Wirot Klinsrisuk takes off his protective mask to reveal an expression of contentment as he gets up from adding the finishing touches to a bright-yellow kayak.

He proudly pats the kayak, which took him a few days to build. Making and fixing boats and jet-skis is what keeps Wirot and his small team in regular employment, but as an artist his real passion lies in creating art out of fibreglass. Wirot's fibreglass creations may take a little longer than those coming out of fibreglass factories that use large ovens and high-tech machinery, but that's because his painstaking work is all done by hand. For despite the lack of modern machines at his roadside workshop, Wirot can make almost anything out of fibreglass.

He is certified as a fibreglass boat-builder with Concorde Yachts, a pioneer of closed mould technology to build luxury fibreglass yachts.

He credits his experience with Condorde as key to his ability to get creative.

"Learning a trade with fibre-glass is not a common subject in Thailand's colleges. In fact, my first experience working with fibreglass was as an art student. I've only ever found half a sentence relating to the subject in any Thai college book," he said.

Weathering tough times

Wirot has been through some rough times and had to return to his home in Chaiyaphum after a business in Bangkok got into difficulties.

He was forced to take work as a mobile ice-cream vendor before coming to Phuket to start his fibreglass business.

"I think my timing in coming to Phuket was just right because it is only in the last few years that local people have started to accept fibreglass as an alternative to wood for building boats.

"This change in attitude has come as people see that foreigners are impressed with fibreglass boats and trust their designs more."

Wirot and his family found a patch of land in Thalang where they were able to set up a home and workshop.

A year and a half later, Wirot is better known as a skilled artist who can create just about anything out of fibreglass, and his customers say he offers a very fair price.

"My customers are happy that they've found a place where they can get their jet-skis and boats repaired or have a boat made to their own specifications without it costing the earth."

By Nick Davies

Phuket Gazette