On October 1, 1988, Nancy Solomon interviewed John Remsen, Sr. as part of the Long Island Traditions oral history project. John is a skilled boat builder who has dedicated his life to constructing garveys. John's passion for boat building began when he observed other individuals constructing garveys, a type of boat commonly used in shallow waters. 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. 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 build 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 before 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.