writing prompt

Which book have you read more than any other?

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