Launchings

John T. Brunson writes that, at 70, he has refinished his Alcort Super Sailfish with all new bronze hardware and the original decals.

Tabor Academy in Marion, Massachusetts, offers a one-semester "Practical Ship and Boat Design" course that "aims to get students comfortable with lines drawings by lofting a sailing model full scale," writes instructor David Bill.

John and Jonathan Aitken built two Design 80 lapstrake prams using plans from Paul Gartside. The 7' boats are built using traditional methods and materials - red cedar and mahogany fastened to oak frames using copper roves and rivets.

Gerald Ely and his son, David, built this 16' x 35" Chestnut Prospector canoe. They built her using red and white cedar strips covered with 6 oz fiberglass cloth. The gunwales, seats, yoke and stems are of cherry.

Vince Trtan used a lot of 40-grit sandpaper in the restoration of this Old Town canoe, HW model, hull #150314-7. After sanding off the old canvas, he made new gunwales, keel, seats, and decks. Then he had to replace several ribs and planks.

Jay Harman rescued and spent years painstakingly restoring this historic minesweeper, turning her into expedition yacht and marine research platform.

Designed by Jesse Lowell (207-504-3311), sixth generation boat builder and designer (great grandson of William Frost). Mischief was built by Jesse Lowell and owner, Captain Joanna Lavan.

The canoe came from a restaurant in Kansas where it hung from the ceiling. All the old fiberglass had to be stripped off and refinished, and the end stems rebuilt.

Adrienne Keller and her father Kip launched their Penguin sailboat in October of 2007, the first boat either of them had built. Kip sailed Penguins, which were designed by Phil Rhodes, as a youth in upstate New York.

This is my 18′ Carolina dory. Materials are from local lumber yards except for the bronze screws. This was a fun project, the plans from Spira International were easy to read and the boat gets plenty of compliments.