Murder at the Docks.

• Author: Rimensnyder, Sara
• Position: Washington law would require small boat builders to acquire license - Brief Article

Ships and the open sea have inspired any number of memorable icons and motifs: the grizzled sea captain, the enterprising stowaway, the stormy below-deck love affair, among others. But consider a less-recognized character: the maverick yacht builder, who shirks classrooms and takes his skill straight to the water.

Phil Bolger has been designing and building small vessels for 50 years, in the Massachusetts port town of Gloucester. He doesn't have a license or a degree, just a reputation for seaworthy boats of ingenious design. But a movement toward specialized licensing exams could limit his access to an industry that's traditionally been open to anyone with the talent and dedication to learn through informal, though exacting, means.

The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) began working to develop a national test for nautical engineering licensure almost a decade ago. They've now persuaded 40 states to offer it, though so far only Washington state requires it. Most of the stated motives for creating the exam involved practical concerns: SNAME reps say that, among other things, a nationwide test eliminates the problem of patchwork state rules and helps speed up the Coast Guard's design review process. The Coast Guard must approve the plans of...