Ever since our July 12 announcement that absentee corporate owners of Duckworks Boat Builders Supply were shuttering the business, we’ve been waiting, hoping and rooting for Duckworks founder Chuck Leinweber to succeed in purchasing and relaunching the vital, irreplaceable part of the business—the sale of plans for small boats.
Today we’re happy to report that Chuck has pulled it off. After acquiring the right to peel off the boat-plans portion of Duckworks, and then after waiting long weeks for final closure of the larger Duckworks enterprise, Chuck today launched his new, revised and improved boat-plans website: http://www.duckworks.com
Chuck thought he was retiring several years ago when he sold Duckworks Boat Builders Supply, which he and his wife, Sandra, started in a second bedroom in 1999. (Chuck built a lot of small boats, competed in Florida’s Everglades Challenge and invented and organized the fabled Texas 200 sailing event. In the process he met a number of designers of small boats, realizing they might need help in sharing their plans with the public. So DW Boat Builders Supply was born, with plans at the core of the business.)
Chuck’s new version of duckworks.com offers two things: 1) More than 1,200 different plans for small craft, representing 60 designers from all corners of the globe, and 2) Really nice and affordable stock sails tailored to different boat models, including the Goat Island Skiff and many others, along with quality custom sails.
From Left - Some of the stock sails offered by Chuck include the Goat Island Skiff, the Combi and the Voila sailing canoe. Also, among others not shown, the Oz Goose, which is currently out of stock but coming again soon.
Longtime Duckworks customers will be happy to hear that Tammy, a helpful and cheerful voice on the phone, will for now handle all physical orders for boat plans. Chuck will oversee the new website and field most emails, including questions about different plans or stock sails. I’ll be on call in a tech-support role, when folks are stuck deciding which boat to build, or how to approach a building or restoration challenge.
From Left - Chuck at the helm of a small boat, Tammy pulling a Duckworks order last year, and Marty building yet another boat.
So, please join me in thanking Chuck for saving the boat-plans business, by writing a few kind words in the Comments section below.
Onward with duckworks.com, the world’s largest and nicest collection of small-boat plans. With your help, Duckworks 2.0 will survive and prosper!
And, as always, thanks for reading. - Marty
With all that's negative going on in the world, it is comforting to know that some good things will continue.
Thanks, Chuck!
As with Lazarus, Duckworks is resurrected. Miracles do happen. Welcome back.