Launchings

Eric Blumhagen writes "I built SOLACE with the able assistance of my wife, my idea woman. After a year and a half of work, I launched it on November 12, 2000. It now hangs from our living room ceiling when not being used on Washington lakes.

Bill Spring and his grandchildren got a thrill from BILL’S THRILL, his Swifty 12 catboat kit from Fred Shell in St. Albans, Vermont.

Jeff Spira of Spira International wrote in to say that, “Mike Spiridonov just completed this 7′6″ pram to fish the many lakes he has up in his neighborhood. It was built using the stitch-and-glue technique [with] 1/4″ plywood, somewhat thicker than the plans originally called for.

This is Chesapeake Light Craft’s tandem wherry rigged as a single. I started working on it the spring of 2015, continued through that summer and then hit the pause button when work was interrupted by life (hernia surgery) and cold temperatures. I finished up the wherry this summer.

Emmanuel Alassoeur built this 14′ Périssoire from plans by François Sergent that appeared in 1944 in his book called Construction of Canoes and Kayaks. Emmanuel spent about four months building the hull, planking her with red cedar and building the deck from plywood.

Marine plywood and mahogany, using epoxy resins. Design inspired by Seaway Boat Company of Long Beach, CA.

Gus Duncan made quite a few modifications to this Chesapeake Light Craft (www.clcboats.com) that had been originally built in Brisbane, Australia.

I built “Arrow” from a CLC kit, designing my own pattern for the deck and redesigning CLC’s combing. It took six months to build and the experience was very impactful. I fell in love with this boat before I ever launched her and kayaking is now a renewed pleasure!

A presentation of the Little Miss Sally boat in Small Boats Monthly inspired me to build the boats for my kids.