Your Boat Builds

More of what you're up to....

Robert Claybaugh checks in to show us the Calendar Islands Yawl he’s building from a Clint Chase kit. Birdsmouth mast hanging above.

“Robert Beebe's original Passagemaker.  We have just completed a 2 year refit” —Chris and Laura Remacle 

“SCAMP #645 is slowly taking shape in the carport. A bit chilly building out there in the depths of Melbourne winter, but I am really enjoying the build. Plank 2 port and starboard glued on today, starting to look like a boat!” Gary Hardy

“I was introduced to this boat by Bob Trygg’s Duckworks article in 2012. I began construction in 2014 after visiting Bob and Bijou at Sail Oklahoma. The plans were available on the internet for free, but only in Polish. And metric dimensions. Google helped with the translation and using metric surprisingly a lot simpler than more familiar Imperial. Photos I took of Bob’s boat were invaluable in providing the details for rigging; his build photos published with the Duckworks article guided me during construction. I am extremely pleased with how well the boat handles and look forward to many adventures.” Dave Krichten

13 ft micro-cruiser Sztrandus 4.0 by Polish  designer Wojciech  Kasprzak.

Launched September 2022.
510 kg displacement
20/80 cm. Draft
Dual centerboards
Two 6 ft berths, porta-pottie
Plywood, fiberglass, epoxy

“Current photo of the 12' Phil Bolger / Harold Payson stitch and glue catboat built from plans which were sitting in my basement for more than 40 years. Started construction last summer under a Harbor Freight portable garage and have been working on it for a few hours per week with a delay over the winter. Boat hull, rudder, centerboard are completely epoxy coated and glassed ready for decking. Construction of the mast will be my biggest challenge having never performed this operation on the last two boats I've built. Expected to be completed by the end of summer 2023. “ Dan Notte

“I have just finished painting the complete outside of my Toyboat 270 (9ft) the inside is 2 coats of clear epoxy. I got the plans through Duckworks. I got a free rudder from a Mirror dinghy which is in good condition and has all the fittings so I will try it on this boat. If it doesn't work out I can revert to the plans. Will order sails and organise a mast when I get back from holidaying in Europe.

This boat was chosen because the length is close to the maximum I can legally carry on my work utility which I kept after retirement. This will save me about $3k per year plus the price of a trailer and the registration fee as I would otherwise need to rent another car space in my building or pay for storage at a nearby marina. 

This all works for me and suits my needs.” Rob O'Connor 

“My new mini boat/camper. The idea came about from our Can Am Dinghy Cruising Association group, whose members seem to have an interest in small box boats! Although I have the ultimate Box, in our DIANNE'S ROSE, they had me question whether I could reduce the size and still have something of value! My buddies boats in the 10 to 12' have surprised me when on a few rough water outings, they have not had any problem making camp! Observing more closely, these small box boats sit between swells and waves and with relatively high freeboard and well secured hatches, I've watched them bob up and down and work their way through rough water with relative ease! Intrigued, ideas began to percolate in the brain! Our DR has the full bed in the cabin, with under the forward deck, being storage! If one's legs could slide under a raised deck, there would be length that could be reduced!…Width was intended to be 6' but bumped out 4" as mock ups needed a hair more room! Height was reduced to 5' but with a pop up, in the stern, where full headroom is wanted! My goal is the MiniD will clear a garage door, so that she can be stored inside! One of the pleasures of our DR is we do camp on land when traveling and MiniD should offer the same option but I though some may be discouraged if having to use a ladder, so therefore a door (sealed and above the waterline) on the side stern to use a step stool to enter a cockpit and then a larger rear cabin door, would make entry more practical on land! On the water the cockpit has a tiller outboard and a comfortable helm seat! A simple steering system is also planned for sitting inside but it is likely to be like Crow's rope steering with a kill line. This lets one stay dry in rain but a forward helm won't work on a small boat where weight forward drops the bow too much! A model helped work out a few details and the hull is almost complete with cabin side panels pre-made. “ Roy Schreyer

“I retired from my Civil Engineering career two years ago and got involved in learning how to build wooden boats.  I joined Cleveland Amateur Boat Building Society (CABBS).  We have a workshop just east of downtown Cleveland, Ohio.   I am currently helping with two projects.  The CABBS Boat Building class this year is building a Ross Lillistone Design Fleet - a low-powered planning dinghy for outboard motors or oars - Length 15 Ft. - Beam 4 Ft. 3 In. - 1/4" meranti marine plywood with sassafras rubrails and inwales - stitch and glue construction.   We started in March of this year. We just installed the rub rails to complete the construction and are currently performing final sanding and fairing to get ready for final painting.  A couple of recent construction photos are attached.

I was in last year's Boat Building Class and am assisting in teaching this year's class.  In last year's class we also built a Fleet.  A couple of images of last year's blue painted with red rub rails completed Fleet with an outboard motor are attached.  The Evinrude was donated and one of the CABBS Members re-built it.  The Fleet named "Saturday" was on display for at our CABBS booth at the Cleveland IX Center Boat Show last January. 

The second boat is a 9 Ft. pram. It was designed back in the 1950's by a local Bay Village, Ohio resident named Henry Wischmyer who's hobby was designing small boats.  It is a skin on frame construction - 1/4" meranti plywood skin over oak frames - oak rub rails and southern yellow pine inwales.  We started this project in March of this year including lofting, creating full size drawings from the original plans. We recently turned it over and are currently adding quarter knees, rub rails and inwales. Flooring will be added as well.  Propulsion is yet to be determined but electric is being considered. This boat is to be used by the Cleveland Port Authority as a work boat to help clean up debris that collects in Cleveland's Harbor in tight spaces between finger docks and the low support wall behind the Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame.

Also in the CABBS workspace are some projects that I am not directly involved in but are interesting just the same: construction of two Wee Lassie cedar strip canoes, a rowing shell with capacity for camping gear, restoration of a Mirror Dinghy from back in the 60's and recently completed repairs and improvements to a wooden Jet 14 originally built in 1954. 

I've been a sailor for a long time, but you're never too old to learn something new!” Dave Weglicki

“Likely the last boat I’ll ever own.  When I got it the keels looked like it had fallen off the trailer and slid on them at 70 mph on the freeway. It looked like a boat but would not reliably function as one, that is, keep the water out.  Some professional quality repairs there by a competent friend, many holes and gouges ‘glassed and filled by myself, new hull drains,  and it’s nearly ready to go. I went to all that trouble and expense as it is a Goldilocks boat.  A 14’  Livingston is too big.  A 12’ Livingston is too small.  This 13’ one is juuust right for two seniors on the lake!  We may even take it out someday.” Rich Green

•SCA•