To the Black Sea

5

March 2023

Revolve Boat Hook

A full-sized boat hook for small boats

Boathooks are useful but unwieldy items of equipment. A new version rolls up to a size barely larger than a coffee mug and can be stowed just about anywhere.

33

March 2023

A Sneakbox on the Gulf Coast

Rowing and sailing from New Orleans to Cedar Key, Florida

After rowing down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, Christopher Cunningham arrives at the Gulf of Mexico for the last leg of his 2,400-mile sneakbox adventure.

11

March 2023

New York Whitehall

An American classic

Whitehalls have been with us for 200 years and have evolved from working taxis to recreational rowing craft. A 14’ New York Whitehall reveals why the type is still so popular.

28

March 2023

A DIY Hammock Chair

Suspended relaxation

On a small boat stowage space is premium, and few would think of taking along a comfortable chair. But with this simple-to-make hammock chair, all that might change.

7

March 2023

Meaban

A trailerable Vivier sloop

At a little over 22', with berths for four, and a minimum draft of just 1'6” François Vivier's new design, Meaban, is ideal for shoal-water cruising.

Small Boats Annual 2012

XLNC Utility Skiff

A simple, efficient hull from William and John Atkin

For an easily driven motor launch, John and William Atkin developed the XLNC design with home builders in mind.

Small Boats Annual 2012

Hampton Sloop

A family boat

Simplicity is the hallmark of this boat. All of the hardware is shop-made, and auxiliary propulsion is provided by a pair of ash oars.

Small Boats Annual 2012

Peregrine 18

A fast pulling boat

This boat will not go down by the stern while being rowed at maximum speed or when loaded with wine, cheese, and cookies for an afternoon on the islands.

Small Boats Annual 2012

The Shaw & Tenney Whitehall

A classic, reinterpreted

A hull of traditional lapstrake appearance, but without the traditional worries of leaking and drying out.

6

February 2023

Spruce Spoon Oars

Beautiful oars that inspire good rowing

Adirondack Guideboat has introduced spruce spoon oars that are pretty to the eye, light in the hand, and, unlike their traditional guideboat oars, meant to be feathered.

7

February 2023

Hobie 16

More than fifty years old and as popular as ever

The Hobie 16, enjoyed by many as a summer recreational boat and raced in fleets all over the world, remains one of the most popular and enduring of small one-designs and is among the most successful of all racing catamaran classes.

32

February 2023

A Sneakbox on the Mississippi

850 miles from Cairo, Illinois, to New Orleans, Louisiana

After rowing his sneakbox down the Ohio River, Christopher Cunningham continues on the Lower Mississippi River, hoping to outrun the advance of winter’s cold.

9

February 2023

Fine

A sliding-seat pulling boat with excellent stability

The Fine from Oyster Bay Boats is an 18’ strip-built wherry that combines a sliding-seat rowing rig for speed and a hull with a 34” beam for stability.

6

February 2023

A Bridge-Crane Boat Lift

Lifting a boat up and sideways for storage

There are several devices for lifting a boat straight up off a car’s roof rack, but they may not work in a garage with an overhead door. This DIY hoist can raise the boat and move it sideways.

2

February 2023

Thixo Flex

An epoxy with flexibility

Thixo Flex is a flexible thickened epoxy that can be used on oily woods, dry, damp, or wet surfaces, as well as a wide array of materials including fiberglass, metals, and plastics.

3

March 2023

The Tow Tuff

A battery-powered electric dolly

Moving boats around on land singlehanded is never easy, but this battery-powered electric dolly is a welcome assistant. The Tow Tuff is easily assembled, easily handled, and can move boat trailers and their loads of up to 3,500 lbs.

9

February 2023

SEA BESTIA

A race boat built for a holiday challenge

Seafaring friends working in the Scottish Isles occupied their time off by building small boats for a friendly race. SEA BESTIA's builder may have broken the rules, but his boat had the look of a serious contender.

Small Boats Annual 2012

The No Mans Land Boat

A challenge with great potential

This heavy old fish boat holds her own and then some against other displacement hulls.

Small Boats Annual 2012

The Sea Bird Yawl

Simplicity in a hard-chined cruiser

Simple enough to be built by amateurs, small enough to be singlehanded, and big enough for long passages

Small Boats Annual 2013

The Rambler 18

A runabout for adventure

The Rambler 18 is for people seeking comfortable cruising, not the exhilaration of speed. Riding in this boat is a pleasant and relaxing experience.

7

January 2023

Nexus Planing Dory

A planing dory for home construction

Sleek but traditional, and with the versatility to serve a wide range of uses, the Nexus 21’ Planing Dory is an uncomplicated boat to build at home either as an open boat or with a cuddy cabin.

7

January 2023

Cape Henry 21

An expedition sailboat for adventurers

A 21’ plywood-lapstrake gaff cutter inspired by traditional sailing craft of the U.K., the Cape Henry 21 can appeal to sailors downsizing from a full-keel cruiser as well as camp-cruisers looking for more comfort while still adventuring in shoal waters.

36

January 2023

A Sneakbox on the Ohio

980 miles from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Cairo, Illinois

Inspired by “Four Months in a Sneakbox,” Nathaniel H. Bishop’s account of a 2,500-mile cruise in the winter of 1875, Christopher Cunningham built a sneakbox and followed Bishop’s route from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Cedar Key, Florida. In this first of three installments he takes on the 980 miles of the Ohio River.

7

January 2023

A DIY Boat Cart

Transporting boats with ease and economy

Influenced by years of carrying kayaks and small boats back and forth between home and harbor, and inspired by an everyday garden cart, this simple design transports boats, gear, kids, and dogs.

3

January 2023

The Silent Hitch Pin

A spring-loaded block-and-pin assembly prevents trailer rattle

A rattling drawbar can be annoying and cause wear and tear on a trailer hitch receiver. The Silent Hitch Pin is easy to install, stops the rattling, and has a lock to prevent theft.

Series

Revolve Boat Hook

A Sneakbox on the Gulf Coast

New York Whitehall

A DIY Hammock Chair

Meaban

XLNC Utility Skiff

Hampton Sloop

Peregrine 18

The Shaw & Tenney Whitehall

Spruce Spoon Oars

Hobie 16

A Sneakbox on the Mississippi

Fine

A Bridge-Crane Boat Lift

Thixo Flex

The Tow Tuff

SEA BESTIA

The No Mans Land Boat

The Sea Bird Yawl

The Rambler 18

Nexus Planing Dory

Cape Henry 21

A Sneakbox on the Ohio

A DIY Boat Cart

The Silent Hitch Pin

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