PERSEVERANCE
Builder Name:
Gus Block
Cedar strip kayak called The Spirit from a kit sold by Newfound Woodworks. Sleek and fast!
On the Newstand and Digital Library Now - March/April 2025 Issue No. 303 Preview
This section of our web site, an extension of the Launchings department of WoodenBoat magazine, is dedicated to sharing news of recently launched wooden boats built or restored by our readers. If you’ve launched a boat within the past year, please email us at launchings@woodenboat.com, or post your news here.
(All posts are subject to approval and editing before being made live.)
Post your launching... or relaunching
Search Launchings
To refine your search, add quote marks. If you search Wood Duck, you will get all the listings which include Wood and Duck. To refine, search “Wood Duck” and you’ll see just Wood Duck results.
1351 Results
FRIDA
Builder Name:
Mike Yates
Mike Yates of Bainbridge Island, Washington designed & built this recreational/open-water shell. Loosely based on Graeme King’s immortal Kingfisher, it is strip-built with 1/8″ Western Red Cedar & Alaskan Yellow Cedar, covered with 2-oz fiberglass.
ME-53
Builder Name:
Peter K. Philips
Peter Philips summered on China Lake, Maine as a child. His cousins Sherman and Ray Kelsey owned this Jacoby Class step hydroplane (9' x 46"), which Peter has recently rebuilt. Named ME-53, she was relaunched in June 2004 after 6 years of restoration work.
SIMPLY MAGIC
Builder Name:
Mitchell Skinner
The year 2002 was a busy year for Mitchell Skinner. He built three wooden boats. The smallest is an 8' sprit-rigged catboat SIMPLY MAGIC, that he designed for his wife to use with her dog, Magic. Since this photo was taken, a larger sail has been added.
ST. JACQUES
Builder Name:
Lewis Family Small Boat Restoration
ST. JACQUES construction began on Christmas Eve 2013 and finished up May 2017. The boat was built by the Lewis family in Navarre, Florida. The strakes are okume plywood, keel is white oak and the seats, gunwales and spars are cypress.
Te Mata’i
Builder Name:
Scott Joswiak
“Te Mata’i” was launched July 2021 on Tomahawk Lake in Woodruff, WI as the first retirement project of owner/builder Scott Joswiak. Starting as a Pro Kit in April 2020 and designed by John C. Harris of Chesapeake Light Craft, she is a modern version of a Tahitian Outrigger sailing canoe.
KOOTENY TANDEM CANOE, MODIFIED
Builder Name:
Mike Magnusson
Mike Magnusson built this solo wood-strip canoe for his son Stephen, using cedar strip planking and ash for the trim and seats. He used maple and wenge for the mosaic design on the side, and lacewood for the bow and stern decks. Fiberglass cloth and epoxy cover the boat inside and out.
BEAUFORT RANGER
Builder Name:
Walt Kusmin
This Calkins-designed double ender wanders the waters of Alberni Inlet under the command of her owner and builder, Walt Kusmin. At 26 feet long, she is on the large side for a home-built boat. BEAUFORT RANGER was first built in 1966, and relaunched in 2003 by Walt.
Lapstrake Canoe
Builder Name:
Bill McCullom
Bill McCullom of Boxford, Massachusetts, took a lofting class at Lowell's Boat Shop in Amesbury, Massachusetts, before buying the plans for Walter Simmons's 17' lapstrake canoe.
TRIPLE E
Builder Name:
Rod Dickson-Rishel
Rod built this boat for his friend, Roger Hudson or Beacon Bay, South Africa, during a trip to an ecovillage in South Africa in the summer of 2002. With only a table saw, cordless drill and a few hand tools, he built TRIPLE E out of a sheet of Meranti plywood.
From the Community
Classified
Classified
Harry Bryan Fidddlehead 12
Classic wooden kayak built (~2004) by Harry Bryan is a pleasure to paddle and can be easily car t
From Online Exclusives
Video
