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.
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Jun'ichi launched KIRI, a 15'6" pulling boat designed by William Atkin in May 2002. He uses KIRI (Japanese for 'mist') in the waters near Victoria, BC. KIRI is equipped with three rowing stations and a 4-hp Evinrude for propulsion.
Gus Duncan made quite a few modifications to this Chesapeake Light Craft (www.clcboats.com) that had been originally built in Brisbane, Australia.
Rod Wright’s version of the Barto 16′ melonseed (WB plan#120). She’s built of spanish cedar, sipo, ash and white oak; and sports a sail sewn 13from a Sailrite kit.
Begun in 2020 blissfully ignorant of rabbets, rabbet planes, and most things nautical, she took me four years of divine frustration from lofting to launch. Everything on her was ripped out and redone several times--so, by rights, she isn't the first boat I have built but at least the third.
Using John Gardner's Dory Book for instruction and inspiration, G++nter Voss built this 16-foot dory for his grandchildren to use, based on Gardner's 18-foot Light Dory. Voss modified the sheer and the top of the transom, and added a centerboard and a small lug rig.
Community School of Davidson is at it again, this time launching a Dave Gentry designed “Wee Lassie” built by 6th and 7th grade students at their middle school. Instructor Jim Dumser built it with eight students from the Friday “explore elective” over the fall and winter.
Single sliding seat open water shell, self-built, plans adapted to stitch and glue construction and to fit the Big River rowing rig from Fyne Boat Kits in the UK.
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.
Michael Henderson of Gloucester, Ontario built SHUSHUGAH from a Sea Wolf Kit designed by Ray Folland Kayaks. She is built of plywood and epoxy using the stitch-and-glue method. He launched her at Go Home Bay on July 4, 2002.
These are 10ft flat bottom skiffs built by 5th graders at the Dennis Haley Elementary School in Boston. Materials are: 3/8″ fir, marine ply bottom, white oak stem, frames, knees, rails and keelson, old growth eastern pine planking, silicone bronze fastened.
The Headwater Fourteen [H-14] was designed and the prototype built in the Summer of 1
WoodenBoat School student build 2024. All construction and fiberglass work completed.
