Left: David Hansen takes the boat he built with his uncle Neil Hansen out for its inaugural voyage on Caribou Lake on June 20. Upper Left: The boat—a Sneakbox—in progress. Above: The boat builders, Neil and David Hansen.
David Hansen, 14, of Lutsen has accomplished something many grown men only dream of. With the help of his uncle, Neil Hansen, he has built his own seaworthy vessel, a Barnegat Bay Sneakbox.
Neil Hansen said David got the idea of building a boat after seeing an old hydroplane at the family’s Caribou Lake cabin. “He said, ‘Maybe we could build one,'” said Neil.
David comes by his interest in boat building naturally—he is the great-grandson of two boat builders, Isak Hansen and Edwin Olson. Isak Hansen was a commercial fisherman and builder whose specialty was sturdy fishing boats. Edwin Olson preferred building pleasure boats, such as a beautiful fiberglass kayak in 1940 that was used by his wife, Myrtle Olson into her 90s and which Neil Hansen now proudly owns.
David’s father Brett Hansen and grandfather Marland Hansen collaborated on a dingy and his uncle Neil built a canoe using blueprints from a magazine. “David is a fourth-generation boat builder,” said Neil.
However, Neil thought they could find something more appropriate than a hydroplane for a 14-year-old. David and Neil researched boats on the internet. Theyfound plans for the Sneakbox, which they agreed would be a perfect project.
Originally designed for the tidal marshes of New Jersey, the Sneakbox is designed as a low profile boat capable of being tucked into the salt grass and disappearing for bird hunting. According to www.barnegatbaysneakbox. com it was also capable of handling the rough water and “bringing the waterman safely home.”
After obtaining the plans, David and Neil set to work in Marland’s garage, using many of the same hand and power tools used by previous generations. It took about two months to build the boat. They started in April and according to Neil the last coat of paint was “almost dry” when they took the boat out for its maiden voyage on June 20.
Theboat is 12 feet long and 4 ½ feet wide and was built in the stitch and glue style of construction. They used plywood and #2 pine lumber.
It didn’t cost a lot to build the boat. Neil estimates they spent about $450. However, it was labor intensive. David and Neil spent a lot of time cutting, stitching, sealing, and painting three to four coats of paint. “It was kind of a lot of work,” said David.
However, it was all worth it when the boat hit the water. David and Neil each took turns piloting the boat on Caribou Lake and David had the pleasure of giving his grandmother, Nancy Hansen, a ride.
And, of course, the boat has been used for what boats have always been meant for—fishing. “Fishing has been good,” said David.
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