Launchings

I’ve built 30+ boats as a hobby so I know enough to be dangerous. A few years ago someone decided I needed yet “another” project so they donated a 19402 era Chris Craft (I think) mahogany planked hull.

This terrific wooden boat, designed by David Roberts, was built by my husband, David T. Bickel, for a fishing and dive boat around the Fort Myers Bay.

Here we have a 16′ 1956 Dunphy runabout. When I found this gem, she was in an old hay barn sitting on a 1956 TeeNee trailer, hadn’t moved in 15 years. She was a one family boat passed on thru the family.

Bella is a Duck Trap Wherry built for our family outings and she was named after my daughter's nickname. The construction method is glued lapstrake and I used 6mm Cedar plywood for the planking and Cedar on the brightwork.

CHIME (it’s a little dinghy) is a Chesapeake Light Craft Passagemaker Dinghy. The kit was a family gift, and building help came from all of our children and kids, and Captain Hook (our dog, who endured many hours on the garage floor watching epoxy dry).

My first boat to build (and first woodworking project in 50 years). Built to teach my grandsons sailing on lakes in Georgia and they seem to be taking to it. The CLC kit was straightforward, with just enough challenge to make you know you’re building a boat.

Two kit boats from Chesapeake Light Craft, built from March to July, 2012. Mill Creek 16.5 and Chesapeake 17LT. Built in my shop in Points, WV, and launched at Camp Seven Lake, near Manistique, MI.

Woodrow Smith (standing) and Robert McDonnell (kneeling) built this Redbird design canoe, 17'9" long. They built her from scratch, starting with rough-cut lumber. They are proud of their work, as the canoe turned out to be a work of art.

Built at our winter home in Belize from local woods:  Honduras mahogany for frames, stringers, etc; Spanish cedar for the planks.  

A 17′ cedar strip Rangeley Boat. Plans and most materials sourced from Newfound Woodworks in Bristol, New Hampshire. This company is top notch. Rose and Alan were always there when I had a question or needed materials. They were patient and informative.