If you were to draw all of Jim Schroer’s travels on an atlas of the world, it would look as if an untended toddler had scribbled all over it with great scrawls across two oceans and a tangle of squiggles all over the eastern half of the U.S. But the intricate lines are the tracings of a waterman’s life, shaped by water winding across a continent and wind wandering over oceans.Jim had never intended to share his stories beyond his family and friends. The notion of publishing anything soured after his first ocean crossing: “After my girlfriend and I sailed a 19 1⁄2′ boat to Hawaii, she talked to a person who was writing an article while I was out trying to earn some money so we could fly back to the mainland. It must’ve been a year later when we were cruising in the Florida Keys and crossed paths with somebody who had read the article. He showed us the magazine it was in and asked, ‘Is this you?’ We said it was. The title of the article was ‘From Yachts to Buckets They Come to Hawaii.’ Of course, the bucket was our boat, which I did not appreciate much. So, I figured people who write articles are more concerned with themselves than the people they’re writing about. And I don’t think that about you, and it’s because I’m comfortable with what you do that I’m doing this. This is very different for me because I’ve never gone for recognition or fame or whatever you might call it. But I’ve been reading your articles and what you’ve done and that convinced me that I could do this.”Jim passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in December of 2022. His wife Sher and his daughter Zoey were eager to have me publish his story in Small Boats and provided invaluable assistance with finishing this project. In 2022, I recorded two long phone conversations I had with Jim. The last call ended with him laughing and saying, “Okay, this might be the longest I’ve ever been on the phone.” Below, in his words, is what he had to say.
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Thanks for sharing………what an incredible story.
Interesting man, interesting life. I love this boat. This is exactly the type I would like to have to go around my local rivers and streams, with the option to use to make it to the Land Between he Lakes. I would love to get some general measurements.
Hi Curt,
There are some different details on the classified ad listing.
https://smallboatsmonthly.com/acadp_listings/15-wooden-jon-boat-with-cabin/
What other information would you like to know?
Best,
Zoey
Check out the Jim Michalak design Campjon or Hapscut.
Thank you and Jim Schroer’s family for a wonderful story. It was waiting for me to read after a day spent painting the boat (we built) with my 22-year old grandson. Salt water and boats have been central to most of my 77 years.
Jim held the record for a time as the fastest time from St.Louis,MO. to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, on the Mississippi River via a single-handed canoe. And the year he sailed from California to Hawaii he was the smallest sail boat to do so.
Bill Schroer,
Jim’s brother
Thanks for a great story!
Wonderful story, this one will be read more than one time. I’ve long been fascinated by the idea of a large jonboat with a cabin, like Jim Michalak’s Campjon. 20′ might be more to my liking. Wonder if I could manage the Great Loop by watching my weather and sea-states when crossing the big waters? (Yes, I know it sounds crazy.)
So the camper jonboat sure is intriguing. Reminds me of Gartside’s recently published 16′ shanty. I find myself looking at larger craft so I can bring along friends and family, but realistically I most often find myself solo. And I am fine with that. And if I am overnighting it is even more likely that a craft such as this is perfect. Thank you for the article. I appreciate seeing others thinking along similar lines.
What an inspiring story! Thank you for sharing it with us.
Thank you (and Sher and Zoey) for this wonderful story. Much like Anke and Dave of “Mustelid”, it is the story of a chosen life; and a life well lived.
And the outboard fire pit may have to become a feature of my skiff build.
Thank you for that lovely comparison. 🙂
You have had a very interesting life. Love the john boat, an adventure in itself!
I’m only now stumbling across this article as I had somehow messed up my subscription. I’m really happy that Bill’s life and boats were finally written about. I met Bill in September of 2022 when I bought a Rangeley guide boat from him. I had driven down from New Hampshire, and he graciously showed me around his shop, which was filled with exquisite canoes, all well cared for. For me though, the highlight of the tour was the JAYCEE BODIE. Once Bill and I got talking about camping on the water, he realized that he had inquired a few years earlier about buying my 21′ Hudson Bay freighter canoe, which I had rigged with a sleeping cabin. We more or less had the same ideas about camping on the water, so I was thrilled to see what he had come up with using a jon boat hull. I won’t forget that sliding stool in the cabin, which made moving about a cabin with little headroom quite efficient. You could see results of years of experienced, trial-and-error tinkering all over that boat.
Sher and Zoey, my heartfelt condolences to you. I suspect that your lives were made all the more interesting and exciting with Bill steering from the stern. Thank you for sharing your story.
Tim Jennings
Enfield, NH
Did Jim make plans for this boat? I’d love to build a scaled-down version myself but don’t know where to start. I would have loved to met Jim. Sorry for your loss, may his memory be a blessing!
Jim did not make plans for the boat and its cabin. They evolved as he built them.