I learned bronzecasting from the great Sam Johnson at WoodenBoat School in 2013. By the end of the week I’d melted and cast far more than my share of bronze. Within a week of returning home, I was casting bronze in my driveway. There are a lot of boat parts you just can’t buy—decent bow-eyes and stern-eyes; solid finish washers, good oarlocks and oar stand hardware. So we make them. A lot of work, but what’s time to a boatbuilder?