Didn't know Bob - wish I had.
Spent a few hours yesterday going through his website. I recommend it highly for a) an insight into Bob, b) an insight into the construction of a large steel sailboat, and c) an insight into art. Set aside a few hours and go through it - link below.
First reaction was 'Hey - this isn't your normal homebuilt steel sailboat. Home built steel boats have hard chines (maybe two) and a flat (maybe curved) transom.' Restless has a round chine and a round transom. But he was apparently trained in metal sculpture (it shows) and this is what he wanted to do - perhaps as a challenge to his abilities. I was impressed with his forethought to use stainless at tapping locations, wear locations, etc. I wonder who advised him to do these things - the designer? Beautiful job on the metal!
On to the wood. Bob says he had no woodworking experience. Perhaps he only knew that it grew on trees, it had grain, and you couldn't weld it. But he jumps into the job deciding to put radiuses on both the outside and inside corners. In my experience, unheard of! Again, he must just have loved the challenge. Plus, he faults his own abilities when he can't get the grain to match in a 3-directional transition piece. And the transitions in the cap rail - did he make that joint up himself or see it somewhere? Unbelievable.
The boat and Bob's story belong in a museum.
And while not working on the boat, he apparently did a pretty fair job with a career and raising a family.
Wow!