Tony Dixon on Boatbuilding

Lisa: In your career, did the type of drawing that you did change in any way at all?

Well, yeah, ‘cos the CAD machines came in and computers and I was a bit old hat then and I couldn’t really get to grips with them.

So, I just used to hire myself out to the people who needed a Draughtsman, rather than someone who could work the CAD.

So, luckily I lasted out till I retired.

Lisa: And did technology change in terms of the building of the boats themselves in your career?

Yeah, I should think the biggest change was when the GRP boats came in, the plastic boats if you like. The construction would be totally different. It would all be done off outside and then literally plastered back into the boats. Your detailing work was a bit different then.