The Boat Builder

Abner Green is a reclusive former sea captain who tends an aging sloop on the edge of the San Francisco coast. He lives largely apart from the town, worn down by cancer that claimed his wife years earlier, clinging to routines and a stubborn dream of sailing away.

Neighborhood hoodlums on bicycles harass Abner, leaving him exhausted and wary. A frightened boy named Rick shows up on his property, claiming the gang is chasing him, and Abner wrestles with caution and pity.

Rick offers to assist and seems to recognize a shared longing in Abner's weathered boat. He suggests staying to work together, and Abner begins to soften as they share small, practical tasks that bridge their gulf.

The day after, Rick and his foster father Charles visit Abner, and Rick is invited to stay and help. As they caulk, replace a plank, and mount a new sail, Abner opens up about currents, storms, and the horizon’s lure, while Rick listens with calm resolve.

Small repairs become a language of trust: caulking, plank replacement, and a new sail anchor the pair in shared purpose. Abner speaks of the risks of a long voyage, and Rick meets his caution with buoyant readiness, absorbing the depth of Abner's wisdom.

That night, Rick is haunted by a nightmare of a voyage gone wrong, worrying Charles who fears the boy's distress may require confinement. The tension grows as the memory of danger haunts their conversations and plans.

The group is assaulted again, and Ruth reveals that Rick's foster brother Donnie was involved with the hoodlums. Abner's faith in Rick is renewed as the boy's innocence is proven, and the two men reconnect with renewed resolve to finish the boat.

Katherine reports the boat-building to the city's code-enforcement officer, who issues a two-week demolition deadline. Abner wrestles with fear that his dream will be crushed, while Rick urges perseverance and action.

During the countdown, late-night work tightens their bond: every plank secured and sail stitched becomes a pledge to finish what they started. Rick's encouragement helps Abner find the strength to push through the doubts of age and outside judgment.

On the eve of demolition, the boat and the two men disappear from view, leaving the city stunned and searching for answers. It is later revealed that Rick secretly stowed away on Abner's boat to stay with him.

Dawn finds them far out at sea past the Farallon Islands, with Abner guiding Rick through practical navigation as they venture into the unknown together. The voyage becomes a shared test of trust and skill.

The film lingers on solitude and connection: a grizzled man reclaiming a life and a boy finding belonging. Mentorship redraws the boundaries of possibility as they sail forward, choosing freedom and companionship over the shore.