Model boat builder seeks apprentice
We first met Alvaro Vernon when he carved a replica of the Fantome, that ill fated ship lost at sea at the height of Hurricane Mitch. Today, as News 5’s Patrick Jones discovered, his creative powers remain no less formidable.
Alvaro Vernon, Model Boat Builder
“I just don’t like to stand around and say well you know exercise my brains and see what could come out of it.”
Alvaro Vernon is not one to stand idly by and although he is on vacation from his regular job he is hard at work turning scrap wood into works of art worthy of the best tables in Belize.
Alvaro Vernon, Model Boat Builder
“Well growing up as a young boy I used to sail out at Glovers Reef when I was six year old with my brother in law and I get to understand and see how boats operate. And you know that was always a big thing in my life. I always like the sea and I always like the boats.”
That love for the sea and watercrafts drives Vernon to spend most of his spare time building miniature replicas. But as he is getting on in years Vernon says it is time to pass the knowledge on to younger, more energetic minds and hands.
Alvaro Vernon
“I look at it as something that you would have to say, you love the challenge, and you look at it as something that other people could learn something from, youngsters and one day I would like to leave it as my time will one day end with it, but then some other youngster could maybe pick up from me and then just carry on the work.”
There is no one currently understudying Vernon and it’s not certain who will carry on his work. That prospect however has not slowed him down as he’s about to put three more of his art pieces into the hands of Belizean collectors.
Alvaro Vernon
“These are mostly for people who want a gift for someone. For instance someone would have a Christmas gift to pass on, because several of these boats I’ve made already and have passed on to families that bought them as Christmas gifts for their son and grandsons.”
It’s a painstakingly slow process to fashion one of these model boats but Vernon says the rewards compensate for the time spent. One of these pieces can fetch upwards of four hundred dollars. Patrick Jones for News Five.
Vernon says it can take anywhere from two to two and a half weeks to complete one his model boats. The three featured in tonight’s story already have owners and should be ready for delivery in the next week.
Vernon says it takes around two weeks to complete one of his model boats. The three featured in tonight’s story already have owners and should be ready for delivery next week.
