Ben Carlson
5 Valley Drive
Westerly, RI 02891
(845)825-2199
[email protected]
(Ex)Licensed Ship Captain; 100 ton near coastal with Sailing and Towing Endorsement
Education
Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts, New Mexico State University, 1993
Las Cruces, NM, Emphasis in Painting and Metalsmithing, Minor in Theater Tech.
also studied at:
Center for Creative Studies, 1990, Detroit, MI. Automotive Design.
San Jose State University, Bath Campus, 1990, Bath, England. English Literature and History.
San Jose State University, 1989 San Jose, CA. Industrial Design.
5 Valley Drive
Westerly, RI 02891
(845)825-2199
[email protected]
(Ex)Licensed Ship Captain; 100 ton near coastal with Sailing and Towing Endorsement
Education
Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts, New Mexico State University, 1993
Las Cruces, NM, Emphasis in Painting and Metalsmithing, Minor in Theater Tech.
also studied at:
Center for Creative Studies, 1990, Detroit, MI. Automotive Design.
San Jose State University, Bath Campus, 1990, Bath, England. English Literature and History.
San Jose State University, 1989 San Jose, CA. Industrial Design.
Professional Experience
Boat Restoration and Repair
Boat Restoration and Repair
July 2013-present Sweetwater Boatworks, New London, CT
Current projects include a thorough refit of a ’64 Chris Craft runabout for which I made the interior and a fresh, new 10’ Acorn sailing dingy, for which I made the fins and other final details. We are equipped and capable of anything from seasonal maintenance to a galley remodel to a brand new boat.
Current projects include a thorough refit of a ’64 Chris Craft runabout for which I made the interior and a fresh, new 10’ Acorn sailing dingy, for which I made the fins and other final details. We are equipped and capable of anything from seasonal maintenance to a galley remodel to a brand new boat.
2004-2007 The Wooden Tangent, Mattapoisett, MA
This quaint little boatyard does everything from major restorations to simple maintenance. They do seasonal maintenance, launch and storage of a fleet of 12 Herreshoff 12 1/2s and we did major rebuilds on two Herreshoff S-class racing sloops, a 38' 1929 Elco motorboat and a Mckenzie Cuttyhunk fishing boat.
1999 to 2001 Saint Paul Shipwrights, Saint Paul, Minnesota
This was my boatbuilding apprenticeship culminating in the complete rebuilding of a 1959 Riva Tritone originally owned by Rita Hayworth. I learned the carpentry and finishing skills necessary to do top notch restorations and maintenance of the local vintage runabout and cruiser fleet.
This was my boatbuilding apprenticeship culminating in the complete rebuilding of a 1959 Riva Tritone originally owned by Rita Hayworth. I learned the carpentry and finishing skills necessary to do top notch restorations and maintenance of the local vintage runabout and cruiser fleet.
1997 Berkeley Marine Center Summer, Berkeley, CA
Duties here included basic yard work including bottom painting, hauling and launching, rigging, fuel dock sales, dock maintenance, etc.
Duties here included basic yard work including bottom painting, hauling and launching, rigging, fuel dock sales, dock maintenance, etc.
Sailing
2007-2009 The Gundalow Company, Portsmouth, NH
Captain/vessel manager. In the mornings I gave hands on living history style demonstrations aboard the gundalow replica, Captain Edward Adams. In the afternoons, my duties ranged from sailing the boat to maintenance to upgrades for Coast Guard inspections.
Captain/vessel manager. In the mornings I gave hands on living history style demonstrations aboard the gundalow replica, Captain Edward Adams. In the afternoons, my duties ranged from sailing the boat to maintenance to upgrades for Coast Guard inspections.
Tallship Engineer. My duties on the following boats included maintenance and operation of all the mechanical systems including the engines, electrical and electronics and plumbing. I also participated in the living history style educational programs, exhibition sails and naval gunnery programs.
Summer-Fall 2003 Schooner Lynx, Newport Beach, California - This vessel is a replica of an American privateer of the war of 1812 that we sailed to Hawaii, Canada and back to Newport Beach.
Spring 2003 Schooner Ernestina, New Bedford, Massachusetts - The official tallship of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, built in 1894 and having led an amazing career fishing, exploring and carrying cargo.
Fall 2002 and 1997-1998 Hawaiian Chieftain, Sausalito, California - A replica of an eighteenth century Baltic trading packet that does educational sails and “battlesails” with the Lady Washington at most California ports. The focus of 2002 was the Tallships Challenge, a race from British Columbia to San Diego with events in all the major cities along the way involving about 20 ships. (Boat currently owned by Gray's Harbor Historical Seaport)
Spring 2002 Brig Lady Washington, Aberdeen, Washington - The official tallship of the state of Washington and a replica of the first American vessel to round Cape Horn and make landfall on the west coast and China. She has programs much like the Hawaiian Chieftain all over the West coast.
1995 Red Salmon Cannery, Naknek, AK
Deckhand, M/V Penguin. My duties aboard the salmon boat included crane operation, fish counting and general maintenance.
Miscellaneous but interesting
Deckhand, M/V Penguin. My duties aboard the salmon boat included crane operation, fish counting and general maintenance.
Miscellaneous but interesting
2008-2011 House Husband
I got my start during the off season while my wife was teaching and later took it up full time. It was time for my wife to get back into her teaching career so I stayed home with the babies. I can cook, clean and change diapers and deal with other household planning better than most other dads (though probably not as good as most moms).
I got my start during the off season while my wife was teaching and later took it up full time. It was time for my wife to get back into her teaching career so I stayed home with the babies. I can cook, clean and change diapers and deal with other household planning better than most other dads (though probably not as good as most moms).
2011-2013 Rudolf Steiner Fellowship Foundation
Woodshop and Maintenance. I started in the woodshop when my youngest went to nursery school. We make toys and other small wooden items, mostly for school classrooms. When she went to kindergarten I started doing building maintenance, too. Cabinetry refinishing is my specialty but I can rebuild rotten window frames, lay carpet, tune a bandsaw or frame a wall. Sometimes I do the dishes. I don’t mind, they feed me well.
Woodshop and Maintenance. I started in the woodshop when my youngest went to nursery school. We make toys and other small wooden items, mostly for school classrooms. When she went to kindergarten I started doing building maintenance, too. Cabinetry refinishing is my specialty but I can rebuild rotten window frames, lay carpet, tune a bandsaw or frame a wall. Sometimes I do the dishes. I don’t mind, they feed me well.
Substitute Teacher. This job I took because I needed the work but found it to be a challenge and a pleasure. I have learned volumes about the way growing minds function and even developed some leadership skills.
1997 Richmond and Oakland Unified School District, Richmond and Oakland, CA
1995 to 1996 Las Cruces Public Schools, Las Cruces, NM
1994-1997 Messilla Valley Diamond and Gold May, Las Cruces, NM
Jeweler. This job helped me to polish my skills in many facets of fine metalsmithing including stone setting, plating, polishing, soldering, wax carving and a lot about mass production techniques when quality is an issue.
1993-1994 Nichols Piano Service, Mesilla Park, NM
Piano Technician. An old master craftsman and piano tuner taught me to restore antique pianos, player pianos, organs and other instruments using traditional techniques in his final year before retirement. We also had some great discussions about classical music.
VOLUNTEER WORK
1997 Richmond and Oakland Unified School District, Richmond and Oakland, CA
1995 to 1996 Las Cruces Public Schools, Las Cruces, NM
1994-1997 Messilla Valley Diamond and Gold May, Las Cruces, NM
Jeweler. This job helped me to polish my skills in many facets of fine metalsmithing including stone setting, plating, polishing, soldering, wax carving and a lot about mass production techniques when quality is an issue.
1993-1994 Nichols Piano Service, Mesilla Park, NM
Piano Technician. An old master craftsman and piano tuner taught me to restore antique pianos, player pianos, organs and other instruments using traditional techniques in his final year before retirement. We also had some great discussions about classical music.
VOLUNTEER WORK
2004-2007 Unitarian Memorial Church
Property Commity. We were charged with the physical maintenance and restoration of the hundred year old neo-gothic building and grounds built by oil tycoon H. H. Rogers.
Property Commity. We were charged with the physical maintenance and restoration of the hundred year old neo-gothic building and grounds built by oil tycoon H. H. Rogers.
2000
Steamship Minnehaha, Minnesota Transportation Museum summer
Engineers Mate. I became fairly intimate with a turn of the century steam ferry that has been recently raised and restored from the depths of Lake Minnetonka. Firing up the boiler and operating the engine were my chief duties.
Engineers Mate. I became fairly intimate with a turn of the century steam ferry that has been recently raised and restored from the depths of Lake Minnetonka. Firing up the boiler and operating the engine were my chief duties.
1993-1995 The Mesilla Valley Film Society. Mesilla, NM
The only venue for underground and foreign films in the Las Cruces area. I ran the projector, lights and sound system.
The only venue for underground and foreign films in the Las Cruces area. I ran the projector, lights and sound system.
1990 The Countess of Huntingdon Center Bath, England
Another exchange student and I developed a catologueing system for a collection of architectural and stonemasonry tools of the Georgian era that would eventually become the Building Of Bath museum.
Another exchange student and I developed a catologueing system for a collection of architectural and stonemasonry tools of the Georgian era that would eventually become the Building Of Bath museum.
HOBBIES AND INTERESTS
Vintage bicycles. These are as much fun as old cars but fit better in the time and money constraints of a father of 3. I’ve had big Schwinn balloon tire bikes, fast modern bikes and even one that was a hundred years old but my favorite are Raleighs of the 50s and 60s.
Vintage automobile restoration. Over the years I have had the pleasure of owning, operating and rebuilding over thirty cars and have become skilled at most aspects of restoration.
That's me in my 1951 Buick "woody" station wagon
That's me in my 1951 Buick "woody" station wagon
Boating. I learned to sail at the age of 8. I’ve had everything from kayaks to a tugboat.
Pictured is the old tug, a 1929 Knease Brothers launch.
Pictured is the old tug, a 1929 Knease Brothers launch.
Theater. In the last couple of years I’ve fallen in with a local group called The Protem Players. I’ve been King Claudius in Shakespear’s Hamlet and God in A.C. Harwood’s Paradise, among others.