Traditional wooden boats, known as caique or kaiki, are an important part of Greek culture. They have been used for centuries to fish and to transport goods, animals, and people. They are seen everywhere in printed materials for visitors and holiday pictures. But the art of designing and building these wooden boats, completely by hand, is under threat. To build a “caique,” one person has to do all the work from cutting down trees and moving the wood, to securing each piece in place. The tradition is passed on from father to son or from one family member to another. Now, fewer people are ordering wooden boats since boats made from materials like plastic and fiberglass are less costly to maintain. And young people are not as interested in joining a profession that requires years of learning with an uncertain future. Giorgos Kiassos is one of the last remaining boat builders on the Greek island Samos. It was once a major boat production center. Kiassos is currently building two boats, one for pleasure and the other for fishing. While working, he said, “If something doesn’t change, there will come a time when there won’t be anyone left doing this type of job...” “Unfortunately, I see the profession slowly dying,” he added. The boats are being made to order. The bigger one costs $70,000 and the smaller one is around $35,000. Caiques from Samos island are famous for both the quality of the work and the material. The wood is taken from a kind of pine tree that is stronger and more resistant to insects. Years ago, there were many boat-building centers on the island. They employed many people and supported whole communities. Now, there are only about four left. Kiassos said caique building is an art but the work is tough and tiring. He said young people are not following the profession. He tried to get his 23-year-old son to learn, but his son hopes to become a boat captain instead.
Title: Greece's Traditional Wooden Boat Building Is a Shrinking Craft
Content: <div id='article-page'><div id='article-content' data-media-url='//news-app-staging.s3.amazonaws.com' data-base-url='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5225/C.wav' data-capture-url='//staging.analytics.lingraphica.com/events/capture_news' data-article-title='Greece's Traditional Wooden Boat Building Is a Shrinking Craft' data-article-id='5809'><script src='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/javascripts/getscripts.js'></script><link rel='stylesheet' href='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/stylesheets/article.css' type='text/css' /><div class='article'><p><span data-start-time='0' data-end-time='10500'>Traditional wooden boats, known as caique or kaiki, are an important part of Greek culture.</span> <span data-start-time='10500' data-end-time='19667'>They have been used for centuries to fish and to transport goods, animals, and people. </span> <span data-start-time='19667' data-end-time='26896'>They are seen everywhere in printed materials for visitors and holiday pictures.</span> <span data-start-time='26896' data-end-time='35771'>But the art of designing and building these wooden boats, completely by hand, is under threat.</span> <span data-start-time='35771' data-end-time='48667'>To build a “caique,” one person has to do all the work from cutting down trees and moving the wood, to securing each piece in place. </span> <span data-start-time='48667' data-end-time='56417'>The tradition is passed on from father to son or from one family member to another.</span> <span data-start-time='56417' data-end-time='68938'>Now, fewer people are ordering wooden boats since boats made from materials like plastic and fiberglass are less costly to maintain. </span> <span data-start-time='68938' data-end-time='78979'>And young people are not as interested in joining a profession that requires years of learning with an uncertain future.</span> <span data-start-time='78979' data-end-time='87125'>Giorgos Kiassos is one of the last remaining boat builders on the Greek island Samos. </span> <span data-start-time='87125' data-end-time='92042'>It was once a major boat production center.</span> <span data-start-time='92042' data-end-time='100167'>Kiassos is currently building two boats, one for pleasure and the other for fishing. </span> <span data-start-time='100167' data-end-time='110896'>While working, he said, “If something doesn’t change, there will come a time when there won’t be anyone left doing this type of job...”</span> <span data-start-time='110896' data-end-time='117021'>“Unfortunately, I see the profession slowly dying,” he added.</span> <span data-start-time='117021' data-end-time='120813'>The boats are being made to order. </span> <span data-start-time='120813' data-end-time='129542'>The bigger one costs $70,000 and the smaller one is around $35,000.</span> <span data-start-time='129542' data-end-time='138854'>Caiques from Samos island are famous for both the quality of the work and the material. </span> <span data-start-time='138854' data-end-time='147271'>The wood is taken from a kind of pine tree that is stronger and more resistant to insects.</span> <span data-start-time='147271' data-end-time='152938'>Years ago, there were many boat-building centers on the island. </span> <span data-start-time='152938' data-end-time='158083'>They employed many people and supported whole communities. </span> <span data-start-time='158083' data-end-time='162188'>Now, there are only about four left.</span> <span data-start-time='162188' data-end-time='170083'>Kiassos said caique building is an art but the work is tough and tiring. </span> <span data-start-time='170083' data-end-time='174854'>He said young people are not following the profession. </span> <span data-start-time='174854' data-end-time='184313'>He tried to get his 23-year-old son to learn, but his son hopes to become a boat captain instead.</span> </p></div><div class='control-buttons-sticky' style='display:none;'><div class='control-buttons'><button title='Back' class='back' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Play' class='play' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Pause' class='pause' style='display:none;'></button><button title='Forward' class='forward' disabled='disabled'></button><button class='finished-reading' style='display:none;'>Done</button></div></div></div><div id='article-media'><div id='media-image'><img src='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5225/C.jpeg'/></div></div><div id='question-content' style='display:none;'><div class='sentence_completion_question question-container' data-question-id=17863 data-hint-location='48667' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5225/the_tradition_is_passed_on_from_father_to_son_or_from_one__blank__member_to_another.wav'>The tradition is passed on from father to son or from one <span class='blank'>family</span> member to another.</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='family'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5225/band.wav'><span>band</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5225/family.wav'><span>family</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5225/movie.wav'><span>movie</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5225/giraffe.wav'><span>giraffe</span></div></div></div><div class='vocabulary_question question-container' data-question-id=17864 data-hint-location='56417' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5225/what_does_it_mean_to_maintain.wav'>What does it mean to maintain?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='keep in good condition or in working order by checking or repairing it regularly'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5225/send_by_some_other_means_of_transport_or_by_mail.wav'><span>send by some other means of transport or by mail</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5225/propel_with_force_through_the_air_by_a_movement_of_the_arm_and_hand.wav'><span>propel with force through the air by a movement of the arm and hand</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5225/keep_in_good_condition_or_in_working_order_by_checking_or_repairing_it_regularly.wav'><span>keep in good condition or in working order by checking or repairing it regularly</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5225/remember_a_particular_point_in_events_or_time.wav'><span>remember a particular point in events or time</span></div></div></div><div class='multiple_choice_question question-container' data-question-id=17865 data-hint-location='0' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5225/what_culture_are_the_caique_boats_important_to.wav'>What culture are the caique boats important to?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='Greek'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5225/greek.wav'><span>Greek</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5225/italian.wav'><span>Italian</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5225/american.wav'><span>American</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5225/russian.wav'><span>Russian</span></div></div></div><div class='question-buttons'><button 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