To the Black Sea

6

May 2025

Nottage Dinghy

A traditional lugsail dinghy from England

Fabian Bush designed his lapstrake dinghy for boatbuilding students at the Nottage Institute in Essex, England. Its traditional construction is challenging for a new builder, but the sweet lines and good sail-and-oar performance make it worth the effort.

7

May 2025

The Mini Auray

A simple pram from one and a half sheets of plywood

Hannu Vartiala based his 7′ 6″ Mini Auray on lines drawn by yachtsman Claud Worth in 1912. The Mini Auray, though small, has mighty carrying capacity.

5

Small Boats Annual 2011

The Matinicus Double-Ender

The real deal

Descended from a long line of workboats, these striking lapstrake double-enders are often very long-lived, partly because of the pride they instill in their owners.

8

Small Boats Annual 2011

The Baybird Sloop

An 18’ W. Starling Burgess design for racing

Originally designed for racing in Marblehead, Massachusetts, the Baybird Sloop found a true home in the summer sailing camps on Cape Cod’s Pleasant Bay beginning in the 1920s.

8

April 2025

Building the Haven 12 1/2

Strip-planking a 12 1⁄2 for trailer-sailing

When Bill Jordan started building his carvel-planked sailboat, he thought it was going to live on a mooring where the seams would have a chance to swell and become watertight. But, when he realized he’d be trailer-sailing, he decided to strip-plank the hull instead.

3

April 2025

SLO Covers and Bags

Quality covers for small boats

Protecting boats from the weather—both rain and sunshine—prolongs their finishes and reduces maintenance needs. Bundling sails and spars together helps keep them organized and makes it easier to carry them. SLO Sail and Canvas makes good-quality, well-fitting covers and bags in durable materials.

4

April 2025

Jorgensen Corner Easing Plane

A compact plane for rounding edges

Smooth and rounded edges are important on boats. The compact Jorgensen Corner Easing Plane helps to achieve them.

3

April 2025

Road-Ready Trailer Checklist

Preparing your trailer for travel

Whether towing over long or short distances, at the start of every journey it’s good practice to make sure your trailer is in roadworthy condition. Our pre-trip checklist will help.

13

April 2025

The Bagaduce River by Rowboat

A four-day rowing trip through the strong currents of a Maine river

Davis Taylor had enjoyed occasional overnights on local ponds when he decided he really wanted to explore tidal Maine. He successfully navigated the fast-running Bagaduce River to enjoy a four-day island-hopping voyage under oars.

6

April 2025

Scout 14

A new camp-cruiser from Duckworks

Building on the success of their Scout 10, designer Brandon Davis and Duckworks Boat Builders Supply collaborated to create a sleek-looking camp-cruiser that offers speed, stability, and capacity.

5

April 2025

The Paroz Tender

A new dinghy for oars, outboard, and towing

Designed and built by Simon Paroz for his own use, the Paroz Tender is large enough to carry a family of four, small enough to be lifted on deck with davits, and light enough to plane with just a 3-hp outboard.

5

Small Boats Annual 2011

The Herreshoff 15s

A classic daysailer in several forms

The perfect balance of speed, responsiveness, cockpit size, seakindliness, and good looks.

5

Small Boats Annual 2011

Marissa Runabout

A stable, efficient – and striking – powerboat

Marissa was conceived as the smallest practical center-console runabout, and she became the winner of WoodenBoat’s Design Challenge for efficient small powerboats.

7

March 2025

Building a Goat Island Skiff

A Goat Island Skiff is launched in Germany

Gerald and Petra Trumpp learned to sail in a Northeaster Dory, but for river and lake cruising in their native Germany and across the border in France, they were looking for a boat with more size, more stability, and more speed.

4

March 2025

DEWALT DCS334

A cordless variable-speed jigsaw

Cordless power tools have many advantages over their corded counterparts, but being cordless shouldn’t compromise their performance. The DeWalt DCS334 jigsaw delivers precision cuts, long-lasting power, and excellent operator control.

3

March 2025

Preval Sprayer

A compact aerosol sprayer for use with paint and varnish

Applying finishes to small or hard-to reach areas can be frustrating, but the aerosol-powered Preval Sprayer makes such jobs easy, producing less waste with quick cleanup.

6

March 2025

Of Oarlocks and Lanyards

Modifying oarlocks for one-handed operation

Oarlocks come in various styles, and not all are well-suited to setting up one-handed. But most can be easily modified with nothing more than a drill or a hacksaw.

12

March 2025

The BETTY Effect

A retired couple discover the joys of river cruising under oar

Newly retired Chris Price built the Iain Oughtred Tammie Norrie which he and his wife, Jacqui, have since rowed hundreds of miles in coastal waters, lakes, and three of England’s biggest rivers.

7

March 2025

Bolger’s Pirogue

Phil Bolger’s Design #451 is simple but versatile

The Bolger Pirogue is shallow-drafted, flat-bottomed, and simply built of inexpensive materials. It can be poled, rowed, paddled, and sailed, and offers great versatility in intricate backwaters.

5

March 2025

Herreshoff/Gardner 17

A lightweight, fixed-seat rowboat for one or two people

Designed by L. Francis Herreshoff in 1947 and modified by John Gardner in 1980, the Herreshoff/Gardner 17 is a rowboat with pedigree, good looks, and excellent performance. It’s also suitable for amateur construction with modern materials.

6

Small Boats Annual 2011

Lili 6.10

A balanced trekker from France

Lili 6.10 is an able boat for two to cruise in complete independence for a few days in a lifestyle as simple and inexpensive as the boat is to build and use, and she can easily be towed to the next shore for the next exploration.

4

Small Boats Annual 2011

Martha Jane

Comfort and stability in a plywood lug yawl

Martha Jane is a big, simple, well-performing boat. She has a good seakeeping ability, and can also be poled up into shallow creeks.

7

February 2025

Converting a Kayak for Sail

Building outriggers for a Pygmy Osprey Double

Dick Vermeulen enjoyed his kayak, but he still wanted to go sailing; he built some outriggers, had spars and a sail made, and it took off like a rocket.

4

February 2025

Mustang Survival Quadra Dry Suit

A dry suit with innovative design and impressive performance

Extending your boating into colder seasons requires some specialized gear to keep you safe and warm. For a small-boat user, a dry suit is a worthwhile investment and Mustang’s new Quadra offers top-notch materials and workmanship.

3

February 2025

NEBO Omni 2K Work Light

A compact cordless lamp

When working on boats or in the workshop, good lighting is invaluable. The Omni 2K from NEBO is cordless, can be used freestanding or handheld, and its light can be directed through 360 degrees.

Series

Nottage Dinghy

The Mini Auray

The Matinicus Double-Ender

The Baybird Sloop

Building the Haven 12 1/2

SLO Covers and Bags

Jorgensen Corner Easing Plane

Road-Ready Trailer Checklist

The Bagaduce River by Rowboat

Scout 14

The Paroz Tender

The Herreshoff 15s

Marissa Runabout

Building a Goat Island Skiff

DEWALT DCS334

Preval Sprayer

Of Oarlocks and Lanyards

The BETTY Effect

Bolger’s Pirogue

Herreshoff/Gardner 17

Lili 6.10

Martha Jane

Converting a Kayak for Sail

Mustang Survival Quadra Dry Suit

NEBO Omni 2K Work Light

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