A Self-Taught Builder, A Self-Made Man
It Feels Good to Make Something Beautiful
When Moisey Baudoin set about building a boat as an heirloom for his grandson, he began with a picture in his mind. "The Good Lord gave me a vision," he explained. "I could see it. I knew what it looked like and how to do it."
...was the perfect aesthetic complement for Baudoin's runabout. Teak's overall stability, strength and resistance to decay and rot make it a wood of choice for boat building.
A Self-Taught Builder, A Self-Made Man
Now 83 years old, Baudoin left school after the 6th grade and worked as a sharecropper. He is a self-taught builder who developed the skills and acquired the tools to ply his trade as a carpenter over the years. "He is a really creative guy. He has a sense about how to build things," says Renard. "He can look at things and build them based on what he sees. He has built homes, furniture, carriages, and all sorts of amazing things. One of his specialties is making accordions. When he travels, he'll go to museums and see things and then build them from his memory."
The Vera Kate, named after Baudoin's great granddaughter, made its debut and was christened at the annual Delcambre Shrimp Festival blessing of the fleet ceremony in August 2014.
"It feels good to make something beautiful," said Baudoin. "I'm not sure I learned anything from the experience, but it made me very happy."
— Moisey Baudoin
Frequently asked questions
Why did Moisey Baudoin build the Vera Kate boat?+
Baudoin built the boat as an heirloom for his grandson. He named it the Vera Kate after his great granddaughter.
Why is teak a preferred wood for boat building?+
Teak's overall stability, strength, and resistance to decay and rot make it a wood of choice for boat building. It served as the perfect aesthetic complement for Baudoin's runabout.
Who is Moisey Baudoin and what is his background as a builder?+
Moisey Baudoin is an 83-year-old self-taught builder who left school after the 6th grade and worked as a sharecropper. Over the years, he developed the skills and acquired tools to work as a carpenter.
What kinds of things has Moisey Baudoin built?+
Baudoin has built homes, furniture, carriages, and accordions, among other things. He is known for being able to see objects, including items in museums, and recreate them from memory.
When and where did the Vera Kate make its debut?+
The Vera Kate made its debut and was christened at the annual Delcambre Shrimp Festival blessing of the fleet ceremony in August 2014.