Winter Boat Show (Day 2)

Let's walk the virtual docks again, shall we?

Welsford Walkabout, Todd H: “This is my lug yawl Deep Calling, a Walkabout design by John Welsford. At about 18' 6" LOD with a 5' beam, mine is the 'stretched' version as allowed by John, 12 1/2% longer than the original design. I also added a cuddy cabin along the 'family' heritage of the Welsford Scamp and Long Steps. My boat is ideal for camp-cruising on salt or fresh water.”

W17, Jim Van Natta: “I built this W17 class trimaran from plans and build manual over the course of two and a half years. The rotating carbon fiber wing mast took several months additional. The boat is marine plywood, mostly 5mm and thinner with fiberglass and epoxy sheathing inside and out. 

What initially appealed to me about the boat was the stability of the trimaran design, even in wild conditions when properly reefed or with storm main. I valued the inherent speed to expand my day sailing or cruising grounds. These attributes were born out during my first few sails. 

It sails in very thin water with kick up rudder and pivoting dagger board. The amas hinge up to reduce the over-the-road width to seven feet for easy trailering. I find that the most fun and ever changing challenge of sailing this boat is in the efficiency and performance of the design.  It makes me a better, more precise sailer and always rewards me with a spectacular ride. I can’t say enough about this wonder boat.”

Cape Dory Typhoon, Tim Derry: “Though I love my Cape Dory Typhoon for its seaworthiness and classic look, its one shortcoming is cabin size for extended cruises. This was remedied by making a full cockpit tent that two could comfortably sit in and was well ventilated. We did a 14 day cruise in the Canadian Gulf Islands in Chiquita and was dry and comfortable the whole time.”

Duck Punt, Rusty Knorr: As always I’m trying to spread the good word about one of the most unusual, least expensive, and purely enjoyable boats I’ve ever sailed, the West Mersea Duck Punt, designed by the late John Milgate. No boat I’ve ever owned or sailed comes close to reintroducing you to the joy and excitement of that first time sailing. And no other boat can be sailed in water shallow enough to not get your socks wet! I wish there were a hundred other Duck Punt sailors in the Pacific Northwest so we could get some group sails going like the guys in Mersea do, where they claim sailing a Duck Punt is, “The most fun a sailor can have lying down!” There is nothing like gliding through narrow channels and shallow marshes, where no other sailboat can go. 

These punts were originally duck hunting boats, with giant shotguns mounted at the bow, aimed at water level. The boat would slowly and quietly approach a flock of ducks on the water, and the hunter would hopefully head home with a load of ducks to feed his family.

I have a blog about the comical experience of building mine (as a first time boat builder) at- http://thethingsrustydoes.blogspot.com/2012/05/and-so-it-begins.html?m=1 

And I’ve compiled a fantastic collection of all the Duck Punt videos I could find at- https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0BwhVMcplm5TN40_DInR5rpQ_c2Zt7TG

And finally, Small Boats Monthly has an excellent article with a lot of history on John and his unique design at- https://smallboatsmonthly.com/article/milgate-duck-punt/

John Milgate never charged for his plans for the Duck Punt, and wanted to make them accessible to everyone around the world. Duckworks has the free plans on their site at- https://duckworks.com/west-mersea-duck-punt-pdf-free-plans/ , Flo-Mo also has free plans for a light weight stitch and glue version at- http://flo-mo.weebly.com/light-weight-stitch-and-tape-conversion-of-the-west-mersea-duck-punt.html or I’m happy to send you digital copies. Contact me through my website at- www.RustyKnorr.weebly.com

Dory Skiff, Darryl Carver: “Here are a few pictures of Scoter, our 15’ dory skiff.  It was built by Brad Rice in 1989, and our family has enjoyed using it on Whidbey Island, in the  San Juans, Canadian Gulf Islands, Lake Washington, etc. It’s a simple stitch and glue construction with three big air box seats making it very safe. It has a sprit rig with a sprit boom, about 80 SF, rows easily and will also work with an outboard.  You can swap modes safely on the water, brailing the sail and sprit against the mast, the whole rig then fits in the boat. Twin skegs allow it to sit flat on shore, it only weighs 200lbs so can be trailered and pulled up easily by one person.  L-15,1/2’ B-5’ at gunnel, 3’ on bottom.”

Nimble 20, Steve Heare: “I know this is likely not what you’re looking for but couldn’t resist!🤣 this is an early 80’s Nimble 20 named Lazy Susan that I recently adopted from longtime owner Paul Miller in Deland FL. I towed her 800 miles to Reedville VA where she sits in the boatyard for restoration. SCA did a feature on the Nimble 20 some years ago which influenced my decision to take her on and a last sail with Paul confirmed it. Anyway, she’s my project and I love her.”

Sergei Joslin, SCAMP: Thank you Josh for all the Adventure. Some pictures of Serenity loving the Columbia.

B&B Core Sound 15, Ted Johanson: “When I retired in 2020 I stumbled upon the BandBYachtDesigns.com website and bought the full kit of their Core Sound 15 sailboat. The “stimulus” checks my wife and I received during COVID covered most of the kit cost, and stimulated a great small business. The kit had everything needed (except for screws, nuts, and bolts to mount the the fittings.) All pieces were exactly cut and fit together beautifully. The boat was finished and launched within 3 months of my getting the kit home. 

Some reasons that I enjoy this boat so much:

1. Alan Stewart of B&B made a series of twenty videos that taught and showed me every step in building the boat… ‘I can DO this!!’

2. I appreciate all of the coaching and answered questions offered by B&B during the building process. 

3. I like how the cat ketch boat sails and how the hull moves through the water. 

4. Set up at the boat launch takes ten or fifteen minutes, unless someone comes up to inquire about my boat… a frequent occurrence, but I enjoy talking about the boat. 

5. I can pull it to the lake with my very small car and can push the boat around my yard for storage. 

6. The CS15 can comfortably hold 5 or 6 people with the wide open cockpit and seating.

7. It seems like a safe boat and will not ‘turtle’ with the mast float.  

8. My wife and family enjoy sailing it.”

 Stay tuned for Day 3. —Eds