I chose this design as a chance to try strip building and the epoxy approach. The boat is made of Eastern White Cedar, Western Red Cedar and Walnut. I used System Three Epoxy and Captains Z Spar Varnish For the finish. The project took 3 months elapsed time working almost full time at it!
Plans and plywood bought in 2000, then life got in the way. Retirement in 2018 removed all excuses and slow progress began in 2019. The covid lockdown provided the dedicated time needed for completion.
This is a Phil Bolger designed catboat. I bought Dynamite Payson’s book, “Build the instant Catboat”. It only took 14 years....with the help of my daughter. I had an old Beetle cat rig that I modified for the boat. Good to finally get it wet.
The Lowell Town Class was originally designed in 1932 as a safe children’s training boat. Today they are raced by Town Class Association enthusiasts in MA and RI.The Landing School undertook to build three of these boats in the 2019-2020 school year but only one was completed due to COVID-19.
My friend and I built matching row boats to Sam Devlin’s plans, originally called the 5X10, now called Bella. Nevin named his Theresa, mine is unnamed as yet. Despite the fact that Sam’s classes build these little rowers in a weekend, Nevin and I took five years to complete ours.
Built on spec by the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding of strip planked western red cedar and cold molded mahogany set in West System epoxy. She was used for a number of years as a daily commuter from Bainbridge Island to Seattle.
This is a simple 8ft stitch and glue sail/row pram. It requires only 3 sheets of marine plywood and should be very fast, easy, and inexpensive to build. It should end up just over 80lb so easy to transport as well.
Spirit, the 1931 Merrick was purchased by Elissa Pryor and Janet Spindler in July of 2017. Home is Stimson Marina in Ballard, Seattle Washington. Please update.