Launchings

Novice boater Norah Ketrow loves her new boat KELP, a present for her first birthday from her father, Aaron. The design is an Original Gloucester Rocker, built from plans sold by The WoodenBoat Store, www.woodenboatstore.com.

Merv Shaw bought the plans for this Weekender Pocket Yacht more than 25 years ago. He started building the boat 10 years ago, and finally finished in late 2010. SPIRIT OF BIG ISLAND is 19′6″ gaff-rigged sloop designed by Stevenson Projects.

SHAWSHANK, a 1953, 13′ Lyman Ideal runabout, has a lapstrake plywood hull, with oak frames and rails, and mahogany seats and transom.  Upon retirement, Mark Serrianne took on the job of restoring her, repairing the substantial dry rot in her bottom, taking her down to bare wood, refinishing the h

Kevin and Pat Clair of Carrollton, Texas launched WATERMELON in March 2001. At just under 8' long, this kayak is a tight fit for paddler. She is a "V8" design from Versatile Marine of Carrollton Texas. The hull is made from 3 mm okoume plywood, and the deck from 1.5mm okoume.

I built this Eastport Ultralight dinghy (from Chesapeak Light Craft) to get to a mooring on Sengekontacket Pond, in Edgartown, Massachusetts.

Doug Burns built this Shearwater 17 from a Chesapeake Light Craft kit. The honey colored hull is Okoume plywood, the dark red deck Sapele. She has an LOA of 17′ and a beam of 22″. Designed by Eric Shade, she weighs about 45lbs.

Jim Inglis wanted a boat he could carry on his car while traveling around Australia with his camper trailer. He wanted a light, responsive boat capable of crossing open water, yet maintain a traditional look.

Dan Kelly of Weirton, WV, built this Joel White-designed Shellback dinghy in 2002. He modified the plans a little bit in using a titanium mast and titanium keel to keep her light. He also enclosed the area forward of the mast with cedar and filled it with foam insulation to add to her buoyancy.