To the Black Sea

6

January 2026

From Drift Boat to Sharpie

Building small boats in Colorado

Steve Wenger has built not one, but three, boats designed by Tracy O’Brien—and two other small boats along the way. His love of the designs is matched by his enjoyment of the build and his pleasure of getting afloat.

5

January 2026

Gas Growler 3.8

A compact refillable propane tank

Single-use pressurized fuel canisters are ideal for camp-cruising but typically can neither be refilled nor easily disposed of. Christopher Cunningham reviews a new refillable small tank from Ignik.

5

January 2026

Shackleton’s Boat Journey

A story of survival

Frank Worsley’s account of his voyage from Elephant Island to South Georgia, with Sir Ernest Shackleton and four other crew members from the ill-fated ENDEAVOUR, is as exciting and remarkable today as it was when first published in 1933.

4

January 2026

Floorboards for Small Boats

Keeping gear dry with easy-to-make slatted boards

No one wants a cluttered cockpit on a small boat, and sometimes raised floorboards can make all the difference in keeping things tidy and dry. Bill Thomas describes a simple construction project.

13

January 2026

A Scaled-Down Cruise in the Gulf Islands

Navigating high winds, unsafe harbors, and flat calms

When setting off on an extended cruise, it’s good to have a plan; it’s just as important to be flexible. When Alex Zimmerman ran into more wind than was comfortable for his 18-footer, he gave up on his extended cruise through the Gulf Islands and stayed closer to home.

6

January 2026

Gartside Design #261

A double-ended launch

A classic double-ended launch with open cockpit, Paul Gartside’s Design #261 was designed to be built with two layers of glued fore-and-aft planking and powered by an inboard diesel motor. Nigel Sharp reviews a new build that retains all the aesthetic appeal of the original but combines a strip-planked, cold-molded hull with an electric motor.

6

January 2026

BayCruiser 23

Water ballast creates two boats in one

The fiberglass-hulled sloop-rigged BayCruiser 23 is suitable for coastal cruising, but with its water-ballast system and lightweight rig, says Nic Compton, it also offers sailing performance more often associated with smaller sailing dinghies.

6

Two young girls wearing lifevests ride aboard a small white sailboat.

Small Boats Annual 2013

Drifter

Yacht tender, daysailer, trainer

Designed as an able yacht tender, Drifter's wider aft sections favors buoyancy and stability over pure rowing.

6

Small Boats Annual 2013

Sea Flea Hydroplane

Small boat, big fun

There's no telling how many of these little hydroplanes have been constructed, but their appeal is as fresh now as it was 50 years ago.

9

December 2025

A Runabout for the Back of the Car

Designing and building a very small boat

Tyler Ellis dreamed of having his own boat but had neither the money to buy one nor the space to store it. Not one to give up, he designed and built a tiny runabout that fits in the back of his Honda CRV.

3

December 2025

Ankle Deck Boots

Comfortable waterproof short boots from Xtratuf

Boots that are waterproof, sturdy, and comfortable are not easy to find, but Xtratuf has managed to combine all three elements in the Ankle Deck Boots for men, women, and kids.

4

December 2025

DeWalt Dry Hand Vacuum

A convenient cordless vacuum for the shop

A reliable vacuum with good suction is a must in any busy workshop. The DeWalt cordless vacuum is powerful but small enough to be used in tight spaces and light enough to be carried on a belt hook.

4

December 2025

H-Stands with Slings

How to turn over a boat when shorthanded

Turning a boat over when you’re on your own is a challenge, but with some custom-built H-stands and slings Ben Fuller proves that it’s far from impossible.

13

December 2025

The Young Man and the Sea of Cortez

Seeking adventure in the Gulf of California

Owen Alfonso had no previous experience of coastal rowing; nevertheless, in an 18’ sliding-seat rowboat, he completed a 650-mile voyage of discovery along the east coast of the Baja California Peninsula.

6

December 2025

Nexus Marine San Juan Dory

A plywood skiff for crabbing, trolling, and overnight camping

A workaday skiff that can plane with ease and has space for passengers and lobster traps, the San Juan Dory is a challenging but satisfying build for amateurs.

6

December 2025

Malahini

A classic 16′ runabout from Glen-L Marine

Even though it’s powered by an outboard motor, Glen-L’s Malahini looks like a classic runabout from a bygone era, but its hull is of plywood on oak frames, and it’s designed to be built by amateurs with some experience.

4

Small Boats Annual 2013

Phoenix III

A sail-and-oar beach cruiser

Sailing to windward, reaching, running, the heading doesn't seem to matter; the Phoenix III slips easily through the water.

7

Small Boats Annual 2012

Amphibi-ette

The camper bus of sailboats

The Amphibi-ette is aimed squarely at young families for whom absolute practicality is more important than traditional aesthetics.

3

Five-person crew rows a racing skiff with two more boats in the background

Small Boats Annual 2012

St. Ayles Skiff

Inspiring the community rowing revival

This double-ender is sleek, with a finer bow than stern, and both ends flowing to flatter floors as one moves toward amidships.

6

November 2025

Building a Piranha

A young Polish woodworker tackles his first boatbuilding project

Stanislaw Klupś was 13 when his parents gave him a set of boat plans and some plywood for Christmas. The ensuing building project came together in the family’s backyard, and after many hours of hard work Stan had built a 10’ sail-and-oar boat that he could enjoy alone or with his younger sister.

4

November 2025

Canvas Oar Bag

A protective carrier for well-loved oars

Carrying oars is often awkward and keeping them safe from damage when on land is never easy, but the Canvas Oar Bag solves both problems at once, creating a well-balanced load within a durable cover.

3

November 2025

NRS Deluxe Boat Sponge

A boat sponge with a difference

A sponge within a terry-cloth cover, the NRS Deluxe Boat Sponge is good at picking up water, grit, and bits of debris.

5

November 2025

Pivoting Daggerboard

Combining the best elements of a centerboard and a daggerboard

Sailing in shoal waters can be problematic for a boat with a daggerboard—an unseen submerged obstacle can stop the boat in its tracks, and even break the board. One solution is a board that both pivots and lifts when struck.

12

November 2025

The Crossing

Wind and tide wait for no man in the Strait of Juan de Fuca

When Colin Schehl left Port Townsend, Washington, at the beginning of his month-long cruise through the San Juan and Gulf islands, he had no idea that the first 36 hours of the voyage would test him and his boat to their limits.

6

November 2025

Whitmore Peapod

A classic working boat built the traditional way

Originally conceived as working boats for the lobstermen of Maine, peapods are appreciated for their maneuverability, load-carrying capacity, and good looks. A new replica build of a 1920s original proves the type’s long-lasting appeal.

Series

From Drift Boat to Sharpie

Gas Growler 3.8

Shackleton’s Boat Journey

Floorboards for Small Boats

A Scaled-Down Cruise in the Gulf Islands

Gartside Design #261

BayCruiser 23

Drifter

Sea Flea Hydroplane

A Runabout for the Back of the Car

Ankle Deck Boots

DeWalt Dry Hand Vacuum

H-Stands with Slings

The Young Man and the Sea of Cortez

Nexus Marine San Juan Dory

Malahini

Phoenix III

Amphibi-ette

St. Ayles Skiff

Building a Piranha

Canvas Oar Bag

NRS Deluxe Boat Sponge

Pivoting Daggerboard

The Crossing

Whitmore Peapod

Subscribe Today!

Time to upgrade!

From Drift Boat to Sharpie

Gas Growler 3.8

Shackleton’s Boat Journey

Floorboards for Small Boats

A Scaled-Down Cruise in the Gulf Islands

Gartside Design #261

BayCruiser 23

Drifter

Sea Flea Hydroplane

A Runabout for the Back of the Car

Ankle Deck Boots

DeWalt Dry Hand Vacuum

H-Stands with Slings

The Young Man and the Sea of Cortez

Nexus Marine San Juan Dory

Malahini

Phoenix III

Amphibi-ette

St. Ayles Skiff

Building a Piranha

Canvas Oar Bag

NRS Deluxe Boat Sponge

Pivoting Daggerboard

The Crossing

Whitmore Peapod

Subscribe Today!

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