Handwerkskunst!

How to build a boat (2x2)

Air date: May 06, 2016

Heiko Kircher from Elchesheim-Illingen is one of the few remaining craftsmen who build handmade boats, preserving a tradition passed down from his great-grandfather. As a trained wood mechanic, he constructs high-quality yet simple boats, often used for fishing or leisure trips on the Old Rhine. Every step of the process is done manually, with a focus on precision and craftsmanship. Kircher selects only top-quality wood, using six large pine planks for the boat’s base, which are cut, planed, and bent using iron winches. Additional elements, like the boat’s ribs and headboard, are meticulously carved from oak. Working alone in his carpentry workshop, Kircher completes a boat in three days. Finally, he applies wood protection paint by hand, maintaining a century-old tradition, before launching the boat into the water, ready for its next adventure.