In 1915, Monk worked with his father again in Saint Helens, Oregon, building The City of Portland, "one of the largest wooden freighters ever built." He continued to work for his father at Meacham and Babcock, a boatyard started in Seattle, Washington, during World War I to build twelve wooden freighters for the United States Government.
He was active from 1914 to 1973. He designed pleasure and commercial vessels, both power and sail. Editor Monk, Senior, began his boat building career in 1914 as an apprentice working on Robert Moran"s schooner San Juan, under construction on Orcas Island.
During this time, he became more interested in designing boats and began studying toward that education
Meacham and Babcock closed in 1919. Monk continued to work at various boatyards in Seattle and eventually found his way to the Blanchard Boat Company in 1925.
He was hired as a shipwright, but soon began to design small boats. His first large cruiser design, the 62 foot motor yacht Silver King, was built there in 1925
At Blanchard Boat Company, Monk got to know the naval architect L. East. "Ted" Geary and in 1926, Geary hired Monk as a draftsman.
In 1930, Monk followed Geary to Long Beach, California. In 1933, Monk quit working directly for Geary and moved back to Washington State.
Monk maintained his association with Geary as his local representative. Monk began his independent career as a naval architect by designing and building his "Plan Number. 1," the 50 foot bridge-deck cruiser Nan, which became his home for seven years, moored at the Seattle Yacht Club, and was briefly his office.
His designs were built by many of the Pacific Northwest builders like Blanchard Boat Company, Grandy Boat Company, Jensen Motor Boat, Chambers and Franck, Forder Boatworks, McQueen Boat Works, and Tollycraft among others
Editor Monk, Senior, wrote two books on boat building:
Monk, Edwin, Small Boat Building, 1934, revised 1947, published by Charles Scribner"s Sons, New York
Monk, Edwin, Modern Boat Building, 1939, revised 1949 and 1973, published by Charles Scribner"s Sons, New York
Monk designed commercial vessels which included tugs and cargo carriers. He also designed the "Super Shrimp Trapper (Special Security Team)" Mimi for Ivar Haglund, launched in 1967.
Monk continued to design boats up until his death in 1973 at the age of 79. He had "produced more than 3,000 boat designs ranging from 6 foot dinghies to yachts and workboats in the 150 foot range."
Editor Monk, Senior, designed and built both sailboats & powerboats:
Sailing Yachts
Aries, 50 feet, launched 1941
Mariner III, 42 feet, launched 1941
Symra, 43 feet, launched 1941
Cumulus, 26 feet, launched 1947
Bendora, launched 1948
Halcyon, launched 1948
Netha, 45 feet, launched 1936
Madwenowe, launched 1967
Mikay IV, 46 feet, launched 1959
Moonraker, 50 feet, launched 1962
Sea Witch, 29 feet, launched 1939
Motor Yachts
Ann Saunders, 32 feet, launched 1926
Nan, 50 feet, launched 1934
Portuguese Madison Gal, 24 feet, launched ca.
1940
Western Maid I, 40 feet, launched 1946
Western Maid II, 42 feet, launched 1947
Alerion, 42 feet, launched ca.
1952
Whim, 37 feet, launched ca. 1957
Tatoosh, 40 feet, launched 1959
Nika Sia, 46 feet, launched 1965
Tryphena, 50 feet, launched 1970.
