John Remsen, Sr. is a skilled boat builder who has dedicated his life to constructing garveys and other types of boats. During his lifetime, John has built approximately 100 garveys at an average rate of 5 per year. Throughout his career, John Remsen Sr. built boats for various individuals, including fishers such as Fred and Dott Verity, Elwood Verity, Jacki, the Millers, and clammers like Billy in Oceanside, among others. Although John no longer builds cedar boats and has retired from hunting, he continues to contribute to the bay community by feeding the birds and occasionally clamming and working part-time on the bay.

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In an interview conducted by Nancy Solomon in October 1988, John shared his journey of learning the craft and the experiences he gained throughout the years. John's passion for boat building began when he observed other individuals constructing garveys, a type of boat commonly used in shallow waters. While his grandfather provided him with advice, he did not directly teach John the skills. In the early days, John primarily used cedar wood for his boats. He would visit mills in New Jersey, particularly New Gretna, to purchase oak. The boats were initially constructed entirely from wood, but the practice has shifted over time, with the introduction of fiberglassed boats. Additionally, John states that his son has acquired the skills to build boats as well, demonstrating the generational continuity of their craft. Aside from garveys, John also built other types of boats, including gil net boats, which were designed by Brewer in Deer Isle, Maine. John mainly focused on constructing outboard boats but did mention building a sailboat on one occasion. John's boat designs have a distinct style, featuring higher bows compared to others. The sterns have a standard cutout, and the interiors of the boats were customized based on the customers' specific usage requirements, such as for clamming or eeling. He developed a good understanding with customers prior to starting construction and was selective in choosing his clientele. Although there were occasional mistakes, such as using stainless steel bolts to secure the ribs or experimenting with different notching techniques, John's expertise allowed him to overcome these challenges and improve his craft. To streamline the boat-building process, John implemented the use of patterns, which he kept in his shed. These patterns, ranging from 20 to 30 years old, varied depending on the boat's length and desired bow and side heights.