"I think it's a generational problem," Price said.
"Traditionally, apprentices started at the age of 10 picking up nails ... now 20 or even 30 is a good age to learn, but people want to be building not picking up nails."
Gondolas.com
He is hoping other unconventional boat builders -- both Venetian and foreign -- will rediscover a future in gondolas, which can fetch prices of US$27,000 and more.
Ironically, they may also find that the biggest market is abroad.
The half dozen gondolas that Price himself made while working in other squeros have all been sold to US buyers from cities like San Diego, Province and Austin who use them just as the Venetians do -- to ferry tourists around.
A Boston firm, for example, offers fall foliage tours down the Charles River in a gondola, complete with an accordionist.
"It's hard to say what will happen to gondolas in the future," Tedeschi said. "But I hope Thom keeps working so one day we get a chance to test them for ourselves here in Venice."
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