Conversations with Himself

© Merritt Boat Works Staff

Glen Carlin with a 70 footer.

After 35 years of racing, designing and building some of the fastest and most famous vessels on the water, Glen Carlin has nothing to prove. "I've built perfect boats and I've won so many trophies I don't even know where they all are," explains Carlin. More important than the "pinnacle of perfection" or the international fame, however, is the "conversation."

"Don't lose the conversation with yourself on how to live and what's artistic," Carlin says. A true innovator and an inspirational craftsman, Carlin utilizes his technical design skills to express his creative soul.

It's in His Blood

As the son of a professional inventor and innovator, Carlin learned at an early age the value of making stuff. "It's in my blood, I grew up around it," he explains. The young inventor learned to question the status quo and to improve design. Whether focused on an 81' racing yacht, a custom wheelchair seat or a recycled glass countertop, Carlin strives for perfection and embraces his inherited fanaticism.

Carlin's appreciation for physical beauty and function is matched only by a spiritual admiration for water and sailing. Growing up on Biscayne Bay in Miami, Carlin began his sailboat racing career at 6 years old - a career that lasted through college and beyond. "Building boats was a natural extension of racing," says, explaining the rationalle for his calling.

Carlin remembers the first boat he ever built. "It was a 12' 'Mini Max'. My brother ordered the plans out of Popular Mechanics and we built it out of two sheets of plywood. As a kid, it was heaven."

From Passion to Profit

The Carlin brothers pursued their family gift of design and founded Kiwi Boats, based in Plant City, FL. Over the next ten years, the brothers completed over 60 boats and helped redefine race boats with cutting edge materials and construction techniques. Some of their boats won the Southern Ocean Racing Circuit and the famed Admiral's Cup off the southern coast of England. Searching for new challenges, Glen joined the Merritt Yacht team in Pompano Beach, FL. For the next sixteen years, he used mahogany and okume plywood to construct sportfish yachts, none of which were under 60'.

Many professional adults spend their careers reaching and working toward a goal, a sense of accomplishment. We long for a moment, event or product that defines years of dedication and legitimizes our efforts. Many of us strive for a representation of our best work, a legacy. Many of us fail. Mr. Carlin created such satisfaction with what he calls his "pinnacle of perfection".

Carlin uses this standard of perfection with every boat he makes. He remembers one boat in particular, one ordered by Don Tyson, of Tyson's Chicken. It was a 75' sport fishing boat, eventually christened "Tyson's Pride". "Everything on the boat went well" Glen remembers. "Lines came together perfectly. It was the perfect boat."

Applying His Craft to Smaller Vessles

For Glen Carlin, simply focusing on big boats was not enough anymore. As he continued the "conversation with himself," he recently discovered the growing sport of stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) and redirected his perfectionist attention.

"This is where it's at," he exclaims with boyish excitement. "SUP is a great entry for people to get out on the water, it's more personal than big boats and it's gender friendly." As his father may have, Glen dove head first into his newest obsession. Within days, he read every website and article he could find on the popular niche subject, brainstormed design ideas and drew the first prototype. Soon after, Carlin began construction on his first 12'6" racing SUP.

"I find as much joy designing and building the SUP as I do a 60' boat," explains Carlin. "Actually, the board is even harder because it's smaller and all the lines develop faster. On a 60' boat, there's a lot of space for shape change. On the board, there's a double compound bottom, rocker and a cambered deck all coming together within 12 feet. It needs to be right to be both beautiful and functional."

Glen has what Italian boat builders call, "form eye." He envisions a desired shape or a line, and creates it. His "eye" knows what is right and beautiful and his hands make it happen. Glen finds peace and serenity, fulfillment and passion while he builds with his hands and listens to his heart. This is his conversation.