Launchings

Glen Rahtz has been busy: he built three canoes and launched an outboard skiff that he restored over the course of 2010-2011.

Miles Macedo of North Providence, Rhode Island, launched his 3′ rocker dory on Christmas Day, 2012. His grandfather, Rod Fuqua, built the boat with cedar planking and oak stem and transom.

This rowing/sailing dinghy is based on George Cockshott’s 1913 design done for the British Boat Racing Association.

Robert Mann rows his pulling boat SPORTIN WOOD in the Vallecito Reservoir in southwest Colorado. The plans for 18' x 36" beauty are from WB, #97, designed by Ken Bassett. He launched her in May 2001 are spending three months building her.

"A delight to row, and fast" is how Stuart Pettingell describes his L.F. Herreshoff 17 pulling boat modified by John Gardner (found in "Building Classic Small Craft"). Stuart spent 11 months on the construction, launching the boat in July of 2001.

After 20 + years RYE 'N SKYE was finished and launched (receipt for the rough cut cedar was dated July 1999).

For Christmas 2001, Tom Koenig's wife gave him Dynamite Payson's plans for Teal, a Phil Bolger-designed double-ended sailing skiff, 12' long and 3'6" beam. He spent the winter building the boat. For her launching in July 2002, he drove five hours from his house to Pamlico Sound, NC.

Last August, on Lake Erie, in Erie, Pennsylvania, Carl Longnecker launched his new 15′ Chester Yawl, built from a kit by Chesapeake Light Craft. The boat is stitch-and-glue construction. 

Peter Baldracchi recently built this 14′ dory skiff in a class at Lowell’s Boat Shop in Amesbury, Massachusetts. There’s a storage compartment under the sternsheets and room for gear and a couple of friends. The light grey interior, varnished seats, and dark hull make for a handsome boat.

Lindwall and Sons Boatbuilders launched ANGELINA on August 13, 1944 to be used for fishing. In 1957, Willard Shepard bought her and converted her from a fishing trawler to a fishing yacht. Fred Hepp bought her in 2000, and kept her for a few years until Charles Lindwall bought her back in 2003.