Boat Profile

August 2024

Sunfish

A simple sailboat from the 1950s

Derived from the popular Sailfish, the Sunfish was a collaborative creation from two sailors and two designers. Since the first 20 plywood boats were built in 1952, it has been in continuous production in fiberglass and more than 500,000 have been built and sailed worldwide.

Small Boats Annual 2007

The NorseBoat

A Cadillac of a camp-cruiser

The NorseBoat requires more study time per foot than most small craft. Besides an attractive hull and an unusual sail plan, she has more bells, whistles, and unexpected features than a 1970s conversion van—certainly more than any boat in her class.

July 2024

The Friend·Ship Canal Boat

A comfortable cruising boat for sheltered waters

Phil Thiel’s canal boat, suitable for at-home building by moderately experienced woodworkers is a comfortably appointed boat for long, leisurely trips on sheltered lakes, rivers, and canals and can accommodate six adults overnight.

July 2024

The Shrike Kayaks

CNC’s modern sea kayaks steeped in Inuit tradition

Based on an original Inuit Disko Bay kayak in the collection of the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the Shrikes, from CNC Kayaks, are designed to be built as simply and as lightly as possible. The result is a range of boats that connect the paddler with the environment and reward the user with speed, agility, and grace.

June 2024

The Scout 10

The “smallest camp-cruising sailboat” from Duckworks

The new Duckworks sailing dinghy, the Scout 10, is within the reach of first-time builders and has some innovative construction techniques to make the boat light and strong.

June 2024

Waterlust Sailing Canoe

Chesapeake Light Craft’s versatile canoe for paddle or sail

Inspired by the sailing canoes of the 19th century, the Waterlust from Chesapeake Light Craft can be paddled, pedaled, or sailed, and is designed for high-performance expedition cruising but is still well suited to a gentle afternoon outing.

May 2024

FLOW 19

A fast and sporty trailer-sailer

A trailerable sport-cruiser designed by Antoine Mainfray, the Flow 19 is as suited to racing as it is to gunkholing and beach cruising.

May 2024

Stir-Ven 19

François Vivier’s water-ballasted daysailer

Influenced by traditional Breton workboats, François Vivier’s lapstrake daysailer incorporates water-ballast tanks to reduce weight for trailing.

April 2024

Newfound Wherry

A cedar-stripped rowboat updated for sail and oar

Newfound Woodworks drew inspiration for the strip-planked Newfound Wherry from New England working boats.

Small Boats Annual 2015

John Hartmann’s Ilur

A sail and oar boat in the style of Arthur Ransome

April 2024

Acorn 17

Iain Oughtred’s Whitehall

Based on the Whitehalls of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Iain Oughtred’s Acorn 17 is the longest in a series of sail-and-oar lapstrake dinghies.

Small Boats Annual 2015

Puddle Duck Racer

Descended from sandboxes

March 2024

Chamberlain Gunning Dory

Dave Gentry's skin-on-frame version of a Massachusetts classic

Based on the design of a Marblehead gunning dory of the early 20th century, Dave Gentry’s skin-on-frame dory can accommodate a solo rower or the whole family.

Small Boats Annual 2015

Jewell

An able small cruiser from François Vivier

Small Boats Annual 2015

Goat Island Skiff

High-performance dinghy, family daysailer

March 2024

Caledonia Yawl II

An updated sail-and-oar classic

Iain Oughtred’s lapstrake yawl updates the original from four strakes to seven but it remains an iconic double-ender for sail and oar.

Small Boats Annual 2015

Marsh Duck

A high-performance expedition boat

Small Boats Annual 2015

PRIMROSE

The smallest of K. Aage Nielsen’s double-enders

February 2024

Wyman 12

A traditional working skiff

David Wyman’s flat-bottom skiff is a contemporary version of a workhorse from the late 19th century, simplified for today’s DIY boatbuilders.

February 2024

Salish Coastal Cruiser

A coastal rower from Oyster Bay Boats

The latest sliding-seat design from Oyster Bay Boats provides stability and speed in a coastal rower that can’t be swamped.

Small Boats Annual 2015

The Morley Guide Canoe

A classic shape in cedar-strip construction

Small Boats Annual 2015

Feather 14

A lifetime of inspiration

A lifetime of inspiration

Valgerda

A striking double-ender, form perfected by evolution

A striking double-ender, form perfected by evolution

January 2024

Banjo 20

Devlin’s compact, trailerable outboard cruiser

A trailerable outboard cruiser from Sam Devlin, the Banjo 20 has comfortable accommodations and is easy to operate.

January 2024

The Boston Whaler Montauks

Unsinkable classic still going strong

The Montauk range has evolved over time and grown in size, but it remains a stable, unsinkable workhorse and family favorite.