He had already been coming up with ideas, but finally decided to make an album. Eventually he finished a recording he called Comic Book Rock and sent it to a few friends thinking that would be the end of the undertaking. Instead, after receiving encouragement, he formed a band and started played live. Soon Crane got a better recorder, resulting in 2005's Life Is a Shipwreck, We Must Remember to Sing in the Life Boats (the title a Voltaire reference).

Sean Tollefson from Tullycraft had seen BOAT play and relayed a copy of the record to Magic Marker. After an EP titled After All, they signed on with Magic Marker and released Songs That You Might Not Like in July 2006. After a three-year layoff, the band (now featuring drummer J. Long) returned with the equally entertaining Setting the Paces in October of 2009. The band's next album, Dress Like Your Idols, surfaced in the spring of 2011. Their next album, 2013's Pretend to Be Brave, featured a new drummer (J. Angle) and guest appearances from vocalist Shelley Short and Scott McCaughey of the Young Fresh Fellows. ~ Kenyon Hopkin