January 2026 Archives

This month in Small Boats, we profile two British-built boats: the BayCruiser 23, a fiberglass-hulled sloop with a water-ballast system that offers exceptional versatility; and Paul Gartside’s canoe-sterned launch, Design #261, built at the Boat Building Academy in Lyme Regis, U.K. A singlehanded sailor sets sail for an extended cruise through British Columbia’s Gulf Islands, but in the face of persistent windy conditions adjusts his sights and does more exploring on land. Christopher Cunningham reviews a refillable propane tank, while Jenny Bennett settles in for a winter read of a well-loved and extraordinary small-boat adventure. Bill Thomas makes some simple but effective removable floorboards for his double-paddle canoe, and an amateur boatbuilder in Colorado builds three small boats for use on area lakes.

Featured on our front cover is Steve Wenger’s Headwater 14 designed by Tracy O’Brien; photograph by Steve Wenger.

From The Editor

It’s Not About Size

When is a small boat too big or a big boat small enough?

Sometimes small is less about dimensions and more about attitude.

Boat Profile

BayCruiser 23

Water ballast creates two boats in one

The fiberglass-hulled sloop-rigged BayCruiser 23 is suitable for coastal cruising, but with its water-ballast system and lightweight rig, says Nic Compton, it also offers sailing performance more often associated with smaller sailing dinghies.

Boat Profile

Gartside Design #261

A double-ended launch

A classic double-ended launch with open cockpit, Paul Gartside’s Design #261 was designed to be built with two layers of glued fore-and-aft planking and powered by an inboard diesel motor. Nigel Sharp reviews a new build that retains all the aesthetic appeal of the original but combines a strip-planked, cold-molded hull with an electric motor.

Adventures

A Scaled-Down Cruise in the Gulf Islands

Navigating high winds, unsafe harbors, and flat calms

When setting off on an extended cruise, it’s good to have a plan; it’s just as important to be flexible. When Alex Zimmerman ran into more wind than was comfortable for his 18-footer, he gave up on his extended cruise through the Gulf Islands and stayed closer to home.

Technique

Floorboards for Small Boats

Keeping gear dry with easy-to-make slatted boards

No one wants a cluttered cockpit on a small boat, and sometimes raised floorboards can make all the difference in keeping things tidy and dry. Bill Thomas describes a simple construction project.

Product Reviews

Shackleton’s Boat Journey

A story of survival

Frank Worsley’s account of his voyage from Elephant Island to South Georgia, with Sir Ernest Shackleton and four other crew members from the ill-fated ENDEAVOUR, is as exciting and remarkable today as it was when first published in 1933.

Product Reviews

Gas Growler 3.8

A compact refillable propane tank

Single-use pressurized fuel canisters are ideal for camp-cruising but typically can neither be refilled nor easily disposed of. Christopher Cunningham reviews a new refillable small tank from Ignik.

Reader Built Boats

From Drift Boat to Sharpie

Building small boats in Colorado

Steve Wenger has built not one, but three, boats designed by Tracy O’Brien—and two other small boats along the way. His love of the designs is matched by his enjoyment of the build and his pleasure of getting afloat.

Past Issues

From The Archives

July 2015

Small Boats Annual 2007

Small Boats Annual 2017

December 2018

View All

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