Launchings

Plans and plywood bought in 2000, then life got in the way. Retirement in 2018 removed all excuses and slow progress began in 2019. The covid lockdown provided the dedicated time needed for completion.

Some pictures of a just completed build of a Coastal Rowing single that I will row on local waters on both sides of Vancouver Island, where I live.

I completed building this Northeaster Dory from a Chesapeake Light Craft kit in June after 8 months of weekends working.

Chesapeake 18… first time builder.

A late 1950’s International Flying Dutchman Class sailboat. The Mahogany hull was cold-moulded in Holland and imported by Paul Rimoldi of Miami Florida. Mr Rimoldi made everything else, including many pieces of hardware.

Glassy water is pretty easy in a 1960s fiberglass Alden rowing shell, but when the afternoon southwesterly comes up the New Meadows River in West Bath, Maine, the flat bottom craft wants to surf, yaw and roll as she’s headed downwind for home, John Van Orden went searching for a more sea kindly s

JULES was launched on the island of Kauai this spring and Rob paddles her in the ocean waters behind reefs — primarily for fishing. with the outrigger, she is “stand up safe” and wonderful to fish from.

Tom Willess of Oakton, Virginia discovered Chesapeake Light Craft a few years ago and has fallen in love with building their kayaks. He has already built two 12′ Wood Duck Hybrids that are stitch-and-glue constructed from one of CLC’s kits.

After the parts were cut from marine plywood by their grandfather, Tavish and Niam Rogers assembled their first boat using copper ring nails and polyurethane construction adhesive.

Floridian Mark Nye recently built and launched this 14′ long Petrel Play kayak.  Mark spent just under 135 hours, spread over five months,on the construction of this stitch-and-glue kit. He stained some of the hull pieces prior to construction of highlight the hull’s puzzle joints.