Benjamin Loveless -- Wind in his sails.

Those who come to Maine for world class sailing, also come for world class boat builders. Benjamin Loveless came for both.

Although the seeds were there, his lust for boats came later in his life, than for some. But now, like so many souls who have salt in their blood, he loves anything, and everything to do with boats. And is very happy to be in Maine.

Lucky to have his first boat building job with a gifted boatsmith, he's keen to hone his skills and test his grit, on the long trek to mastery.

There is currently a resurgance of fine wooden boat building in Maine. Ben might be in just the right spot to catch a steady breeze.

Are you from here or away?
I am from away, born in England, grew up in South Carolina and have been in Maine since Spring of 2002, hoping to never have to leave.

Where do you live?
As of late, it has been Northport, Maine, renting seasonal cottages and condos.

What do you like most / least about living here?
The land is beautiful, the water even more so and I feel that everyone has something going on and move with purpose.

Where do you work?
Artisian Boat Works. I have worked there for a little over a year now.

What are your responsibilities?
Assisting in the construction, maintenance, care and finishing of our customers' boats.

What is it's history?
Alec Brainerd of Rockport, Maine, started the business about five or six years ago. While a new small business, Alec's taste in yachts and professional manner have brought Artisan Boatworks into a competitive and successful niche market, where I believe his successes will continue to grow.

Were you always interested in boats?
I spent time in my very young days in Dover, England with my grandparents who both worked on the ferries crossing the English channel. Inevitably, I would end up on them from time to time. I used to love watching the hovercrafts come in with my Grandad.

There was a little time in my early twenties working on a trawler and a longliner in the Bering Sea out of Dutch Harbor, Alaska as well as high speed catamarans than ran between Seattle and Victoria Island, British Columbia.

I had always wanted to learn how to sail and eventually sought a berth on the Maine Windjammer Cruises fleet owned by Captain Ray Williamson. I had four great years with them.........a time that will never be forgotten. No one ever told me in high school that I could be a sailor, captain, or boatbuilder, which I believe to be a shame. My interest was always there, even in the wonderful blur of adolescence.

Do you have one?
I do! Her name is Mary Ellen and she is a Concordia 31. There are only ten hulls of this design in the world and she is the third, built by Bud McIntosh in 1961. Currently, she sits in winter storage awaiting some maintenance.

What other experiences have you had in the field?
I would say I'm not particularly amazing at any one thing concerning the marine industry, but I think I fit in with the majority in that we tend to, by experience, become well rounded in all aspects.

I have been a deckhand on a traditional coasting schooner where you first make sure everyone is safe by having a maintenance schedule of some sort, not working beyond your own physical limits, and just always being aware of your guests.

Then there is the customer service side of the cruise. Sharing limited space with 30 strangers for a week, and making sure it is a time they will never forget can be both easy and difficult given all the variables thrown at you while sailing on the bay. The more you work on or around boats, the more you realize what an amazing field it is to be a part of.

What did you do before?
Oh the list is long from being a gas station clerk, to a bank teller, and working the grease line in a rendering plant. In my early twenties I went through many adventures in employment through day labor outfits. I've dug irrigation ditches, roasted and packed coffee, and helped an old lady with twenty uncaged birds move three floors up.

What trends do you see happening?
I honestly only know of one trend in my little world and that is I have a wonderful job, where I take care of boats for people who love them. It's my belief that wooden boatbuilding is here to stay.

How did the shop start?
My boss has two of us working for him now, and all of us have been to boatbuilding school. He just made it happen.

It sounds like fun, is it?
Work is fun! I believe that being a part of this small operation has brought out the best in us across the board.

What are the part of your jobs that you like most / least?
The worst is grinding bottom paint............ugh. The best is when you are done grinding bottom paint.

Are there more boatbuilders around these days?
I hope so.

Any interesting customer or client stories?
It's interesting how much money they have.

Are most of your clients from away?
I don't know our clients that well, which is probably good, because that is one less thing I have to worry about. It's enough for me to make something as beautiful as possible for a stranger.

How has the internet / technology affected your business? Your life?
I couldn't tell what the internet has done for business as my boss handles that aspect. It would be my assumption that as a marketing tool, it has been beneficial.

What was the hardest decision you had to make?
I try to avoid hard decisions.

What was the best decision you made?
I think that going to The Landing School was a great decision. It was some of the most fun I've ever had.

What would you have done differently?
Absolutely nothing.

What do you love the most about what you do?
I love learning how to do things faster and better. You feel accomplished when you do something the second time faster and better than the first. I love that.

What changes have you seen in Maine? Good? Bad?
Rockland is humming with growth, which I think is good. In the six years I've been here the fact that not too much has changed is absolutely fine with me. I suppose nothing has changed too drastically that it moves me.

Why haven't you left to seek your fortune?
Fortune to me is something you build with hard work and time. I need more time and will have to work much longer. Having said that though, I couldn't imagine things being much better right now. So, I guess to answer your question........I don't have to leave.

Any other outside interests?
I would love to go surfing, but all I do now is think about it. I love video games and movies. Relaxing is nice.

Who are your mentors?
My boss and my co-worker are very important to how I evolve in my trade whether they like it or not.

Who are your heroes?
I think anyone who dreams big and works steady is my hero.

Do you like lobster?
Absolutely. Fire, water, eat.

What is your favorite restaurant? Hangout?
I love The Taste of India in downtown Bangor.They are so nice and the food is fantastic. Darby's is my staple for a good dinner in Belfast as well as Rollies for beers and a great burger.

What do you do in the 'off' season? Or do you have one?
The "off" season for work is hopefully building or restoring boats until spring when we start splashing and delivering clients' boats. I also hope to do lots of projects after hours for my own boat.

What is your favorite season? Why?
I like them all because I can't take one any longer.

Where do you vacation?
Lately, right here in Maine. In the past, Rebecca and I have been to Europe and St. Kitts. Sometimes, we take mini trips to Canada.

What's your favorite Maine spot / drive / hike / harbor / view?
I love the Hen Islands on the southeast of Vinalhaven. It's, in my view, an iconic Maine spot.

Favorite sport?
Sports don't really get me too excited. I watch football with my buddy and it's a great time, but mostly because he's there.

Any good 'Maine' stories?
I was working on a boat with a bunch of passengers. Dinner was being cooked on deck (bbq). We were anchored off an island right off the coast. Gunfire ensued! Not directly at us, but close enough that you could hear bullets wizzing through the air overhead. It was unerving to say the least. Our captain confronted the gentlemen who were apparently firing at beer cans floating through a tidal inlet. Our boat happening to be right there. All sorts of guns were fired and it eventually stopped. Later, meaning two in the morning, a boat with a couple people in it circled our boat yelling and that was nice. No one was hurt and who can say what the motive for any of it was. Maybe the motive was to give some people something to remember, or maybe it was just that there were too many empty beer cans.

Any good Bayside stories?
Not yet............