Launchings

Plans and plywood bought in 2000, then life got in the way. Retirement in 2018 removed all excuses and slow progress began in 2019. The covid lockdown provided the dedicated time needed for completion.

Despite working at times “at a glacial pace” for two years, Stirling Cummings of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, finshed and launched his 18′ Night Heron kayak on a cold windy day in February 2012 on Jordan Lake, near Chapel Hill.

Rob Richard sent these photos, taken by Ray Forbes, of a Kingfisher canoe built at WoodenBoat School during the summer of 2003.

After the 7 years of enjoyment from N’ SLOWER, we decided to build CLEAN N'LIGHT. N’ SLOWER still has a lifetime of joy to give but I grew restless. I yelled out to Preston, “I want to build something,” then I broke out the pad and pencil threw down a few lines that turned into a new project.

A Classic Gulf Stream fishing boat designed to be lightweight, and to take a following sea better than it’s Dory predecessors. The hull lines were from plans*, with some modifications to the interior. A laminated tow-rail and, fold-down seating in the cockpit among them.

A Platt Monfort design called Nimrod 12.Built from off cuts of fir from the mast of the Mystic Seaport’s Amistad schooner, a chunk of green white oak, a few shop scraps and some spare time.

Over a period of a few months in 2008 Shelburne, Nova Scotia craftsmen and volunteers built two 23-foot boats from plans of the launch carried by Capt. Bligh's HMAV BOUNTY.

Joanie is a David Payne 17′ snapper boat design built by Denman Marine in Tasmania.She is built from full length book matched huon pine planking on celery top pine ribs and backbone. She has a lovely curved Tasmanian blackwood coaming and sprung teak decks and sole.

Rich Parlee in Ucluelet BC built this power canoe to resemble the Nu Cha Nulth whaling canoes of the Native peoples of West Coast Vancouver Island. She was built “out of my head,” says the builder, out of five-eighth red Cedar strips.

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.