A retired structural engineer, Mr. Hutchison, 50, builds the boats as a hobby but hopes to launch into a part-time career as a boat builder soon.

"I always build something," said Mr. Hutchison, who said he has helped to build four houses. "I was into restoring antique cars for a while and did a couple of those."

Mr. Hutchison has an associate degree in architecture and a bachelor's degree in structural engineering, both from Penn State University.

	Bob Donaldson, Post-Gazette Sailboat builder John Hutchison's attention to historical detail on his reproduction of an 1889 Herreshoff Coquina sailing and rowing dinghy includes hand-crafted and reproduction bronze fittings. He's also built a 1914 Herreshoff Haven 121/2-foot white cedar and mahogany sloop. Click photo for larger image.

He took up boat building when he met his wife, Mary Jo, who enjoyed sailing.

"I've been sailing since about 1996. We have friends who have a boat in Miami and have done some Caribbean trips and trips like that," he said. "I immediately fell in love with sailing."

When his company was downsizing a few years ago, Mr. Hutchison took an early retirement. He and his wife obtained property in the Outer Adirondacks in New York, and he started dealing in real estate there. A little more than four years ago, he decided to build a boat. Because he was interested in history, he wanted to create a reproduction.

"The wooden boat culture is very popular in the Outer Adirondacks," he said.

He became interested in the work of boat designer and builder Nathanael G. Herreshoff. "He is the Frank Lloyd Wright of boat building," he said.

Mr. Hutchison bought plans and built his first boat, a 1914 Herreshoff sailboat. "It is 12 1/2 feet at waterline but close to 16 feet overall," he said. The boat is made from northern white cedar from his property in New York and white oak and mahogany, which he bought. It was launched at Moraine State Park in June 2005.

Mr. Hutchison estimated it took him about 1,200 hours to finish his first boat and about $35,000 worth of material. "There is about $4,000 worth of bronze hardware alone on it," he said. The sails were made by a company in Maine that specializes in reproductions of sails.

The boat was built over a three-year period on evenings and weekends in Mr. Hutchison's wood shop and garage. In addition to Moraine, the Hutchisons have sailed it on Lake Champlain, Conneaut Lake and Lake Chautauqua.

Last month, Mr. Hutchison finished his second boat, which he started building in January.

"I had more time and I've gotten faster," he said. He estimates it took him 750 hours to build this boat, an 1889 Herreshoff Coquina.

It is worth $25,000 to $26,000, he said.

"It is made out of mahogany plywood and genuine mahogany. The decks are cedar and the seats are mahogany. It is like a fine piece of furniture," he said.

The Hutchisons sail whenever they get the opportunity.

"Sailing is such a thrill. We hook up the boat and will spend an afternoon on Moraine. We also love to entertain on the boats," he said. His first boat seats six; the newer boat seats four.

Just like he fell in love with sailing, Mr. Hutchison fell in love with boat making.

"I would love to make one for someone else. I want to start a small hobby business," he said. "You have to find the right people who want it. Just like the guy who wants to be at the dance with the prettiest girl, you need people who want the prettiest boat."

It might be surprising to see a boat parked under a tree in landlocked Saxonburg, but that's where John Hutchison stores the antique reproduction sailboat he made and sails. The other boat he built, also an antique reproduction, is stored in his garage.