Series

Small Boats Annual 2009

The Blue Jay–Class Sloop

A Sparkman & Stephens classic

The Blue Jay-class sloop was designed in 1947 as a junior trainer. Today, the fleet numbers over 7,000, and the boats are sailed by adults and kids alike.

Small Boats Annual 2009

Pathfinder Yawl

A 17' cruising yawl

The 17' 4" Pathfinder yawl, designed by John Welsford, is meant for serious cruising. One owner-builder in the designer's New Zealand home waters spent 10 months living on his boat while exploring.

Small Boats Annual 2009

The Harrier Double-Ender

An eye-catching blend of old and new technology.

The Harrier double-ender carries a standing-lug yawl rig, high-peaked and fully battened in the main—an eye-catching blend of old and new technology. She is exceptional under oar or sail, due to her light weight and refined shape.

September 2024

DeWalt Multi-Tool

A cordless oscillating tool for cutting, grinding, and sanding

Oscillating tools can do quick work in tight quarters and the Atomic 20-volt multi-tool is cordless and can go almost anywhere.

September 2024

The EasyBailer

An automatic bilge pump for small boats

The plans and detailed assembly instructions for the EasyBailer direct a do-it-yourselfer through making a solar-powered automatic bilge pump for a small boat.

September 2024

Anchor-Rode Markings

How to mark your anchor rode for water depth and scope

When anchoring a small boat, it’s important to calculate the depth of water and measure how much anchor rode is let out. Rode markings provide a simple and effective solution.

September 2024

Blekingseka

A traditional sprit-rigged sloop from Sweden's southeast coast

The traditional 14′ Eka, a spritsail sloop from Sweden’s southeast coast, has its origins in the 18th century when the type was used for fishing and travel among the coastal islands.

Small Boats Annual 2009

The Geary 18

The 1928 “Flattie” is all about speed and simplicity

The ease of sailing the Geary 18 has been compared to sailing while sitting on a couch.

Small Boats Annual 2009

The Wineglass Wherry

A stitch-and-glue pulling boat from Pygmy

Wineglass Wherry, a plywood pulling boat, takes its inspiration from beach-launched working craft.

September 2024

A Sail-and-Oar Cruise in the San Juans   

Two days away in a Haven 12 1⁄2

A fair forecast provided the ideal opportunity for an early-season shakedown cruise in a Haven 12 1⁄2 through the northern chain of the San Juan Islands.

September 2024

Eun Mara

A trailerable coastal cruiser from Iain Oughtred

Influenced by the canoe yawls of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Iain Oughtred’s Eun Mara is a comfortable coastal cruiser for one or two adventurers.

September 2024

Saving JANIE JANE

Restoring a home-built Reuel Parker Sharpie 19

Harald Hefel launched his Reuel Parker–designed Sharpie 19 in 2013, but eight years later, after she started leaking badly, he laid her up in his yard. In 2023 he decided to resurrect her, replacing the original carvel-planked spruce topsides with marine plywood, polyester cloth, and epoxy.

Small Boats Annual 2009

ADVENTURE

A camp-cruiser from Bill Garden

The author's initial outings in his boat, ADVENTURE, were on Western rivers. In the summer of 2009, he plans an expedition along the Maine coast. The boat sleeps two and has ample dry stowage.

Small Boats Annual 2009

Marblehead Gunning Dory

A boat that almost builds itself

Under sail, the Marblehead gunning dory is both fast and responsive, though it's intended to be rowed.

Small Boats Annual 2008

Nancy’s China

A 15' hard-chined pocket cruiser

The Nancy’s China design is a marriage of the big and the small. It’s the biggest boat you can fit in a garage and the smallest boat you would want to sleep on.

August 2024

Home-Built Elegance

Reimagining the Duck Trap Launch

German-born Brazilian Oliver Ilg found an outlet for his hands-on boatbuilding abilities first in a corner of his production-yacht manufacturing site, and then in a narrow piece of his backyard between the house and a stone wall.

August 2024

Airflo Sun Hat

Tilley's ever-evolving adventure hat

Named for its founder, sailor Alex Tilley, the Tilley line of hats has been around for more than 40 years. The Airflow Sun Hat blocks the sun while letting a cooling breeze flow through.

August 2024

Return to the Texas 200

In 2017, Roger Siebert took part in his first Texas 200 and completed the challenging 200-mile course. While he returned in 2024 with more experience and first-hand knowledge of the waters he would be sailing, it was no guarantee of success.

August 2024

Adirondack Guideboat

A classic rowboat updated for modern construction techniques

Newfound Woodworks’ Adirondack Guideboat, based on guideboats of the late 1800s, is a strip-planked kit version of this fine-ended rowboat with traditional elegance and can carry one or two passengers in style.

August 2024

Sunfish

A simple sailboat from the 1950s

Derived from the popular Sailfish, the Sunfish was a collaborative creation from two sailors and two designers. Since the first 20 plywood boats were built in 1952, it has been in continuous production in fiberglass and more than 500,000 have been built and sailed worldwide.

August 2024

Teak-Nu

Restoring weathered teak

The Snappy Teak-Nu system restores weather-faded or discolored teak to its original color and protects it.

Small Boats Annual 2008

The 2007 Small Reach Regatta

A portfolio of small boats

For the 2007 Small Reach Regatta, the waters off WoodenBoat swarmed with small boats for three days. Read the recap of that inaugural event.

Small Boats Annual 2007

The NorseBoat

A Cadillac of a camp-cruiser

The NorseBoat requires more study time per foot than most small craft. Besides an attractive hull and an unusual sail plan, she has more bells, whistles, and unexpected features than a 1970s conversion van—certainly more than any boat in her class.

August 2024

Water-Sails for Small Boats

Adding sail area to a small-boat rig to give that extra push in light airs isn’t always straightforward, but the water-sail is not only simple to set up, it’s also easy to make from inexpensive materials.

July 2024

Taku Essential Jacket

A waterproof and breathable jacket kept simple

Mustang’s jacket for inshore and coastal use provides waterproof comfort without the addition of more features than you may really need.