Bill Hable began constructing a boat when he was 47 years old. Now 84 years old, the Bloomer, Wisconsin native and mechanical engineer of yesteryear is busy as ever.

The exquisite 41-foot wooden schooner is stored in a spacious boathouse Hable built at his home. He devotes

three days a week, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, to working alone in the shed on the massive, decades-long undertaking.

When can we anticipate completion?

Don’t inquire, Hable advised The Epoch Times. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to finish it.

After a short conversation with the expert artisan, it became clear that the voyage itself was more exciting than the final objective.

‘The purpose of it was to get physical exercise,’ he stated.

Hable worked as a desk-jonning engineer in the fall of 1984. After working his way through college assisting

with the construction and repair of boats, he eventually acquired 70 acres of land and began to enjoy cutting firewood.

He remembered, ‘I had always wanted to build a boat, but I never got around to it.’ ‘Because I wasn’t exercising enough, I thought it would be a good idea to build the boat I’ve always wanted to.’

Hable made the decision that the boat should be reasonably sized because he intended to retire debt-free. So he went into his woods on January 4, 1985, and chopped down the first trees for his schooner.

Then, he added, ‘I cut more trees, and about 75 to 80 percent of the lumber was milled.” “I wanted to

retire at 62, so it was supposed to be 15 years.’ Even though I’m 84 years old, I haven’t retired yet.

The boat has taken a great deal of time and money, and when it eventually enters the water, it is

expected to weigh about 24,000 pounds and have beds for seven people. Hable shrugs when asked how much he’s spent on it.

‘I didn’t record time, money, or any other information. I’ll explain why: I didn’t want to, but it’s been worthwhile. He remarked, ‘I didn’t care.’

‘I would estimate that I have spent between $70,000 and $80,000. Hardware and epoxy glue cost a lot of money. And I spent a lot of money on a diesel engine.

Over the years, Hable and his boat have drawn a lot of attention.

‘We’re in Bloomer, right next to a bar and restaurant. I always have people come over and talk to me,’ he remarked. ‘People literally from all over the world come visit me.’

Occasionally, various groups schedule visits, and Hable gives them a tour.

‘I spent nine years as an instructor at the University of Wisconsin in Eau Claire. Thus, I appreciate teaching, and I like doing it,’ the engineer said.

Hable gives credit to his schooling, stating that he learned woodworking and various other skills he uses today

from ‘a very, very good industrial arts teacher in high school.’ He also takes a lot of time to simply solve problems.

He said to the newspaper, ‘You just think about how you’re going to do things about a third of your time.’

The transit frame was the hardest component to assemble. Hable claims he received inconsistent recommendations from the stack of books that were provided to him.

‘I didn’t enjoy any of the responses. For two weeks, I just sat and contemplated. And when I got it built at last, it turned out flawlessly,’ he said.

While attending college, Hable met his wife, who is gifted in floral design artwork and was born in upstate New York. However, it’s obvious that he prefers to work alone on his yacht project.

It was just me around 95% of the time. However, during the summer, for three months,’ he remarked.

‘My brother and my cousin would come and help strip-plank the boat over the course of three summers. Winter is not the right season to utilize epoxy due of the extreme cold.

Hable claims that his ultimate goal is to move the completed product to a nearby island where he owns a 49-foot sailboat, right in the center of the yacht club.

If I ever get around to it, I want to launch it there. Simply put, the process is taking longer than anticipated and slowing down slightly,’ he said.

What lessons can this contemporary Noah provide from his 37 years of building the stunning boat?

He stated, ‘I believe that exercising should be seen as a beneficial activity.’ There is nothing to show for walking or jogging if all you end up with are worn-out sneakers.

Hable stated, ‘You have to be able to consider whether doing something worthwhile would be wonderful.’

‘I tried lifting weights, walking, and running, and I detested it. I adore boats, therefore that’s why I made the decision to build one.

‘I still love doing it,’ he continued. I get a little bored sometimes. However, after doing that tiny task, you give yourself a pat on the back and head inside to have a beer.