Launchings

My grandparents lived on a river in southern Alabama when I was growing up and my father taught me to row when I was maybe 6 or 7 years old. I did my first solo row in front of my grandparents' wharf at that young age.

SHADOW of Gig Harbor, Wa USA. Maiden voyage April 14th, 2024. For his 3rd wooden boat build Stewart Nelson chose the SQUIRT, a Glen L. Design. The 10′ craft is outfitted with a 15hp outboard motor.

Ned Handy uses a 20-hp motor to push his Long Point Skiff, designed by Tom Hill of Burlington, Vermont, along the coastal waters of Massachusetts. Ned used okoume plywood, mahogany, and white pine to construct her, spending nearly 300 hours of his time on the build.

13 year old Hannah Dumser of Davidson, North Carolina and her dad Jim finished and launched their Jericho Bay Skiff (WB No. 210, 211) named Juniper. Built out of Atlantic White Cedar and trimmed in Okoume.

DULWEN is a 1957 power cruiser designed by Ed Monk and built by Philbrook’s Boat Yard in Victoria, British Columbia. She was designed and built to be 32′ long, but recently owners Jan and Shelley Nielsen of West Wind Hardwood lengthened her hull by 3 feet.

Ray McConnell and John Vinal built this 9′6″ Nutshell Pram and then raffled it last October at the Damariscotta Pumpkin Festival. The proceeds of the raffle when to the American Cancer Society in memory of Dr. Jennifer Lynn McConnell. 

This dory style sailboat was built in a small wood shop in my yard. It took ten months to build and would never have happened had it not been for the folks at Chesapeake Light Craft and their assistance.

Merv Shaw bought the plans for this Weekender Pocket Yacht more than 25 years ago. He started building the boat 10 years ago, and finally finished in late 2010. SPIRIT OF BIG ISLAND is 19′6″ gaff-rigged sloop designed by Stevenson Projects.

15 ft skiff designed by Phil Bolger and taken from Dynamite Payson's Instant Boats book. It was an enjoyable first boat project. I added an center rear seat and a bow seat. I launched her into San Diego Bay.

Chuck Nagy of Burn Pile Restorations rescued a 50-year-old Wolverine, model no. 2, made by Wagemaker Boats of Grand Rapids, Michigan.  He turned a derelict hull with no transom or seats, and a five-foot crack down one side, into this beautiful fishing skiff.