Launchings

Jeff Parker recently launched this cypress and mahogany Petrel Kayak in Lake Bluff, Illinois. The 53 lb Petrel Kayak is designed by Nick Schade, who runs Guilllemot Kayaks, www.guillemot-kayaks.com.

I built this kayak all by my lonesome in a little shop in Pemaquid, Maine. She’s a beauty (takes after her owner is what I’ve been told), and handles something like a Corvette. I just finished a trip with her up the coast to Machias Port, and am back home dry and tired.

Working after school during her sophomore and junior years at Hemlock High School, Lindsay Cook built this 15'8" x 26"kayak H.M.K. RELENTLESS. Following the plans for Pygmy Kayaks Osprey Standard, she used okoume mahogany plywood and epoxy.

 This 7'10" pram/kayak was built from plans in Gavin Atkin's Ultrasimple Boatbuilding, in spring of 2011 by Stephen Nickles, and launched this past June, my brave wife Christine is at the helm.

Stuart Wentzell designed and built this 18' daysailer sloop, taking just six months for construct her. AMAZING GRACE was launched in the spring of 2001. The hull is 1/4" Douglas fir plywood covered with fiberglass cloth and epoxy.

Pícara, my Hazardous Zero-9 Merlin Rocket build, was successfully launched and sailed on Friday morning, April 15, 2016. She touched water for the first time on Lake Travis, near Austin, Texas, USA. Pícara gracefully sailed in light winds and quickly responded to mild gusts.

SUNDANCE II was built in 1975 at a yard in Essex, CT on lines from Nathanael Herreshoff’s sailing dinghy GARYOWEN [1926], which was in turn drawn after Design #568 [1901], “Colonia Sailing Dinghy.” In the late 1970’s SUNDANCE II was transferred to a series of museums where she fell into disrepai

Patrick Dawson of Ottawa, Ontario, writes that he’s been wanting to build this boat for over 25 years.

Community School of Davidson is at it again, this time launching a Dave Gentry designed “Wee Lassie” built by 6th and 7th grade students at their middle school. Instructor Jim Dumser built it with eight students from the Friday “explore elective” over the fall and winter.

Coot is a Paul Gartside designed 16′ open water rowing skiff (design #115). She is planked in strip plank western red cedar, glass cloth and WEST system epoxy.