November 2019

Long-Reach Clamps

Big jaws with bite

When you have a job to do that’s beyond the reach of the clamps you have, it’s easy enough to make longer clamps. Some scrap lumber, two bits of plywood, a bolt, and a length of cord are all you need.

November 2019

Gill Deckhand Gloves

Durable protection from Gill

If you enjoy rowing but don’t get out as often as you’d like, you may not be able to put in the time it takes to toughen your hands. Kent Lewis counts on his Deckhand gloves from Gill to keep blisters and hot spots from spoiling his outings.

November 2019

Outboard Extension Handles

Handi-Mate and HelmsMate

Sitting right next to a small outboard motor, hand on the throttle, isn’t always where you want to be, especially if your weight puts the boat out of trim. With a tiller extension you can move to a better spot.

Small Boats Annual 2021November 2019

Alf’s Trap Skiff

60 years in the works

Raised in an island village that has been his family’s home for seven generations, Newfoundlander Alf Manuel was a habitué of the boat shops in his neighborhood and from an early age he was destined to become a skilled boatbuilder. Now 80, he shares with us his trap skiff, an homage to the working boats of his youth.

To the Black Sea – Episode 11

Croatia to Serbia, Two Months Into the Journey

Entering Croatia, Two Months Into Their Journey: - - Watch Now The Danube carries Finn and Tereza through Croatia to Serbia and a stop at Belgrade. Fall brings shorter days, nearly freezing nights, and rain. See how they’re holding up two months into the voyage.

To the Black Sea – Episode 10

Cold Weather, Beach Camping and Strong Winds

Cold Weather, Beach Camping and Strong Winds: - Watch Now Finn and Tereza make their way across Hungary, and visit the capital city of Budapest. There they pick up a crewmate, Karl, and carry on down the Danube. Get ready for some wild river sailing!

To the Black Sea – Episode 9

Navigating the Constantly Changing River

Navigating the Constantly Changing River: - Watch Now In Slovakia, Finn and Tereza have to get chaperoned by a cargo vessel to be allowed through one of the larger locks, but in the wider parts of the Danube they get some sea room and a breeze. Watch JILL spread her wings and fly.

To the Black Sea – Episode 8

Riding the Current Through the Final Days of Summer

Riding the Current Through the Final Days of Summer. - Watch Now The Danube’s gentle current carries Jill along and the miles come easily for Tereza and Finn. Check out the lush landscapes and elegant urban architecture of Germany and Austria in their latest video.

October 2019

Grappling Hooks

Salvaging and scavenging

When valuable gear finds its way over the side and sinks, you might have a chance of getting it back if the water’s not too deep. We take a look at two compact grappling hooks to see if they can retrieve sunken trash and treasures.

Small Boats Annual 2021October 2019

Song Wren

A Devlin gaff-rigged cutter

The Song Wren from Devlin Designing Boat Builders is a handsome gaff-rigged cutter with a comfortable cockpit and cabin. For easy trailering it has a tabernacle mast and can be built with a swing keel. The full-keel option opens up space in the cabin.

Small Boats Annual 2021October 2019

Elf

A plywood faering from Iain Oughtred

Traditional Norwegian faerings are elegant boats that require exceptional boatbuilding skills. Iain Oughtred’s Elf captures the form and function beautifully in plywood and makes the ancient type accessible to contemporary amateur builders.

October 2019

Barron Canyon

Canoeing the Algonquin

Phil Boyer and two of his good friends paddled three of Phil’s canoes along the Barron River in Ontario’s Algonquin Provincial Park, and portaged to nearby lakes where they contended with boulders by day and bullfrogs by night.

October 2019

Cleating the Main

Two quick-release options

When you’re sailing solo, you’ll often have one hand on the tiller and the other on the sheet. Ben Fuller has two ways of secure the sheet if the wind is steady and moderate and both can be released quickly if a gust hits.

October 2019

Circular-Saw-Blade Sharpener

Diamonds aren't always a blade's best friend

Carbide-tipped circular saw blades can have a long life, but they do eventually get dull. Sending one out to be sharpened can cost almost as much as a new blade, so we tried an affordable sharpening device with a diamond wheel to do the job at home. Unfortunately, it did more harm than good.

October 2019

A George Putz Walrus

An experimental skin on an old-school frame

Serial boatbuilder Richard Nissen, who already has a lot of ways to get out on his stretch of the River Thames, added another boat to his fleet. With the book, Wood and Canvas Kayak Building, in hand, Richard followed the instructions for the 17’ wooden frame, but struck out on his own when it came to using canvas for the skin.

To the Black Sea – Episode 7

It's all Downhill (River) From Here

It's all Downhill (River) From Here- Watch Now Finn and Teresa continue eastward on the Main-Donau Canal, taking lock aft lock the geographical high point of the voyage. While it was all “downhill” from there to the Danube, their video conveys a grand adventure.

To the Black Sea – Episode 6

Problem Solving

Problem Solving and Moving Against the Current.- Watch Now At Würzberg, Finn and Tereza are joined by Lorenzo, a staffer from their alma mater, the Brockwood Park School. Watch how our adventurers solve a few problems on their way to the city of Bamberg and the entrance to the canal that will carry them to the Danube river.

To the Black Sea – Episode 5

Finally Sailing JILL!

The Wind Picks Up and JILL is Sailing - Watch Now Averaging about 17 miles a day, Finn and Tereza work their way up the Main River and reached Würzberg. They still have many more miles of the Main ahead of them before they reach the first canal along the route to Russia. Our young travelers are getting into their…

To the Black Sea – Episode 4

Summer heat, torrential rain and the excitement of the first week on the water.

Summer heat, torrential rain and the first week on the water. - Watch NowTheir destination, Sochi, Russia, was 1,500 miles away as the jet airliner flies, but Finn and Tereza are in no hurry and determined to travel in a manner that’s kind to the environment. They have been underway for a week now.

To the Black Sea – Episode 3

Driving to Germany, The Adventure Begins

Getting JILL to Germany - Watch NowWith no car, Finn and Tereza have to figure out how to get their boat to Mainz, Germany. With all their supplies (and a guitar) aboard JILL, their goal was to get her in the water and spend their first night under the open sky.

To the Black Sea – Episode 2

Finishing Their Boat, JILL

Finn and Tereza Finish Their Boat - Watch NowJILL, the boat Finn and Tereza have been building for their journey across Europe to Russia, is still not finished. Watch this video to see the challenges finishing JILL and the final stages of the pre-trip preparations.

To the Black Sea – Episode 1

Introducing Finn and Tereza's Adventure

Introduction to Finn and Tereza's Adventure - Watch NowWhile students at Brockwood Park School in Hampshire, UK, Finn Cameron-Turner and Tereza Deminova, both 17, built a 16’ Matinicus double ender. They’ll cross Europe on inland waterways, the last of which, the Danube, will deliver them to the Black Sea.

September 2019

Campion’s Apple 16

Light, fast, and well mannered

The Apple 16 is a stitch-and-glue plywood dayboat designed by Thomas Dunderdale of Campion Sail and Design. It has classic lines, a jaunty plumb bow, and a traditional balanced lug yawl rig, but a flat aft section of the hull allows the boat to get up on a plane.

September 2019

Oughtred’s Auk

An adaptable tender

Iain Oughtred’s Auk is one of several plywood lapstrake dinghies that is well suited to recreational rowing and sailing as well as serving as a tender to a larger vessel. While the shortest version of the Auk is 7’11”, the plans can easily be stretched a foot or more longer.

September 2019

Running on Sunshine

The Trent-Severn Waterway under solar power

Phil Boyer likes exploring the many inland waterways of southern Ontario and can cruise all day without raising a sail, breaking a sweat, or burning fossil fuel. His strip-built launch, SOL CANADA, has an electric motor and a canopy covered with solar cells. We tag along for his 337-mile solo on the Trent-Severn Waterway.