Launchings

Everyone seems to love this little boat. Building one of Iain Oughtred’s designs has been a real pleasure — his plans are superb and to my eye at least are a work of art on their own. She performs really well, just out paddling, fishing or taking on some easy rivers.

After 13 years of part-time building, Bob Cosler, of Pasadena, Maryland launched ALEX-ELECTRA in July 2021. Built from Berkeley Engineering plans for the Candu EZ tug she is powered by a 10 hp golf cart motor running from six, 6 -volt Trojan batteries.

Jim French was needing a boat when his friend Jim Tuck received Dynamite Payson's book, Build the New Instant Boats, for Christmas. So Jim Tuck lent his friend the book, and the use of his shop, and some wood, and a bit of help, now and then.

When Bill Short designed the San Francisco Pelican in the 1970s, he made it 12′ long; later he stretched it to 17′ long, and called that version the Great Pelican. Brooke Elgie of Tenakee Springs, Alaska, extended Short's design still farther, to 19′6″, what he calls the Great Alaskan Pelican.

After seeing the Piccolo in WoodenBoat magazine (Nos. 36 & 37) my brother and I fell in love with it and began construction... 10 years later the boat is complete and launched this past spring although my brother passed away before he could see it completed.

Gary Knox writes "A flea market 'find' with five plus coats of 'Camp Green' paint; Gary and friends stripped and sanded down this pre-WWII cedar on oak classic. It revealed a solid mahogany transom, which was hand-planed down for a clear finish.

8′ General purpose stitch and glue kayak made of 2 sheets of plywood. The boat weighs 30lb, very easy to transport. Plans are available at www.plyboat.com

I spent the Covid-19 Lockdown finishing Nā Mo’opuna (Hawaiian for The Grandchildren), a 9′6″ Nutshell Pram.

This strip-planked Sea Island Sport Kayak was built by Paul Schriever of Fernandina Beach, Florida.