Launchings

When I retired from Coast Guard active duty in 2007, I made a promise to myself to build a boat. Purchased a pirogue kit and plans from Uncle Johns in 2008.

Starting with the plan for the Chaisson Dory in John Gardner's "The Dory Book," Dennis Rogers rounded her hull and used double-diagonal planking based on the Ashcroft system to make this lovely tender, LAZY BIRD.

The Mini Skeeter Story by John EisenlohrI’m a third generation iceboater and a second generation dirtboater. My Grandpa Bud lived on Lake Delevan Wisconsin in the 50’s. He my Grandma Jane and my Dad Bill sailed E scows in the summer. In the winter they had 3 iceboats they sailed.

This 17' Arctic Tern Kayak is Matt FitzGibbon's second boat. He built it from a kit by Pygmy Boats, Port Townsend, WA 98368. His children contributed to the building effort. He recommends the book Kayaks You Can Build by Ted Moores and back issues of WB for other would-be builders.

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.

Van Dam Custom Boats launched a new 30' lapatrake design, CHOCOLATE CHIP3. This daycruiser features an open cockpit that includes a galley, dinette, and wet bar. With a 10' beam and enough seats for a crowd, CHOCOLATE CHIP3 provides a stable cruising platform.

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.

Begun in 2020 blissfully ignorant of rabbets, rabbet planes, and most things nautical, she took me four years of divine frustration from lofting to launch. Everything on her was ripped out and redone several times--so, by rights, she isn't the first boat I have built but at least the third.

Fred Shell of Shell Boats in St. Albans, VT designed this Swifty 14, which Mort Stant built. He painted the hull blue, the cockpit white, and varnished the deck and seats. Mort writes that it was fun to build and sails great.

Frank Bailleul launched his sea kayak CORRYVRECKAN built and designed by Sardine Boats on the Bono river, south Brittany-France. The CORRYVRECKAN is a stitch-n-glue kayak designed for tall paddlers and touring.