Disasters Come in Threes
We sailors tend to de a superstitious lot on the whole, and why not, when you are dealing with something as vast and immutable as the sea it pays to be conservative.

Phil Bolger and Bob Hicks Changed my Life
In 1964 I built an 18' pontoon boat from Science and Mechanics plans, put a small cabin on it, loaded it with 100 pounds of books and an alcohol stove, and tried to circumnavigate the East Coast.

The Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding
A Busy Summer at The Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding.

Roper 9000 - Part 1
Around three years ago I decided I wanted a 9 meter shoal draft yacht.

A Two-Sheet Pirogue - Part 1
OK, who am I kidding? Upon gaining some free floorspace I was seized with the uncontrollable urge to build a pirogue.

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.

The Electric Moto Craft (EMC) Launch
This new design has been floating around in my head for several years now.

A Journey Off to One Side
This missive came about because a couple of Duckwork Forum members asked me to expound on how I had "missed the mark" so far in this particular endeavor.

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

A PuddleDuck and the Everglades Challenge -3
All homeboat builders have experienced first cut fever when you are hesitant to push that circular saw through plywood committing yourself to hours of building...

Die Foldermaus - Part Three
At this point I went to my local hardware store and was seduced by the lair of the siren at my local big box hardware store.

Gamaray, a Mayfly 14, Does the Texas200 - PT 2
The next morning I loaded the boat up and headed to Magnolia Beach to meet my friend Stan Roberts.

Small Boat Stoves - Part One
I will attempt to show a few of the many cooking stoves that are suitable (or not suitable?) for use on small sailboats.

A Camping Trip to End All Camping Trips - Pt. 1
It all began with a Boston Harbor Islands camping trip with my youngest son Stephen.

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.

The Sea Anchor
Most blue water sailors feel any boat that ventures off shore needs a sea anchor or drogue for heavy weather and I completely agree.

Designing and Building a Sailing Kayak - Part 4
By June 11th it was time to close up the bow and stern section.

Launching Irascible
A Home-Built and Home-Designed Trimaran Sailing Dinghy.

A Little Adventure
The good folks who take care of the National Historic Landmark Schooner Adventure loaned me the lines to their ship.

Back to Building, Design Becomes Reality
The overall length of the boat would be about 20 feet and my shop, read single car garage, is only 23 feet long by 13 feet wide.

Time for a New Leeboard
The genesis for this project came from an observation from designer Jim Michalak.

Dinghy on a Budget - Part 2
After my initial article I was eager to complete the sail and rigging to get the boat on the water for a test

Building a Puddle Duck Racer
I first became aware of the little "Puddle Duck Racer" while reading an article about the 2008 Texas 200 sailing marathon.

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.

Making Time - The Lower Wisconsin River - Pt 2
Most islands have at least one side with a drop-off that makes it easy to beach a motorboat.

How We Missed the Party
This year's Lake Powell Messabout/Kokopelli Cruise was to be a 5-7 day sailing event starting at Bullfrog marina, and ending at Hite.

A PuddleDuck and the Everglades Challenge -2
The Everglades Challenge is a 300 mile cruise/race down the Gulf coast of Florida from Tampa Bay to Key Largo.

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

A Heck of a Great Rowboat
This spring I built a sailboat, however I find that this summer I've not been sailing my duck a lot.

Gamaray, a Mayfly 14, Does the Texas200 - Pt 1
It all really started when Chuck Leinweber changed the route for the 2011 Texas200.

Die Foldermaus - Part Two
My prototype was initially made with Sikaflex 11 FC and 2 inch fibreglass tape but given my bottom seam started to tear apart.

Tortured
While reading an article in Duckworks about One Sheet Creations by David Horst I was struck by his challenge to build a full size version of his one sheet boat.

Waterdog's Birthday
Many people ask what's it's like to take care of a boat like this, how much trouble it must be, how it's beautiful, but...

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.

The Trip Home
The original plan was to sail straight across the Gulf.

Repair of Skiff America
I was pushed into the corner of pier trying to launch on a very windy day on a 21 mile long lake nearly a mile wide, the largest oxbow on the Mississippi River.

Designing and Building a Sailing Kayak - Part 3
The kayak is now ready for glassing.

Building the First Barton Skiff
I chose Gavin Atkin's design, The Barton Skiff, because it would make best use of my existing, 3.5 horsepower, outboard engine.

Workboats Then and Today - Part Two
When I was but a mere lad, my Dad took me from Tampa to Tarpon Springs, FL for a fishing trip.

Simple Boat Food
I believe I'm on firm ground if I say that most of us like to eat. It's also true that many of us don't give a lot of thought to food until we are hungry!

A Puddle Duck and the Everglades Challenge
The formula is not e=mc2 but rather PDR + EC = ?, but the outcome could be just as dangerous.

The Long Swim
Some time ago my niece Davinia announced her intention to swim across the English Channel in order to raise funds for charity, recently she asked me to help out on the boat, as I had the time available.

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.

Making Time - The Lower Wisconsin River - Pt 1
Usually in Wisconsin, October is when boats are getting put away and only hardcore fishermen and duck hunters are to be found on the water.

Die Foldermaus - Part One
In one of my more creative moments I was experimenting with half sheet boats and was working on an idea for a squashed hexagonal shape.

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

Boom Tent For Sorcerer
Lauren encouraged me to make this tent. Of course I thought it was a good idea, but may not have got around to it without her encouragement.

Wee Rose - Part Two
The other change from the original design is the seat.

Wee Rose - Part One
I live in places where a litter of small craft defines the boundary between front yard and open water.

The 2011 Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival
The 35th annual Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival, hosted and sponsored by The Center For Wooden Boats (CWB), was held in Seattle WA July 2-4, 2011, at the south end of Lake Union.

The Monk Skiff
The Monk Skiff Skiffs are flat-bottomed small boats, usually not much more than sixteen feet long

Boat Cradles
Easy to build, light duty cradles for small craft.

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.

The Surveyor
A good surveyor is critical in a deal like this.

Designing and Building a Sailing Kayak - Part 2
By May 9th I was ready to make the bottom. I used 3/16" birch plywood. This concerned me a bit though my stitch-and-glue book acknowledged people successfully used it.

Sailors
I have been sailing for about 15 years now and only really have the chance to get on the water for a few weeks a year. I am still young though.

Workboats Then and Today - Part One
When I was but a mere lad, my Dad took me from Tampa to Tarpon Springs, FL for a fishing trip.

A Little Wood Boatbuilding Clamp
Sometimes good ideas come in small packages, and so it is with this little clamp used at the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding in Port Hadlock, Washington.

Dinghy on a budget - Part 1
I needed a dinghy as tender for my main build, but feeling less than rich after buying a load of white oak, I decided to try and construct this boat on a budget.

A Letter to Michael Storer
I want to share with you what happened today when I brought 'Little Bird' out into the light of day to step her masts.

The Florida 120 - Part Two
By now some good wind had filled in and we made short work of the Pensacola Bay...

The Florida 120 - Part One
For me, the FL120 started a couple weeks before the official start date.