Launchings

The Explorer is a touring kayak

Participants in the spring boatbuilding class at The Dory Shop in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, celebrate the launch of the as-yet-unnamed Banks dory they built under the tutelage of master dory builder Jay Langford May 7-18.

This is the 53rd Prides Rock skiff built by the students of Jeremiah Riordon at Landmark School in Prides Crossing, MA. Launched in June 2001, the skiff is 10' long with a 52" beam. Jeremiah Riordon designed this model as an instructional tool.

Kees Bugel first built an 18' cedar pulling boat designed by Ken Bassett. From there, he moved to this more complex Lala design by Joel White. The boat is cold-molded and includes a small Volvo auxiliary engine.

Michael Matheson is the proud owner of WATERWAYS, a modified Surf Scoter launch, built by Bruce Mierke and designed by Sam Devlin. WATERWAYS is 3' longer than the plans called for, and also uses a 4-stroke outboard rather than the stern drive indicated by designer Sam Devlin.

Bob Bramble wanted to design a boat that would hold his one-man trailer and was able to launch 27'4" ONE COAT BRAMBLE in July of 2002 at Aqualand Marina in Maryland. Bob built the backbone of oak and Douglas fir. The frames are also oak and Douglas fir.

John Thomson writes "Here is FOLLY (the best boat name I've ever come up with if I do say so myself, ABSURDITY and IDIOCY were contenders). She is 16' LOA with a 4' beam, stitch-and-glue construction.

After a two year journey, My wife (Nathalie), Two sons (August and Graham) and I have completed building our Eastport Pram. We selected this boat due to its easy car-top transport, versatility and beauty. This is our first foray into wooden boat building, and hopefully not our last.

Bounty was built and launched in the UK by Mark Evans of Kentish Boats. With a set of 6′ 10″ oars it rows very easily and can take 367lbs of people or kit.

Rowland Hill completed this 15' x 4' York Delaware Ducker in November 2000. He got the plans from Mystic Seaport Museum. Planking is epoxied Sapeli marine plywood. Rowland used oak for the stem, rudder, dagger board, and cowling. He and his son sail the boat in Pleasant Bay, Cape Cod.