Posts Tagged ‘My Wooden Boat of March 2009’

Serendipitous — Michael Storer

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

I’ve been looking at Michael Storer’s PDRacer (Puddle Duck Racer) as a possible design for Family BoatBuilding for quite some time. And, as a designer, for consideration for MWBotW.

PD Racer

PD Racer

Reading Michael’s website a fews weeks ago, I learned that he was in the US.  Last night, in fact, he was addressing a group in Portland, Maine.

A fast trip by Greyhound this morning brought Michael to the Queen City of Bangor, Maine.  And I have just given him a tour of WoodenBoat in the fall.  Pretty but oh so quiet…  Tomorrow we’ll be touring a couple of neighborhood boatyards, and then he’ll fast ‘hound himself to Boston and thence to Sydney on Wednesday…

As Michael says about the PD racer,

“The perfect first sailing boat - cheap, fast to build and a good sailer.
Plans $20 (AUS) - but they are a boatbuilding course in a book.”

We’ve never really had a sailboat as a Family BoatBuilder boat.  I think I like the PD Racer for this, a lot.  What do you think?

And, then, for their second boat, the lucky family may choose Michael’s mouth-watering Goat Island Skiff (I NEED one!):

Goat Island Skiff

Goat Island Skiff

I’m posting this early (Monday) so I can spend some time with Michael.  Please check out his website (www.storerboatpans.com) and feel free and encouraged to post your comments at the bottom of this page.

MARISSA at IBEX

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

Last week:  I didn’t ignore this post, but I was lodged in a hotel in Miami Beach that didn’t have internet…

One of the highlights at IBEX — for me — was having our wooden Design Challenge winning boat in our booth.  Here’s a photo:

MARISSA at IBEX

MARISSA at IBEX -- photo courtesy of Laura Sherman

I’ve known MARISSA’s designer Graham Byrnes (of B&B Yacht  Designs) for years.  When he indicated he’d be willing to bring MARISSA in her partially finished form to IBEX, we were thrilled.

She was epoxied on the Friday before IBEX (Mon-Wed, Oct. 12-14) and postcured at 65 mph during the hot drive down from North Carolina.

For many, she was the hit of the show.

Here’s a rendering of her:

Marissa rendering, courtesy of B&B Yacht Designs

Marissa rendering, courtesy of B&B Yacht Designs

Graham intends to offer her as a kit.  To read more about her, go here:

http://www.bandbyachtdesigns.com/ec018.htm

And I’m sure by now you’re aware of our new online Directory of Boat Plans and Kits (www.woodenboat.com/boatplansandkits).  Designers:  You can post yours, for free.  Simply follow the upload instructions in the FAQ.

And now to unpack from IBEX….  Thanks, and please feel free to comment, below.