Ed Monk, Sr., began his boat building career in 1914[2]: 2 as an apprentice working on Robert Moran's schooner San Juan, under construction on Orcas Island.
[3] In 1915, Monk worked with his father again in St. Helens, OR, building The City of Portland, "one of the largest wooden freighters ever built.
"[4] He continued to work for his father at Meacham and Babcock, a boatyard started in Seattle, WA, during World War I to build twelve wooden freighters for the US Government.
1," the 50 ft. bridge-deck cruiser Nan, which became his home for seven years, moored at the Seattle Yacht Club,[2]: 14 and was briefly his office.
[9]: 77 He also designed the "Super Shrimp Trapper (SST)" Mimi for Ivar Haglund, launched in 1967.