Launchings

After Alex had jokingly told his seven-year-old granddaughter, Hannah, that she’d have to make a speech at the launch of his 15′ Chesapeake Light Craft Skerry last summer, she took h

Per Crawford writes "EVINRUDE was officially launched on January 12, 2003 into the Waccamaw River at sunset. Per Crawford designed and built the 13'6" Carolina Skiff of 1/4" marine plywood, stainless steel fastened with 6 oz. Fiberglass overlay using the west system.

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.

I built this Nutshell pram in the strip method of construction for my two daughters to learn to sail and row, hence the name “Double Trouble”. I have yet to add the mast for the sail rig, but we managed to put it in the water for rowing this past week.

This is a Carolina Dory, designed by Jeff Spira (International) Boats. Built with (mostly) materials from the local Lowe’s/Home Depot store. Exterior hull is 1/2″ exterior plywood covered with 6 ounce fiber glass cloth and about 6 coats of MAS Epoxy. Very easy plans to follow...

The handsom new 44 ft schooner LEAH CAROLINE launched at Trinity, Newfoundland July 7 2012. The latest of many vessels large and small built by 86 year old shipbuilder Henry Vokey of that town. Hundreds of onlookers waited for hours in the rain for the big splashdown.

Richard Maldonado chose the 13′ QT Rowing Skiff design by Jim Michalak (www.jimsboats.com) for his first build. He wanted to build a boat mostly from found materials, and except for the luan plywood that he purchased, everything else was recycled.

Steve and Jamie Reed of Greeley, Colorado, built this cute little rocking boat with no metal fasteners, just glue and dowels. They used teak, purple heart, poplar, pine, ash, and oak. Some tiny Reed captain should be overjoyed with their first command.

EMMY is a 1936 wooden Cape Cod Baby Knockabout (#51) built at Cape Cod Shipbuilding in Wareham, MA. EMMY is 18 feet long and has a beam of 5'10". She had been stored at Hall's Boatyard at Lake George, NY for 25 years, before being rescued by Joe O'Neill and his wife.

I chose the Spira International Tillamook Pacific City dory design for my first build. Aside from the remarkable feeling of splashing a boat built with your own hands, this boat is a deeply personal accomplishment for me. One of my ancestors, Capt.