SMALL BOATS AND BIG IDEAS: Twelve Questions For Three Small-Craft Designers

First appeared in issue #136

L to R: Gartside, Oughtred and Chase

We’re proud to once again celebrate three leading designers of small craft—Paul Gartside, the late Iain Oughtred and Clint Chase—and share their responses to a dozen questions about their work, some of their favorite designs, and the state of affairs in the ever-changing world of small boats.

As many readers of SCA know, Paul Gartside views himself primarily as a boatbuilder who has designed some of the most traditional-looking, elegant watercraft—small and larger—from home bases in the UK, British Columbia, then Nova Scotia and now Long Island in New York State. Many of his designs are showcased in two books, Plans & Dreams, Volumes 1 & 2.

Paul’s website is at www.gartsideboats.com

Iain Oughtred (1939-2024) born in Australia, enhanced his reputation as an important designer of small craft while living on the outer coast of Scotland. He moved back back in Australia, where he continued to draft beautifully traditional boats. Many of his designs were inspired by lapstrake double-enders of the Shetland Islands and Scandinavia, and they tended toward great seaworthiness, speed and elegant beauty. Iain’s designs are featured in a number of books, including Clinker Plywood Boatbuilding Manual, and Iain Oughtred: A Life in Wooden Boats.

Iain’s website is at www.oughtredboats.com

Clint Chase isn’t a kid, but he might be described as “up and coming” or “new school” when compared to Gartside and Oughtred…both decidedly old school in their avoidance of computer-generated designs and focus on traditional construction methods. Clint’s Maine-based business is building a reputation for attractive, functional small-craft designs, and especially for development of 22 excellent kits featuring his own boats as well as designs of others including Francois Vivier of France, and Michael Storer of Australia.

Clint plunged into business about 15 years ago, and in addition to kit development, he offers a variety of workshops on subjects such as kit construction, boatbuilding, spar-making and others. His website is at www.chase-small-craft.com

So, here is how each designer responded to our twelve questions:

What led you into the boat-design business, and when did you design your first boat?