Series

March 2016

Taking Refuge

Rowing among the Islands of the Columbia River Estuary

Winter brought the birds to the islands and with a break in the cold weather brought an opportunity to row along the edge of the Lewis & Clark National Wildlife Refuge.

Small Boats Annual 2017March 2016

Eco 5 Power Cat

A catamaran for cozy cruising

While it’s sometimes said that the moment you’ve stepped aboard boat you’ve arrived, there are times when you’d like to go somewhere. The Eco 5 Power Cat can take you places quickly, quietly, and economically.

February 2016

A Lapstrake Jericho Bay Lobster Skiff

Designed for Maine, Built for North Carolina

True to the shape of the original carvel-planked hull, this lapstrake version has an intentionally hogged bottom to get it up on plane quickly and keep the bow down.

February 2016

Milwaukee M12 Drill/Driver

Compact and Capable

The M12 lithium-ion battery provides plenty of power without bulk.

February 2016

Skwoosh Seat Pads

A Seat-of-the-Pants Assessment

Fluidized gel takes the takes the pressure off sitz bones.

February 2016

Profile Scrapers

Adding Accents to Edges

With a simple shop-made tool you can bring out the best of your boat’s curves with a decorative touch, a tradition that goes back a thousand years.

Small Boats Annual 2017February 2016

Crossing the Northeast by Canoe

Paddling the Northern Forest Canoe Trail

The Northern Forest Canoe Trail stitches together 740 miles of lakes, streams, rivers, and portages that lie along the boreal fringes of New York and New England. Donnie Mullen was the first to paddle the full length of the trail he and his wood-and-canvas canoe survived the trip, both a bit worse for the wear.

Small Boats Annual 2017February 2016

Passagemaker Dinghy

A rich man's tender, a poor man's yacht?

What started out as a design for a motor-yacht tender finished up as a versatile pram that is as well suited for motoring, sailing, and rowing as it for gracing a pair of davits.

Small Boats Annual 2017February 2016

Storm 23

A stylish and distinctive double-ender

Tacking off the timeless, craggy coast of Devon, the Storm 23 looked decidedly unconventional, even kooky, and yet there was something about her that inspired confidence: a purposeful air, a look of intent, almost of defiance.

January 2016

A Dragonfly Rowing Shell

Speed with a dash of stability

This Steve Killing-designed shell was built by an Arkansas retiree with an interest in learning to row and the patience to plane rolling bevels on every 23’-long strip.

January 2016

Rowing Rough Water

When the going gets tough, relax

Hard-won lessons from an experienced long-distance rower may come in handy when you’re struggling to reach a safe haven.

January 2016

The iBall Wireless Trailer-Hitch Camera

Getting hitched hassle-free

If you have to back your vehicle up to the trailer, the iBall wireless trailer hitch camera will get you on target in no time.

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January 2016

Handing Over the Helm

A father and son take to the South Salish Sea

Bruce Bateau takes his teenage son on a weekend sail among the islands in Washington’s South Puget Sound and watches his love of boats and water take hold in the next generation.

January 2016

The Small Craft Nav-Aid

Going analog for a quick fix

With a chart and a little low-tech device called a Nav-Aid you can set a course faster than you can plug in a waypoint.

Small Boats Annual 2017January 2016

The Cackler

A 14' hunting skiff

The Cackler from Devlin Designing Boat Builders is a contemporary outboard hunting skiff that can carry a heavy load, manage rough water and get hunters, dogs, and decoys out and back at a good clip. Its uncluttered cockpit make it a versatile utility skiff.

Small Boats Annual 2017January 2016

The Adirondack Guideboat

Strip-built in cedar, spruce, and pine

The original Adirondack guideboats were designed in the middle of the 19th century to take paying customers hunting and fishing the interconnected lakes, ponds, and streams of Upstate New York. The elegant strip-built version of this swift rowing boat makes rowing for its own sake a profitable venture.

December 2015

From Aerodynamics to Aesthetics

Building Soap Box Derby Racers and Stand Up Paddleboards

A serial stand-up-paddleboard maker got his start doing strip-built construction in an unlikely place—soap-box derby cars—and three decades later shifted his focus to artistic expression in wood.

December 2015

Linseed-oil Paint

Better for your boat

Made as it was centuries ago, linseed-oil paint allows wood to breathe, preventing peeling and rot. It may just let you off the hook for regularly repainting your boat.

December 2015

The Scullmatix

Sculling's simple solution

If the technique for sculling has eluded you and your oars are too short for it anyway, there’s a stainless-steel solution for you.

December 2015

Planing Edges Square

Shop-made fences for planes and routers

When you give a plane a sharp edge and set it to make a fine cut, it’s easy to come neatly up to the pencil line you’re cutting to. It’s not so easy to keep the plane square to the work, especially if its sole is teetering on a narrow edge.

December 2015

The Power Dory and the Pilot

Bringing history back to life

In a garage in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, an all-but-forgotten design and moment in history come back to life when an eccentric neighbor volunteers to help build a Hammond power dory.

Small Boats Annual 2017December 2015

Calendar Islands Yawl

A boat that almost builds itself

Clint Chase’s new 15’ 6” daysailer, sized to get planks from pairs of scarfed-together sheets of plywood, is designed to make the most of its sailing capability without compromising the pleasure of rowing.

Small Boats Annual 2017December 2015

Penguin

The comforts of home in a 21' trailer yacht

John Welsford designed this trailer-yacht to be a roomy and comfortable cruiser with aesthetic appeal and excellent seakeeping ability. The gaff rig elicits images from a bygone era, but there is nothing old-fashioned about the Penguin.

November 2015

A Diminutive Fantail Launch

A kayak fisherman's fantasy

Sandy MacKenzie enjoys fishing from kayaks, but putting his fishing rod down to pick up the paddle began to wear on him. He scouted about, without success, for plans for a canoe or a kayak with pedal or electric power that would leave his hands free for fishing. He had built a few kayaks and felt confident in his boatbuilding abilities, so he decided to take a chance on coming up with a design himself, something quite different from anything he’d seen.

November 2015

Shinto Rasps

Sharp-toothed tools

The Shinto Rasp has been out for many years now and if you have one, you know how well it works. We’ll take a close look at it, from its wavy sides down to the cut of its teeth to explain why it works well and why you should have one if you don’t already.