Crafty Plastic Cruiser Zips Around Lake

Copyright © 2007 National Public Radio®. For personal, noncommercial use only. See Terms of Use. For other uses, prior permission required.

MICHELE NORRIS, host:

Someone once asked, what is a sound clip? The reply was swift - whatever we can get away with. So today in our occasional Soundclips series, one sound and one story find a home.

Mr. ZANE BAKER (Resident, Austin, Texas): My name is Zane Baker. I live in Austin, Texas, and I run a gift shop downtown selling jewelry and gifts.

(Soundbite of water running into origami boat)

Mr. BAKER: The sound is water going in and out of the flutes of corrugation in an origami boat that we make out of corrugated plastic.

(Soundbite of water running into origami boat)

Mr. BAKER: The boats that we make are one single rectangular piece of corrugated plastic that we fold up without cutting it and either bolt or tape it together so it keeps its shape. Two or three people can ride in it.

(Soundbite of water running into origami boat)

Mr. BAKER: I had been riding on these boats as a hobby for a lot of years and I've never really noticed until one day I was leaning back in the boat and there was this kind of familiar sound. It just kind of stuck with me as kind of a musical, dreamy kind of sound. It's kind of like taking a breath that doesn't really work like (unintelligible).

NORRIS: Zane Baker sells his homemade plastic boats in Austin, Texas.

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