Launchings

This project was envisioned years before it arrived at Joest Boats. As a six year old boy, during his first ride aboard a vessel just like her, the dream began.

Sue Gaire’s first attempt at building a wooden boat turned out beautifully when she launched ARROW from a small beach at Ponce de Leon Park in Punta Gorda, Florida, last summer.

After 15 years of on-again, 0ff-again building, EILEEN was launched on Blue Bill Cove in Rhode Island. Built of cedar strips with an oak keel, she's a 14′ centerboard sloop with a gunter rig, designed by Tony Dias, and built by Jim Lengel of Cedar Cove Cottage.

Gloria Burge built this 6′6″ Philip Bolger Tortoise design and launched in in August 2012 in Searsport, Maine. She built the boat, glued and screwed, mostly, she says, in the living room of her camper.

Eric Blumhagen writes "I built SOLACE with the able assistance of my wife, my idea woman. After a year and a half of work, I launched it on November 12, 2000. It now hangs from our living room ceiling when not being used on Washington lakes.

Just completed this is a Duck Trap Wherry, designed by Walt Simmons. Purchased as a stalled project off Craigslist the purchase included plans, a set of forms, a keel with stem and transom attached and four sheets of plywood.

Alyssa Drake and her father, Peter Drake, built this Phil Bolger–designed 8′ Elegant Punt. They launched CHUPI at Mystic Seaport in the fall of 2011. Plans are available from Phil Bolger & Friends, Inc., P.O. Box 1209, Gloucester, MA 01930.

Newfound Woodworks of Bristol, New Hampshire was the source for this Adirondack Guide Boat kit built by Michael Cruden of Ballston Spa, New York.

Hugh Groth has built seven canoes but this is the first strip-built one, and the first one he designed himself. He designed it specifically for he and his wife to use together, moving the stern seat forward to improve balance.

Relaunched: Phil Bolger designed Gloucester Light Dory built in 1987 by David Bush guided by ‘Dynamite’ Payson (4 x 16 marine ply, bronze ring-shank nails into red oak chine logs & glass /epoxy).