Launchings

When designing The Ashes Solo Day, I imagined a boat where the paddler could stand to look over brush, or apply leverage to push through a mat of grass.

Hoiin Jung from Korea wrote to tell about his launch of a new Pelicano 18, designed by Sam Devlin. His father named it MY WAY 18 after one of his favorite Frank Sinatra songs. They built the boat from mahogany plywood, and made the deck and cockpit sole from Nu-Teak.

A beautifully designed Somes Sound 12 1/2 by John Brooks, of Brooks Boats Designs.I’d like to say I built it — but without the help and support of John Brooks (International help line!), friends and family and members of the WoodenBoat Forum, “PEG” as we called her would not have been launched la

When his first granddaughter was born, Todd Roberts wanted to build her an heirloom cradle. He thought a canoe cradle would be just the ticket as he could use birchbark from his land for the cradle’s hull. Todd developed his own design after researching canoes and cradle boats.

I started this boat by purchasing Canoecraft by Ted Moores. I ordered the book in the mid 90’s from the Woodenboat Store as a Naval Aviator stationed in Maine. Through many duty station changes I wore out the book.

Fiberglass cloth/epoxy and marine plywood on pine frame powered by 30hp Suzuki. During construction of interior we added mahogany rail caps and a front anchor locker with seat and hardware.

I spent the Covid-19 Lockdown finishing Nā Mo’opuna (Hawaiian for The Grandchildren), a 9′6″ Nutshell Pram.

The launch of “Badger” was attended by family and friends at Clark Center Park in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Vee Bottom garvey designed by Harry Bryan launched after 3.5 years building.  Used for fishing shallow inland waters around Capelookout, NC.  White oak frames with locust floor timbers and deck (sole) beams.  Bottom double diagonal 7/16 juniper.

I bought the boat in 2012 from the original builder in Fairfield, Connecticut. It was already more than twenty years old, and I had just moved into a small apartment with water access to New Haven Harbor. This was my first proper rowboat, and I was on the water constantly.