Update on Projects

It has been awhile so this is a quick overall update on projects:* Goat Island Skiff kits can be cut anytime. Marketing for kits will begin by late Winter time and CNC cutting will be part of the plan. Meetings with CNC companies will happen early winter. I am taking coursework in Rhino/CAD to enable me to create files, modify files, and give them...

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An Old Head on Young Shoulders

It is often said that words of wisdom come from the mouths of babes...The other week one of my sons mentioned that he wanted to build one of my First Mate designs. I was full of enthusiasm and told him that Id build one too, and maybe I could arrange to have the parts for both boats cut by CNC. He looked at me and said, "Marking and cutting is easy...

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Spiling Lapstrake Planks Interesting Shapes

You often hear designers describing the "lay" of planks. What does this mean? Well, depending on the form of a boats hull, and the way in which the planking has been lined-off (another subject in itself), the shape of the individual planks when they are being marked out on the bench can be quite remarkable. Here is an extreme example...

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Fall Row

Today was a short 9 mile row around some inner islands of Casco Bay. Pushed hard and maintained a little under 5 kts much of the time. One of the few times Ive really pulled much of a wake in Drake. One thing to look for in any great rowboat is the wake. The clean exit of water such that it is not attached to the boat, but rather breaks cleanly from...

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SRR 2013

Report from the Small Reach Regatta 2013Beautiful weather, wonderful people, and a humbling locationHog Island, Muscongus Bay, MaineElyssa tied up on first night at Audubon docks, Hog Island.Waiting for the "go" word from lead chase boat as all the boats get underway. This morning we were in rowing mode and hanging out with the rowers, my usual crowd.The...

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Family Corporate Boatbuilding

Some new photos up at my Flickr site for the two past corporate and family boatbuilding events at Mystic Seaport.One thing we love is that all our participants launch every boat on the third day and they always look great, the people and the boats! It is interesting that 29 boats were built at Family Boatbuilding and even out of the biggest group of...

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Blue Clipper Van de Stadt Legend 34

To kick off 1001 Boats I’ve chosen Blue Clipper a Van de Stadt designed Legend 34, built in 1970 by Tylers a famous UK yard.E.G . Van de Stadt has a reputation for designing fast and sea worthy yachts and Blue Clipper was no exception, she was easily driven, close winded and comfortable. It’s only many years after she was sold and with the experience...

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Summit 35

Summit 35Nice ProfileOne of the best things about being in the market for a new boat is checking out the newest designs, going for test sails and pondering cruising to distant places or collecting trophies. When I started looking at the Summit 35, I quickly forgot about the distant coves and palm trees, and instead, thought about racing and collecting...

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Updates and Launches

Im slowly updating the webpages on the blog. In the meantime, three Deblois Street Dories are slated to launch in the next several weeks, including two in Maine and one by a woman who teaches college Geology in Indiana. The first Drake19 rowboat will launch midsummer. I will do sea trials with Walter Baron, the builder. An Echo Bay or two should launch....

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The Big Grind Begins

Last weekend 28th Feb I started the final grinding of the outer hull along all the weld lines.The sandblasting day is coming fast.Theres a few things left to do structurally and Im trying to get them all done before the blasting starts.Theres probably a few days grinding left..The pics below are only taken today 4th march on my phone so the quality...

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New Boat CIY 16

The Calendar Islands Yawl 16A Sail-and-Oar Dinghy for one or two peopleThe CIY 16 began as a 19 x 6 1/2-foot daysailer design with a deck and coaming with a bit of Herreshoff flavor. A friend who sails the Goat Island Skiff design by Michael Storer wanted a similar boat -- singlehanding, lightweight, lug rigged sail-and-oar dinghy -- but with a hull...

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The 1000 Hour Mark

The end of November 2009 brought about the 1000 hour mark for actual time spent on the build.She is really starting to show her shape.Scaffolding was applied to each side as needed.Screws with washers were used at the ends of planks to pull the shape in, and create the slight concave shape at the bow.The strips of red cedar are very colorful and make...

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