On it's inaugural outing LIBBY B lived up to her builder's expectations.Photographs courtesy of Bob and Beth Burns

On its inaugural outing, LIZZY B performed up to her builder's expectations.

Bob Burns, as a novice boatbuilder, once paid a visit to Joel White to get some advice on what boat to build. He had a cedar-strip canoe to his credit, had brought the bare hull of a bass boat to completion, and was ready for a new project. Joel suggested that Catspaw, a 12′ 8″ dinghy he had designed as a carvel-planked version of Capt. Nat Herreshoff’s lapstrake Columbia dinghy, would be well suited for Bob’s growing set of skills. Armed with a set of plans, Bob was soon at work in his cellar. The boat is still there, unfinished, 20 years later.
Before turning his attention to the construction of the interior, Bob filled the space under the cockpit sole with foam pool noodles for flotation.

Before turning his attention to the construction of the interior, Bob filled the space under the cockpit sole with foam pool noodles for flotation. Each noodle provides 30 to 40 pounds of buoyancy.

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