Launchings

Connie Nelson sent in a report of the construction of the canoe LOUISE. In 1998, her husband Earl was forced into retirement for health reasons and needed a project.

During August 2010, Don Warfield, Phil Andrews, and Lamar Keeney were among the students who took Jerry Stelmok’s class in Traditional Wood-and-Canvas Canoe Construction at the WoodenBoat School in Brooklin, ME.

The boat was designed and built in the spring and summer of 2024. The hulls are made of 1/4 inch birch plywood. Construction is tape and glue with 4 ounce fiberglass clothe overlay. Mahogany deck is from all salvage and recycled materials. The boat paddles very easily and is also very stable.

Rob Wybierala enjoyed building this San Juan Dory so much; he stopped going to work so he could finish it. Now he owns a small boatbuilding company in Maryland. GRIFF'S LANDING is built of plywood with sawn frames.

Bob Bondi used Okoume plywood, spruce, cherry, mahogany, and black walnut in building this Shellback dinghy, designed by Joel White. He modified the plans to include a pivoted centerboard and a kickup rudder. Bob completed the boat in August 2003.

Donal O'Callaghan writes that his boat is "one of those boats that whenever you row it, you should allow a few minutes to answer questions, because people are attracted to it like a magnet." He built this sleek beauty from plans by Graeme King of Putney, Vermont.

Martin Mittag, founder of the Wooden Boat Workshop of Norwalk, CT sent in this picture of 7 kayaks built at his workshop, during a three week project in the summer of 2003.

PERFECTO is a CLC Pocketship designed by John Harris and modified by Master Violin Maker, Scott W Hershey of Dillsburg, PA. I stretched PERFECTO by 1′ and extended the cabin and widened footwell. Building photos are on YouTube videos and are in 3 parts.

Aleksander Celarek just built this new motor launch, XIĄŻĘ XAWERY, with auxilary sail power. Based on designs of steam launches from the end of the 19th century, it is named after the first steamship that came to Poland from England in 1827.

KIWI II is a development of New Zealander Richard Hartley’s Trailer Sailer 21 design. This boat was started as a retirement project by Kennith Tycer. Howard Berg purchased the unfinished boat in 1995 and with the permission of the designer added a bowsprit to improve its windward performance.