Greece's Traditional Wooden Boat Building Is a Shrinking Craft
2021-07-24
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1Traditional wooden boats, known as caique or kaiki, are an important part of Greek culture.
2They have been used for centuries to fish and to transport goods, animals, and people.
3They are seen everywhere in printed materials for visitors and holiday pictures.
4But the art of designing and building these wooden boats, completely by hand, is under threat.
5To build a "caique," one person has to do all the work from cutting down trees and moving the wood, to securing each piece in place.
6The tradition is passed on from father to son or from one family member to another.
7Now, fewer people are ordering wooden boats since boats made from materials like plastic and fiberglass are less costly to maintain.
8And young people are not as interested in joining a profession that requires years of learning with an uncertain future.
9Giorgos Kiassos is one of the last remaining boat builders on the Greek island Samos.
10It was once a major boat production center.
11Kiassos is currently building two boats, one for pleasure and the other for fishing.
12While working, he said, "If something doesn't change, there will come a time when there won't be anyone left doing this type of job..."
13"Unfortunately, I see the profession slowly dying," he added.
14The boats are being made to order.
15The bigger one costs $70,000 and the smaller one is around $35,000.
16Caiques from Samos island are famous for both the quality of the work and the material.
17The wood is taken from a kind of pine tree that is stronger and more resistant to insects.
18Years ago, there were many boat-building centers on the island.
19They employed many people and supported whole communities.
20Now, there are only about four left.
21Kiassos said caique building is an art but the work is tough and tiring.
22He said young people are not following the profession.
23He tried to get his 23-year-old son to learn, but his son hopes to become a boat captain instead.
24Kostas Damianidis is an architect with a doctorate, or Ph.D., in Greek traditional boatbuilding.
25He said there are many reasons for the fast decrease of traditional boatbuilders in Greece.
26He said, "It is a traditional craft which is slowly dying, and yet it's treated as if it were a simple manufacturing or supply business. There is no support from the state."
27On top of that, for years the European Union, of which Greece is a member, has supported destroying these boats as a way of reducing the country's fishing fleet.
28Damianidis questioned why a young person would want to learn the craft if the government is destroying the boats.
29Another major reason for the fast-shrinking number of shipbuilders is the lack of any official learning process.
30Damianidis said, "Young people have to go learn beside the old craftsmen, often for five years, six years, for them to be able to make a small boat, a kaiki, themselves."
31He added, "There is no boatbuilding school."
32Damiandis is setting up a new museum of Aegean Boatbuilding and Maritime Crafts on Samos.
33He hopes a traditional boatbuilding school, which would be Greece's first, will open in the museum.
34That could also help the boatbuilders on Samos who now work mainly alone due to a shortage of skilled assistants.
35"It's important to have someone experienced because if you make one mistake,... the boat might end up being - well, more of a basin than a boat," Kiassos said laughing.
36After working for more than 30 years, Kiassos has learned the right time to cut down a tree, when to use naturally curved wood, and where on the boat each piece should go.
37He explained if you get that wrong, the boat could end up with problems. Get it right, and his creation combines beauty, strength, and purpose.
38Kiassos says he is ready to finish each boat and start on the next.
39"But when it leaves, I'm somehow sad. Yes, I'll be happy when I see it in the water and I see everything is OK, but it's like something is leaving - like a piece of me."
40I'm Caty Weaver.
41And I'm Gregory Stachel.
1Traditional wooden boats, known as caique or kaiki, are an important part of Greek culture. 2They have been used for centuries to fish and to transport goods, animals, and people. They are seen everywhere in printed materials for visitors and holiday pictures. 3But the art of designing and building these wooden boats, completely by hand, is under threat. 4To build a "caique," one person has to do all the work from cutting down trees and moving the wood, to securing each piece in place. The tradition is passed on from father to son or from one family member to another. 5Now, fewer people are ordering wooden boats since boats made from materials like plastic and fiberglass are less costly to maintain. And young people are not as interested in joining a profession that requires years of learning with an uncertain future. 6Giorgos Kiassos is one of the last remaining boat builders on the Greek island Samos. It was once a major boat production center. 7Kiassos is currently building two boats, one for pleasure and the other for fishing. While working, he said, "If something doesn't change, there will come a time when there won't be anyone left doing this type of job..." 8"Unfortunately, I see the profession slowly dying," he added. 9The boats are being made to order. The bigger one costs $70,000 and the smaller one is around $35,000. 10Caiques from Samos island are famous for both the quality of the work and the material. The wood is taken from a kind of pine tree that is stronger and more resistant to insects. 11Years ago, there were many boat-building centers on the island. They employed many people and supported whole communities. Now, there are only about four left. 12Kiassos said caique building is an art but the work is tough and tiring. He said young people are not following the profession. He tried to get his 23-year-old son to learn, but his son hopes to become a boat captain instead. 13Why is the craft dying? 14Kostas Damianidis is an architect with a doctorate, or Ph.D., in Greek traditional boatbuilding. He said there are many reasons for the fast decrease of traditional boatbuilders in Greece. 15He said, "It is a traditional craft which is slowly dying, and yet it's treated as if it were a simple manufacturing or supply business. There is no support from the state." 16On top of that, for years the European Union, of which Greece is a member, has supported destroying these boats as a way of reducing the country's fishing fleet. Damianidis questioned why a young person would want to learn the craft if the government is destroying the boats. 17Another major reason for the fast-shrinking number of shipbuilders is the lack of any official learning process. 18Damianidis said, "Young people have to go learn beside the old craftsmen, often for five years, six years, for them to be able to make a small boat, a kaiki, themselves." He added, "There is no boatbuilding school." 19Help is on the way 20Damiandis is setting up a new museum of Aegean Boatbuilding and Maritime Crafts on Samos. He hopes a traditional boatbuilding school, which would be Greece's first, will open in the museum. 21That could also help the boatbuilders on Samos who now work mainly alone due to a shortage of skilled assistants. 22"It's important to have someone experienced because if you make one mistake,... the boat might end up being - well, more of a basin than a boat," Kiassos said laughing. 23After working for more than 30 years, Kiassos has learned the right time to cut down a tree, when to use naturally curved wood, and where on the boat each piece should go. 24He explained if you get that wrong, the boat could end up with problems. Get it right, and his creation combines beauty, strength, and purpose. 25Kiassos says he is ready to finish each boat and start on the next. 26"But when it leaves, I'm somehow sad. Yes, I'll be happy when I see it in the water and I see everything is OK, but it's like something is leaving - like a piece of me." 27I'm Caty Weaver. 28And I'm Gregory Stachel. 29Elena Becatoros reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. 30______________________________________________________________________ 31Words in This Story 32craft -n. an activity that involves making something in a skillful way by using your hands 33maintain -v. to keep (something) in good condition by making repairs, correcting problems, etc. 34captain -n. a person who is in charge of a ship or an airplane 35fleet -n. a group of ships or vehicles that move or work together or that are controlled or owned by one company 36museum -n. a building in which interesting and valuable things (such as paintings and sculptures or scientific or historical objects) are collected and shown to the public 37basin -n. a wide shallow usually round dish or bowl for holding liquids 38curved -adj. having a rounded shape