Boat Profile
In production for 50 years
...and have any engine fumes well out of the way.” Watkinson created a boat that his wife would enjoy and it drew the interest of others, and at the 1968 Earls Court Boat Show the first production boat sold within 20 minutes of the doors being opened. Kent Lewis To keep the rudder at the ready, the authors’ Lugger, ONKAHYE,...
Product Reviews
Cutting and fusing synthetics
...pocket lighter to sear the ends of the various materials to keep them from fraying, but when we needed to neatly cut several strips of nylon webbing for a boat cover we decided to try the Edge Hotknife sold by Sailrite. Kent and Audrey Lewis The Edge Hotknife will reach its maximum temperature of 752 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 seconds...
Technique
Paddle + Boat hook
...and “Clark” Kent Lewis enjoy small boating along the bays and rivers of Florida’s Emerald Coast. Their adventures can be followed on their small boat restoration blog. Editor’s notes: I was intrigued by the Lewis’ padook and decided to build one for myself. It was an easy and familiar shop project—I’ve made several Greenland paddles in the past and described...
Product Reviews
Quick, precise tire inflation
...separately) DeWalt’s 20V Max batteries, and a 115V AC power adapter. Kent and Audrey Lewis The DeWalt inflator has a high-pressure hose for auto and dolly tires. The corrugated hose at the right can be used for inflatable mattresses and boat rollers. We first used the inflator powered with one of our DeWalt 20V Max batteries to air up vehicle,...
Product Reviews
Long-lasting submersible lights
...few years ago, we started switching our fleet of trailers over to LED lights and have been very happy with their longevity, even when dunked with every launching. Kent and Audrey Lewis Submersible LED lights are brighter, longer lasting, and quicker to illuminate than their incandescent predecessors. LEDs, light-emitting diodes, provide bright lighting for trailers, much brighter than incandescent bulbs,...
Technique
Offseason maintenance for small-boat sails
...businesses and sailmakers that repair and recondition sails. Kent Lewis After a cleaning or being subjected to saltwater spray, a fresh-water rinse is followed by the sail being spread out to dry. A dry lawn is better for the sail than hanging it up and subjecting it to fluttering in the breeze. To keep from staining the fabric green, avoid...
Product Reviews
Less drama at the ramp
...for the cross supports. Our trailer guru, Eddie, says steel posts are required for a double-stack—aluminum posts will not handle fore-and-aft stress of acceleration and braking. For easier launch and retrieval and hauling pods of small boats, check out trailer guide posts. You’ll get more out of your trailer. Audrey “Skipper” Lewis and “Clark” Kent Lewis enjoy small boating along...
Product Reviews
A PFD with plenty of pockets
...periods so we don’t have to suffer in the name of safety. Audrey “Skipper” Lewis is a costume designer who has extensive experience designing garments and working with fabric. Kent Lewis is a retired Marine Corps Aviator with thousands of hours wearing integrated life-preserver units and survival vests, flying combat missions, and conducting search-and-rescue operations. The fleet at their Florida...
Boat Profile
An enduring and durable classic
...is aluminum and a Grumman. We set out a few years back to find another Grumman 17′ Double-Ender; we knew they were a good size for two to four people and some picnic snacks, and Grumman canoes have a well-deserved reputation for versatility and durability. Photographs by the Lewis family The authors’ 17′ Double Ender sports a new paint job,...
Product Reviews
Power and finesse
...plank sections together for scarfing or to set Dutchman patches tight for gluing. Kent and Audrey Lewis Both the 24-volt Kobalt and the 20-volt DeWalt impact drivers have efficient brushless motors. Recently we bought the DeWalt’s DCF787 20V impact driver, which is lighter and smaller than the Kobalt. Both tools have brushless motors, which are more efficient and use less...
Product Reviews
Sturdy eyelets with bite
...W-1 C. S. Osborne hand press. There are many applications for grommets in the gear used for boating, from sails to covers and gear bags. Spur grommets—and the dies to set them— cost more than plain grommets but are far more secure than plain grommets and just as easy to install. Audrey and Kent Lewis mess about with their small...
Product Reviews
A waterproof jacket and bibs from West Marine
...with Velcro fastenings that make the flaps easy to open. There are pieces of retroreflective tape on the hood, shoulders, and wrists, although the women’s jacket does not have the tape on the shoulders. The large tail of the jacket is made from ballistic nylon and provides excellent coverage when seated. Photographs by Audrey Lewis The jacket’s front zipper is...
Technique
Beyond the reach of clamps
Kent Lewis Screws can hold work pieces together in areas where clamps can’t reach, and fender washers spread the pressure over a wide area, minimizing the damage to the wood and helping prevent splits in lumber. In our shop we have a lot of tools that have come to good use when working on wooden boats. One of the least...
Product Reviews
A pocket yardstick in brass and basswood
...markings are on the near side of the stick when it’s laid flat. Surprisingly, that is not the case with all folding rulers, the old Stanley rulers among them, which require looking over the far edge to measure or mark a workpiece. All photos by Kent Lewis Folded, the ruler is short enough to fit in a pants pocket without...
Boat Profile
Joel White's little packet
...lbs it is light enough to haul up on a mothership’s deck where it would take up very little space. All photos by Audrey and Kent Lewis The belaying pins on the forward thwart serve to belay the halyard. While they may seem more sentimental than practical, when properly used they can be pulled in an instant to drop the...
Product Reviews
A small trailer for small boats
...7′4″. Thanks to the rubber bumpers included with the kit and added to the aft frame, the trailer can be stored vertically. The coupler has a convenient handle for lifting to and from the towing vehicle’s trailer ball. Kent and Audrey Lewis The mounting racks are easily attached and can be located in a variety of different positions to offer...
Adventures
Rowing among the Islands of the Columbia River Estuary
...February, it was an opportunity I didn’t want to let pass. I’d get to row in sunshine and soft winds among the overwintering migratory birds at the Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge consists of 20 small islands strung along 27 miles of the Columbia River and surrounded by marshes that are sometimes inundated by high tides. This...
Boat Profile
An Arch Davis Classic
...Kent Lewis The stringers that back up the laps strengthen the hull without the need for frames. The glued-lapstrake 14′ plywood hull has an innovative structure with wider, and therefore fewer, planks, simplifying construction. The internal framework of longitudinal stringers is anchored to the stem, two bulkheads, and the transom. Two temporary molds help fair the stringers while the six...
Product Reviews
Warm and dry feet
...to get cold. We decided it was time to look for boots that would work year-round, and as luck would have it, I spotted a gentleman wearing some nice-looking outdoor boots at our local grocery store. He was happy to answer questions about his Muck Boots and he said they were comfortable, warm, and waterproof. Kent Lewis The Women’s...
Product Reviews
A versatile epoxy
...on many different fiberglass and wood boats for two years, and it is an invaluable part of our restoration arsenal. Audrey and Kent Lewis live on Florida’s Emerald Coast and enjoy small-boat sailing, restoration, and boatbuilding when she’s not designing costumes or when he’s not flying. The 1880s Mississippi River Skiff they repaired is in the collection of the Beauvoir...
Product Reviews
Lightweight rigs for hand launching
Photographs by Kent and Audrey Lewis A dolly opens up access to the water in areas without launching ramps. We have spent years moving small boats around, and for us, dollies are indispensable for boat storage, transport, launch, and recovery. They reduce dependence on paved launch ramps and open up new areas to explore, especially for adventurers with larger boats...
Technique
Age before wear
...degradation of the rubber. Most trailer tires will age out long before they wear out. Our trailer guru Eddie recommends replacing tires around the five-year mark; studies by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicate tires are no longer safe once they reach six years. Kent and Audrey Lewis This tire was one of 3 on a dual-axle trailer that...
Product Reviews
More than setting grommets
...At $84, the price may seem steep, but the King mallet is a versatile tool that is a pleasure to use. The mallet is as beautiful as it is functional, and now we want to put grommets in everything. Audrey and Kent Lewis live on the shore of the inland waters of the Florida Panhandle and curate an armada of...
Technique
Adhesive adornment
...two thumbs up. Audrey and Kent Lewis currently seek prizes on Pensacola Bay with their menagerie of sailboats, kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards. Sailrite and Seattle Fabrics are among the sources for adhesive-backed insignia sailcloth. It may be available at sail lofts. You can share your tricks of the trade with other Small Boats Monthly readers by sending us an email....
Product Reviews
Five functions and it floats
...with useful features. Kent and Audrey Lewis If the flashlight gets dropped overboard, it will float and automatically start flashing the red light in its handle. The flashlight is 7.8″ long and weighs in at a very light 6.25 oz. The body of the flashlight is water resistant and impact-rated for a drop from 1 meter. A flange on the...