To the Black Sea

7

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.

10

June 2024

From the Dumpster to the Launching Ramp

A rescued kit becomes a much-loved family boat

When Polly Robinson was offered a lapstrake plywood dinghy kit that was about to be thrown out, she didn’t hesitate. She took it home and built the boat for her family.

13

June 2024

The Erie Canal by Canoe

A solo voyage along the 19th-century commercial waterway

Hugh Rand launched his solo canoe at the westernmost end of the Erie Canal and paddled the 363 miles to its easternmost end. The 19-day voyage took him through 19 guard gates and 35 locks.

9

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.

3

June 2024

Maptattoo

A glare-free GPS for small boats

The Maptattoo marine GPS was designed by and for small-boat users. Its glare-free screen can be read in any light, its battery is long-lasting, and it can be operated in rain and spray.

15

June 2024

All-Terrain Carts

A home-built go-anywhere cart

Canoes and kayaks can be paddled in many out-of-the-way places, and carts that roll over soft sand and loose rock as easily as if on pavement can get them there with ease.

6

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.

3

June 2024

Boat Cover Batten Sockets

Cast-bronze fittings bring stability to cover battens

An innovative piece of hardware sits in standard oarlock plates to create a stable bracket for anchoring batten supports for small-boat covers.

15

May 2024

A Faering of His Own

Pursuing Viking traditions in upstate New York

Craig Hohm’s affection for Viking ships and Norwegian workboats led him to build a 19’ faering, starting with trees from his woodland lot and using many traditional methods.

3

May 2024

Zero-Flute Countersinks

Smooth countersinking and deburring

These precision-machined bits make clean, chatter-free work across a range of materials.

6

May 2024

An Inflatable Fender/Roller

A versatile inflatable fender from Aeré

Aeré’s sturdy inflatable fender is a versatile piece of small-boat equipment that can also serve as a beach roller, a seat cushion, and a bed pillow. And it packs down for easy stowage.

5

May 2024

Building a Squirt

A retired woodworking teacher builds his first boat

When his friend sold the boat they’d used for fishing, Bill Bains decided to build his own, and found himself returning to teenage memories of a small mid-century speedster.

7

May 2024

Different Ways to Style Your Kayak

Bringing unique flair to plywood and strip-built kayaks

Not all wooden kayaks have to be varnished to be beautiful. There are many different ways to finish and add unique panache to hulls and decks.

5

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.

6

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.

4

April 2024

3M Stikit Hand Block

An ergonomic sanding block for Stikit sandpaper

Sanding by hand can lead to aching fingers but the ergonomic foam hand blocks from 3M with made-to-measure self-adhesive paper relieve most of the aches and pains.

6

April 2024

Coloring Cordage

Dying synthetic rope for a natural look

The look of a traditional boat can be spoiled by bright white synthetic rope for running rigging and painters, but an easy and inexpensive solution is to stain it to look like its manila predecessors.

7

April 2024

Car-Door Steps

A leg up to roof racks

Even the tallest among us can struggle when handling boats and gear on a car roof; a car-door step introduces some useful extra height to extend reach.

9

April 2024

RIPPLE

Building a sailboat with three sheets of plywood and some foam board

When his two children started learning to sail, Nathan Greenawalt designed and built a simple three-sheet plywood dinghy they could use by themselves.

6

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.

12

April 2024

CROW’s Last Sail

Building a boat fit for a voyage into the unknown

A lifelong dream to sail the Atlantic will become real, posthumously, in a purpose-built, self-steering, square-rigged adaptation of the Bolger-designed Micro.

14

Small Boats Annual 2015

Six Ways to Build a Wooden Boat

A guide to common construction methods

There are about six common methods of building wooden boats today, with variations on each. No particular method can be proclaimed the best; each comes with its own suite of advantages and drawbacks.

5

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.

5

March 2024

TripTips Retractable Portable Toilet

An easier way to pack out waste

Packing-out waste from campsites is essential but not always easy in small boats. The Retractable Portable Toilet packs small, weighs little, and keeps campsites unspoiled.

9

March 2024

Sailing DORCAS

How a canoe built for paddling was reimagined for sail

Erik was happy paddling the strip-planked canoe he’d built, but he still longed to sail. He made his daydream a reality by designing and building an outrigger and a simple sail rig.

Series

The Shrike Kayaks

From the Dumpster to the Launching Ramp

The Erie Canal by Canoe

The Scout 10

Maptattoo

All-Terrain Carts

Waterlust Sailing Canoe

Boat Cover Batten Sockets

A Faering of His Own

Zero-Flute Countersinks

An Inflatable Fender/Roller

Building a Squirt

Different Ways to Style Your Kayak

FLOW 19

Stir-Ven 19

3M Stikit Hand Block

Coloring Cordage

Car-Door Steps

RIPPLE

Newfound Wherry

CROW’s Last Sail

Six Ways to Build a Wooden Boat

Acorn 17

TripTips Retractable Portable Toilet

Sailing DORCAS

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