Any craftsman would likely say that a labor of love is worth an investment of a great deal of time.

For Dr. Donald Hoffman his labor of love was well worth his time.

After more than 20 years of work, Hoffman finished building his own boat, a 20 foot on deck canoe yawl.

Hoffman launched his boat last week from the Owasco Yacht Club.

After all this time, Hoffman admits that there was a mixture of emotions seeing the project completed.

“It is a little like empty nest syndrome,” Hoffman said. “I'm not really sure what to do now that it is done. But it is a really nice feeling to see this boat finished, I'm very happy.”

Hoffman, a native of New Jersey, settled in Auburn more than 40 years ago after completing school at LeMoyne and a term of service in the Navy as a squad medical officer.

And, at least in part, he was attracted to the area because of the water.

“I always had a thing for the water,” Hoffman said. “Growing up in New Jersey was nothing like it is here. And being in the Navy was a different kind of experience, there was no sailing there, but I have always loved the water.”

After establishing his pediatric practice in Auburn in 1967, Hoffman had the opportunity to indulge his love of the water.

By 1970 he took that interest and his love of sailing to another level, building his first boat, a 15 foot Dory, which his son now owns.

“That was in the late '70s,” Hoffman said. “I just wanted to build it. I've been with the Owasco Yacht Club and I loved sailing, so I just wanted to build one of my own.”

After building his first boat and seeing it be a success, Hoffman was bitten by the bug and wanted to build another.

Hoffman got the plans for the boat and the materials and was ready to get his new project under way.

He began the project in 1983, but like many creative people he hit a wall.

“You've heard of the muse,” Hoffman said. “Well my muse left me. I started the bottom of the boat and then it just sat in the garage for a number of years.”

After sitting unfinished for many years, Hoffman was encouraged by several friends, including woodworker, Jim Lent, to pick up the pieces of the project and get it finished.

Hoffman with the help of several of his friends spent the past few years working for three hours two to three times a week to complete the boat.

Before the launch, Hoffman had the boat blessed by his priest, which led to a spur of the moment naming.

“If anything needs a blessing it is this boat,” Hoffman said. “If you are going to baptize something it has to have a name, so we called it the Driftwood. But I think we will have to come up with a better name.”

After more than 40 years of medical practice, Hoffman has been scaling down his duties, but has not completely retired.

He said that he will continue to work as a school physician.

But this will allow him more time to get out on the water.

Hoffman has no grand plans to go sail around the world, but he is more than happy to spend time on Owasco Lake.

“This boat is really only made for lakes,” Hoffman said. “My son is coming down to go sailing with me. I think you should have at least two people to sail this boat. But we'll definitely be spending some time out sailing.”