BLACK DAMSEL
BLACK DAMSEL is a Ken Bassett Firefly design, plans from WoodenBoat. Bassett’s plans call for plywood fastened to stem, keelson and chine logs. I wanted to build this boat stitch and glue to simplify things and hopefully reduce the weight. I contacted Bassett and he gave me his blessing to proceed. She’s built of 4mm occoume, glassed inside and outside. Trim is all Douglas fir. I added some fore and aft flotation, taking a page from Annapolis Wherry. The results are in. She’s lovely and the four of us who rowed pronounced her sweet; fast, stable. The rig is a refurbished Martin Marine Oarmaster.