Series

The Newfound Rangeley

A strip-planked rowboat for sport and recreation

The Newfound Rangeley is a strip-planked interpretation of a well-known western Maine guideboat.

Small Boats Annual 2011

Ninigret

A timeless bassboat

John Atkin designed Ninigret for the pursuit of striped bass and bluefish in the choppy waters of Block Island Sound and the Gulf of Mexico. Regardless, she is well suited to a wide range of uses including family outings, picnics, weekend cruising, or any other activity that benefits from quiet, economical operation, lots of room, and a smooth ride.

December 2024

Building an Adirondack Guideboat

A first-time boatbuilder tackles a classic

In 1969, Gary Carbocci promised to build an Adirondack guideboat so he could take his friend, Rich, fishing. Fifty-five years later, with no previous boatbuilding experience, he had built and launched a 16′ guideboat.

December 2024

Cleaning Sails

Nature’s Miracle and Folex tackle tough stains

When mice invade sail bags, the damage caused is extraordinary. Nature’s Miracle Urine Destroyer Plus and Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover work on the stains with impressive results.

December 2024

Hooway 7×50 Marine Binoculars

Affordable binoculars that float

These affordable binoculars come with a compass and rangefinder, and they’re waterproof and float—a clear advantage for use on a small boat.

December 2024

Using the Roll-and-Tip Method

Achieving a smooth paint finish with roller and brush

Good tools, good preparation, good materials, and plenty of practice lead to top-quality paint finishes using rollers and brushes.

December 2024

A Sacramento River Adventure

A father and son head downstream for an overnight voyage

A father and his 7-year-old son set sail downriver on the Sacramento for an overnight adventure in their home-built 18′ Vivier Seil.

December 2024

Sea Wolf

A fast and stable kayak from Newfound Woodworks

The Sea Wolf kayak can be built from plans or a kit, has good stability for novice paddlers, and displays impressive performance that suits multi-day cruising.

December 2024

Gartside’s Spitfire

A 10′ pram for sail and oar

Paul Gartside’s 10′ pram was drawn with children in mind but is also appealing to adults looking for a sail-and-oar boat of traditional construction and sweet lines.

Small Boats Annual 2011

NEWT Canoe

You can paddle it in a puddle

This compact and easy-to-build canoe from designer Warren Jordan is a fine choice for a first-time builder who wants a lightweight craft for exploring shallow inlets, streams, and other calm waters.

Small Boats Annual 2011

Schooner 18

An 18' camp schooner from Shell Boats

The Schooner 18 is an iconoclastic camp-cruiser from Shell Boats of St. Albans, VT. She's the largest in Fred Shell’s Swifty line and is quick to handle and accelerate, with a nice turn of speed for such a small boat.

Small Boats Annual 2011

Bay Pilot 18

A garage-built pocket cruiser

The Bay Pilot 18, designed by Arch Davis, is a swift cruiser that accommodates up to four adults during day outings, or two for overnight excursions.

Small Boats Annual 2010

Coquina

A classic yacht in a small package

Nathanael Greene Herreshoff designed the original Coquina for his own use. Excellent balance and sailing characteristics—and above all, simplicity—made the 16’8” LOA boat one of his favorites.

Small Boats Annual 2010

Columbia and Catspaw Dinghies

One original, one adaptation—and both classic dinghies

A pairing of ancestor and offspring: the Columbia tender developed by Nathanael Greene Herreshoff in the last year of the 19th century, and the Catspaw dinghy drawn by Joel White in the 1970s. The similarities are striking, but the differences are clear—nevertheless, either boat would be a fine choice for construction and use.

November 2024

An Echo Bay Dory Skiff

Building a rowboat for Pam

When 92-year-old Pam Ayres told her daughter and son-in-law that all she wanted was a rowboat, they decided they should all build one together.

November 2024

The Ronstan Battlestick

An easy-on-easy-off tiller extension

Tiller extensions are not just for high-performance sailboats. This easily fitted example comes in a wide range of lengths and can be used in a variety of boat types.

November 2024

Jorgensen’s 60-1/2 Block Plane

A new adjustable-mouth low-angle block plane

This adjustable-mouth low-angle block plane is affordable, of good quality, simple, and reliable, making it a must-have tool in a woodworker’s shop.

November 2024

PVC Spring Clamps and a Tool for Applying Them

Simple clamps made more useful with reverse-action pliers

PVC-pipe spring clamps are cheap and easy to make but opening them wide sometimes requires more than hand strength; a pair of reverse-action pliers increases the spread and allows the operator to open the clamps one-handed.

November 2024

The Sea of the Sámi People

Sailing the Arctic waters of Lake Inari

A father and daughter take their Ness Yawl north of the Arctic Circle for a four-day high-wind cruise through the islands of Lake Inari in Finland.

November 2024

The Wittholz 15

A plywood catboat for home construction

A New England–style catboat, the Wittholz 15 is suitable for home-building and offers excellent sailing, a spacious cockpit for as many as six adults, and admiring looks wherever it goes.

November 2024

A United Nations Flat-Bottomed Skiff

An 18′ wooden skiff designed for Lake Malawi

This simple outboard-and-oar skiff was designed for fishing in Lake Malawi, southern Africa. Having built one from free U.N. plans, a young New Yorker proves the boat’s worth on the shallow waters of Great South Bay, Long Island.

Small Boats Annual 2010

The Albury Runabout

A magic carpet for the water

The Albury Runabout is a classically fine outboard, famous for her smooth ride, speed and sea-worthiness. She was designed by Willard and Benny Albury and were first built in the 1950s.

Small Boats Annual 2010

The Delaware Ducker

A blue-collar performance boat

The Delaware Ducker evolved as a bird-hunting boat on the tributaries of Delaware Bay. A study in simplicity and performance, it deserves close attention as a recreational boat.

Small Boats Annual 2010

The Haven 12 1/2 Footer

A trailerable classic

A handsome daysailer based on the Herreshoff 12 1/2, but modified for a centerboard.

October 2024

A Compact Collapsible Shelter

Pankay’s Pop Up Privacy Tent

This compact collapsible shelter provides privacy for changing clothes or using a portable head as well as protection from wind and rain ashore or afloat.