Launchings

David Russell, David Russell, Jr., and James Brownlee built this modified 16′ Catfish Beachcruiser over the summer of 2007, and launched her in August 2007 in Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina. The design is by Phil Bolger.

The klinker-built faering (four oars) has been used for transportation for centuries along the Norwegian coast line and in the fjords. In the areas close to the Sognefjord the features of the faering is particularly well preserved compared to the vessels of the Vikings.

In August 2023, David O’Halloran of Sparta, NJ and Manhattan, NY, launched the Meli-Ha-Ha, a Francois Vivier deigned Morbic 11, on Lake Mohawk. Measuring 11′ LOA with a 5′ beam, this traditional French sail and oar dingy was built with a Clint Chase kit in my garage using the strip plank method.

I started building my Melonseed Skiff in 2017 and finished it in 2021. Because I do not have a garage or large shed, I did work outdoors from May to November (living in Sherbrooke, Québec).

Steve Miller launched this Swifty 12 designed by Fred Shell (www.shellboats.com) on May 27, 2001. She is 12' long with 5'3" beam. Steve named her SURPRISE and provided her with a sprit rig. He sails her on the lakes around Portland, OR.

CAPITAL GAINES is a glass over plywood boat constructed with sapele frames, meranti marine plywood, with sapele and cypress accents. It’s powered with a Yamaha 70hp outboard motor.

My Doug Hylan designed 13′ Beach Pea is the first wooden boat I have built from scratch. She is made from okoume ply, Douglas Fir, with utile mahogany thwarts and knees and Sitka spruce spars.

Michael Goodrich has read WoodenBoat for years and always wanted to send in his own new launching. When his son and daughter-in-law were expecting their own new launching with the birth of their first child, they asked Michael if he could build a co-sleeper for them.

Stretched version of Harry Bryan’s Rambler design, 26′ cedar on oak diesel inboard launch, powered by a 20 hp Universal diesel.

After two decades of intermittent work, Wesley Wenhardt, Executive Director of the Foss Waterway Seaport got to try his famous “J” stroke on his casually restored piece of canoeing history. Wes hopes to be seen paddling the byways of the Foss Waterway in Tacoma later this summer.