The First One
by Lars · 18 June 2026 · Cooking, Food & Lifestyle
Lars's first boat had a transom two centimetres out of square. He tells the buyer anyway. The buyer's kids have a great time in it. Perfection in the second boat felt different — it closes a door that imperfection keeps open.
The first boat I built had a transom that was two centimetres out of square. I didn't catch it until the boat was already planked and by then there was no good way to fix it. I finished the build anyway and launched it in the spring and it sailed fine — boats are more forgiving than people sometimes think — but I always knew the transom was wrong.
I sold it to a man in Ålesund who wanted a small daysailer for his kids. He didn't ask about the transom and I told him anyway. He said he didn't mind. I saw a photo of his kids in it the following summer on some forum and they were having a very good time in my imperfect boat, which I thought was about right.
I still think about that transom sometimes when I'm starting a new build. The second boat was perfect. That felt different — not better exactly, just different. Perfection in a boat is a strange thing. It closes a door that imperfection keeps open.
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