Building "BIJOU" a 13' Mini Cruising Sailboat
After years of building and sailing boats, I have arrived at age 75 still having a desire to find another project that I could bring to life.

The Musings of a Boatbuilding Addict
...Chuck and Sandra Leinweber has had the biggest impact on the growth in the amateur boat building movement, not only here in North America but also worldwide.

The Small Craft Skills Academy Evolves
Sometimes a good idea just keeps getting better and this is what has happened with the Small Craft Skills Academy.

Lake Powel Adventure - Part Three
The afternoon turned out hot and Anita Hahn and I lounged and visited under the tarp Chuck had thoughtfully rigged off the side of our vehicle.

Introducing The STOW-A-WAY!
In the summer of 2008, I singlehanded a Tanzer 22 up the Maine Coast.

Jim Michalak's Newsletter
We are big fans of Jim Michalak's designs and like to let you know when there is a new issue of his newsletter.

Havasu Pocket Cruisers Convention
The sixth annual Havasu Pocket Cruisers' Convention (HPCC) was held February 10-17 on Lake Havasu, a reservoir of the Colorado River, between California and Arizona.

Texas TSCA Chapter
... Sponsors Family Boat Building Class

Tying the Death Grip Belt Hitch
This variation of the Death Grip Hitch (aka DGH) was the result of having too much spare time on my hands.

Able
On choosing the Selway Fisher "Able".

Son of Circe
I had a Sevylor inflatable with a sailing rig so I just used that as a tender. The Sevylor was OK but this past spring I decided to heck with it, I'm going to build a tender.

Lofting Today - Part Five
Now that we know a few things, let's put them to work. We begin with the space in which we'll work and the loft floor.

Building an Aluminium Trailer - Part 3
Now it’s time to test out the theory. The previous two articles were just talk, this is where I get a few more scars on the hands.

Building Sliding Hatches/Doors
Gene's Yellow Goose had been constructed a couple of years before with a large "Bird-Watcher" type cabin, and was a great sailboat.

The Day I Almost Drowned
Ever year, we looked forward to the beach, and as each child came along they learned to look forward to the biggest sandbox a kid could imagine.

Jim Michalak's Newsletter
We are big fans of Jim Michalak's designs and like to let you know when there is a new issue of his newsletter.

Second Trip to the Tortugas
I drove to Kevin's house on Friday night so we could make an early start the next morning.

Dinghy Lessons
As time went on, I began to worry about the storage of the dinghy on the deck.

Lessons Learnt
Don't buy a boat. Building one is not a loop hole either; in fact the very distant horizon seen when going down that path is no less bleak than the previous option.

The East End Classic Boat Society
Boat Shop & Classic Boat Society Activities.

Something New from the ORYX
In September Splash the ORYX build (KD 860) by Pete Hill was introduced. In the meantime he has been very busy finishing/preparing the boat for his next journey.

Pathfinder Main Track & Sail Stowage Bag
I liked the Pathfinder the minute I came upon the plans with a description of its concepts and mission.

The Keuka Whaler - Part Eleven
The Whaleboat hit the water to the sound of viking horns. It floated!

Carawhale
I wanted to build a neat boat to play with the kids.

Jim Michalak's Newsletter
We are big fans of Jim Michalak's designs and like to let you know when there is a new issue of his newsletter.

What a Difference a Line Can Make
This set of lines has been lurking in my head and on the computer since September 2011, and I've drawn at least nineteen major versions...

Boat School Launch First Boats
The 32nd year of classes began at the waterfront School on October 2nd, 2012.

Lake Powel Adventure - Part Two
We hauled the boat cushions out and lay on our backs naming constellations and watching for shooting stars and satellites
(and UFOs, of course).

Lofting Today - Part Four
The only aspect of lofting which gives anyone trouble is the curved transom.

Building an Aluminium Trailer - Part Two
Now we need to look at the specific design and size of the trailer.

A Few Days in San Diego
In December I went on a trip with my wife to San Diego.

Propulsion - Part Two
Technical Details on How the Propulsion Force By Product is Produced.

Propulsion - Part One
Hidden Propulsion via Modified Application of the Leeboard, Mizzen, and Rudder.

Jim Michalak's Newsletter
We are big fans of Jim Michalak's designs and like to let you know when there is a new issue of his newsletter.

Memories of Last Summer - Part Five
This day took me back through the area I described as the box of reefs and small islands, but this time with a gentle beam wind and perfectly sunny weather, such a contrast.

Helen Marie
I started building this boat on Jan 1, 2010 to make a cabin sailboat.

Mark Steele's Model Yacht Column
Mark Steele on a wonderful world of small boats.

Getting Organized
I laid out what I enthusiastically titled my "Winter Boat Plan" a couple months ago.

Memories of Last Summer - Part Four
It was dead calm that morning, mirror flat, not a breath of wind, so I motored out to a tiny bay just inside the mouth of the harbour...

Airplanes and Rowing
Working as an airplane mechanic, I often get to travel all over the northeast US to do whatever it takes to keep the fleet flying for my employer.

"Dianne's Rose"
My wife has made it clear she does not care for my "beach cruising" sailboat, "Whisper".

Jim Michalak's Newsletter
We are big fans of Jim Michalak's designs and like to let you know when there is a new issue of his newsletter.

Mini Camp Cruiser
After weeks of design time, drawing and editing, a new project is ready for release.

Memories of Last Summer - Part Three
What a blast, the day deserves a story all of its own.

Lake Powel Adventure - Part One
Our first brief encounter with Lake Powell was two years ago mid-September.

Trailers
Question: What type of trailer would you recommend for a trailerable trimaran and why?

Lofting Today - Part Three
This is the Table of Offsets. These are numbers we created when we measured with the up-and-over method.

Memories of Last Summer - Part Two
I was up and breakfasted early, the big classic boat regatta at Mahurangi was on the following day and I had about 25 miles to cover to be in the anchorage that night.

Building an Aluminium Trailer - Part One
I needed the trailer to put the boat on after turning the hull over...

Folding Glass Lexan Boat
I helped my father prototype this 8' folding see through boat when I was 14 years old at his pool company.

Sail Oklahoma 2012
Photos taken by Michael Storer.

Jim Michalak's Newsletter
We are big fans of Jim Michalak's designs and like to let you know when there is a new issue of his newsletter.

Memories of Last Summer - Part One
I was at last all ready, hooked up, a kiss and hug from wife Denny and I’m off down the road.

Mark Steele's Model Yacht Column
Mark Steele on a wonderful world of small boats.

Marsh Duck
Surfing the web, I learned about ocean rowing boats and sailing canoes. I read Fredrick Fenger's 'Alone in the Caribbean' and realized: "I want a boat that can do that!"

Making a Custom Ice Box
When I was given a quantity of 2 1/2 urethane foam, I decided to just build a box to fit the space.

A Redfish Trip
It might seem a bit odd to some of my northern friends that Dec. 18th would be a good time to sail at night to an island for an "anchor out", but this is TEXAS!

Storer-style Paddle Construction
I don't know if everyone has noticed - but MIK has plans for paddles.

Jim Michalak's Newsletter
We are big fans of Jim Michalak's designs and like to let you know when there is a new issue of his newsletter.

Tying the Death Grip Loop
This variation of the Death Grip Hitch (aka DGH) came about from an email sent via Chuck at Duckworks, for a request from a Boy Scout Leader in New Jersey a year or so ago.

Strongback - Horses for Courses
Over the years as maturity advances along with an increasing number of grey hairs a few pennies eventually drop.

Foot Pedal Steering on a Sailing Canoe
When I started thinking about this project and how the steering would work all I knew was that it would take a lot of trial and error.

First Outing
The day was November 3rd, 2012 which was a day I thought would never arrive. With the boat loaded on my vehicle, I met Skip Johnson at his house at 10:30am.

Working with Jim Michalak
I quickly realized that I wanted to be able to get a boat in the water in under 30 minutes by myself and be able to sail for a week with supplies.

The Punt Build
I read or heard a quote many years ago that "Until a man raises a son and builds a boat his life is not complete".

Organic Cleats
You can, of course, screw/bolt your cleats to the deck and hope for the best, but today we have materials to make cleats an integral part of a boat.

Where to Build - Part Three
It is now almost a year since I built the boat shed, at the time I promised third article on how the project worked out through rain, wind and snow.

Lofting Today - Part Two
Now for a curved hull. The method is the same, only with a curve we need more points.

Jim Michalak's Newsletter
We are big fans of Jim Michalak's designs and like to let you know when there is a new issue of his newsletter.

Modern Industrail Blacksmith
Mr. Czub liked the fact that I had enough respect for his knowledge and MYSELF to dress up in a suit. They hired me immediately.

Gill 12 Tugboat - Part Two
Now we find Him hunched over the hull with resounding grunts and expletives slicing the air. OOH, my back he exclaims! Why did I start this?

Mark Steele's Model Yacht Column
Mark Steele on a wonderful world of small boats.

A New Cargo Ship
This outlines a radically new idea in ship travel! Yes, it is not for everyone...

A Little Bit Bigger Dinghy
I became enamored with sailboats and sailing during the years our family lived in Maryland.

Capsize Testing
Last summer I attended Howard Rice's Small Craft Skills Academy. One of the many aspects of sailing covered was capsize recovery.

Balance Lug - Rigging Details
If you are looking for a super-simple rig which is effective on all points of sail, and which can be put together with the absolute minimum of fittings, the Balance Lug could be for you.

2012 Eastern Messabout
It was a dark and stormy night. At least it was the Friday night of the 2012 Eastern Messabout held at Elk Neck State Park south of the town of North East, Maryland June 1-3.

Kayak Train
I have to admit that this particular "train" was a little extreme.

Jim Michalak's Newsletter
We are big fans of Jim Michalak's designs and like to let you know when there is a new issue of his newsletter.

"Around Alone"? Mississippi Barrier Island trip
I had been thinking about the Barrier Island trip for a couple years.

Sailing in Ghost Wind
At some point, most of us have experienced too much wind, or a nice day of sailing, .... and then NOTHING... NO WIND, anywhere...

K. O. T. W. s European Odyssey - Part 2
At 9:30 in the morning, I'm contemplating a big jump South to the German border as the rains have finally stopped and the winds appear to be abating.

K. O. T. W. s European Odyssey - Part 1
Kiss of the Wolf* (KOTW) was built in 2008 in a Nazareth PA backyard.

Lofting Today - Part One
Now as to, 'Why loft?' Although many boats are built without real lofting, even the best designers have made mistakes on their plans.

Sailing at Ft DeSoto
We had so much fun sailing at Ft DeSoto two weeks ago that we did it again and after hearing how great this place is some new boats came along .

Texas 200 - Part Two
The 200 is a five-day, 40 mile a day event. 40 miles is a long way to sail at 4 or 5 miles per hour.

Texas 200 - Part One
During the fall of 2011 I read several mentions of the Texas 200 in one or the other of the sailing publications that I receive...

Sea Bee 13 Skin-On-Frame Kayak Build
I recently built a skin-on-frame Sea Bee 13 kayak from Tom Yost's plans.