Launchings

SEAMONKEY is a 15'6" Bolger-designed catboat, that Robert Parish modified for a Chinese junk rig. He lives in Bozeman, MT and launched SEAMONKEY in 40-knot gusts on Canyon Ferry Reservoir in August 2004.

The boat was finished, and was trailered over to a boat shop for the installation of a 15 hp Tohatsu outboard, on February 2. I am a first time boat builder and found that building the CLC kit was a fun fall/winter project. The boat will be on Lake Couer d’ Alene the next sunny weekend.

Warren Kennedy launched his new 14' Amesbury Skiff made by Lowell's Boat Shop in Amesbury Mass. He wanted the boat over built, and says it handles great in both salt and fresh water. He uses a 15 hp four-stroke Yamaha for propulsion.

I wanted to share with you a couple photographs of my Night Heron kayak (LOA 18′, beam of 20″), designed by Nick Shade of Guillemot Kayaks . The boat took nearly two years of weekends and evenings to complete, with work proceeding at a glacial pace during some periods.

John Thomson writes "Here is FOLLY (the best boat name I've ever come up with if I do say so myself, ABSURDITY and IDIOCY were contenders). She is 16' LOA with a 4' beam, stitch-and-glue construction.

My 1954 Edwin Monk designed, Popular Mechanics,15 foot Knockabout, in the water again after extensive restoration, her name Cap'n Ellery after Artist, author, fisherman, and my hero Ellery Thompson 1899-1986.

Solar powered electric launch using CLC Southwester Dory plans. She has a 3-hp Torqeedo motor mounted in a well as well as Torqeedo solar panels. Shaw and Tenney oars and a sprit rig provide towing and sailing options as well. A Norwegian tiller runs fore and aft.

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).

Steve Warning of Kelso Washington built the ANGELA K to Harry Bryan's Handy Billy design. Using batten seam construction, Steve used cedar planking over white oak frames and backbone. He made the floors from purpleheart wood and used mahogany for the trim and seats.

The boat is stitch and glue construction from a kit produced by Chesapeake Light Craft. The red pieces were stained prior to construction in order to highlight the “artistic” puzzle joints that designer Nick Schade uses. The build took 59 work days/134.5 hours spread over a five month period.