Shenandoah, scene stealer at the Italy Rolex Rally, a Sea Thru Starlet, windling with Darth and the sailing now railroad-operating Lockley’s.
Mark Steele's wonderful potpouri of model boat news.

Building a Lake Skiff - Part 5
This time Charlie focuses on installing the topsides and floor. As is the case in most boat building, there is some soul searching, and a hiccup or two but things finally move along.

Tape and Glue Assembly
Often builders have tried to find less toxic ways to do modern stitch and glue construction. Ken Simpson has developed a method using Polyester and Titebond III that shows promise.

• August Reports

The Explorer Box
When he decided to downsize from a larger camping trailer, Scott Chaney came up with this clever camp trailer design. Now he offers them for sail in plan, kit or finished form.

Cockpit Drains
Every sailor thinks about safety and what would happen if a big wave came aboard. Tom Schultz is no exception. In this article, he shows how to install one-way scupper valves.

Shannon
Christer Byström has been designing small boats and writing about them in Duckworks for several years. His latest is a 17.5 foot lapstrake ketch. He is offering free plans for this one too.

Bay Islands of Summer
Imagine you owned one of John Welsford's Pathfinders and were able to sail it for two weeks in New Zealands Bay of Islands. Frank Bates lived this dream and wrote us about it

Jim Michalak's Newsletter
This time Jim has a report on replacing the bottom in his AF4 and he introduces Wooboto, a brand new design. Plus prototype news, past issues, etc.

Cedar Key 2008
We did not make it to Cedar Key this year, but fortunately, David Lucas did and he was kind enough to allow us to post a collection of his pictures with a short introduction here.

The Great Neches River Downstream Expedition of ‘08
Anyone who follows the Duckworks Forum knows that Tyson McLeod (Tyson in Galveston) is a pretty good storyteller. Here is Tyson's East Texas piny woods epic adventure story.

• August Webwatch

Moving the Midwest Messabout for 2009
Jim Michalak has been holding his Midwest Messabout for a couple of decades now making it one of the oldest around. But Rob Rohde-Szudy and others are thinking about moving it.

The Other Side of the Coin
When the new owner of a boat you worked on in the past contacts you about that boat old memories are liable to come to mind. If you are John Welsford, you may write about them.

Some Building Tips
At 29 feet, Bolger's Tennessee is a serous boat, but that did not keep Ed Einhorn from taking a light-hearted approach when he sat down to write this update to his project.

Scaling up a Small Boat Design
When you first think about it, scaling a boat to be larger or smaller than the one you have plans for seems straightforward. But as Warren Messer explains, that is not necessarily so.

Installing a Solar-Powered Fan
Derek Waters plans to keep his Bolger Micro in the water this summer. To ventilate the cabin, he added a solar powerd fan and in this article he tells you how to install one on your boat

Building a Lake Skiff - Part 4: Stem and Frame Construction
With this installment, Charlie Ewers is getting into the nitty-gritty of construction. He presents a few of the problems he encountered and how he resolved them.

GPH and MPG: Outboard Fuel Management
Rob Rohde-Szudy is the quintessential DIY'er. In this month's column, he shows us how to measure engine performance with bits of string, tubing, scrap lumber and an empty soda bottle.

• July Letters

Special Report: The Fate of Resolution
In case you have not heard, Charlie Whipple had to end his bid to solo circumnavigate this week when his boat Resolution went onto the rocks off New Zealand and was lost.

Building a "Swift Canoe" -or- The Tale of The Twisted Plywood
Every boat builder I know likes to encourage wannabees to take the plunge. Pat Johnson did just that, but what he did not know was that Jeremy Herrin would jump in over his head.

• July Splash!

A desirable outpost, a stunning windjammer. North Carolina oyster sharpies and Harban’s most exclusive little yacht klub
Mark Steele's wonderful potpouri of model boat news.

Introducing the EZ Canoe
You probably remember Ken Simpson's three-piece, nesting pram called "Toter". Now Ken has designed a nifty little canoe with the same nesting feature - a great summer project.

Modified Birdsmouth Spars
Four years ago, Gaétan Jetté wrote an article for us that seemed like the last word on Birdsmouth spars. Now he has taken another look at the subject and offers new information.

• July Reports

Boat Design without the Compromises
Is a boat design greater than the sum of its parts or is it all about compromise? In his monthly column, Michael Storer takes a look at this question and gives the antipodean view.

A Tale of Two Boats - Part 3
Stephen Collins finished his Microtrawler recently and in true homebuilder style. He christened her "Someday" with Creme Brule. That's fitting for a boat that took three years to build.

The Sydney Classic & Wooden Boat Festival
I did not make it to Sydney for the show this year and chances are that you didn't make it either. Fortunately for us, Greg Fleming did and he took a lot of pictures.

The “Rooster’s” Tale
I have met several re-enactors who have built traditional boats. Don Craig is one and here he tells the story of Rooster, a 35 foot 'bateau' built traditionally and used realistically.

Ozarkian Update
Jim Michalak designed this boat a few years ago but it was not built until Recently. Here is a report on the prototype of this historic boat rendered in modern materials and methods.

Autumn Sunday on Lake Rotoma with Truantsea
During our recent trip to New Zealand, we did not get to meet Grahame Harris. That is a terrible shame because, as you will see from this story, this fellow knows how to enjoy life.

Muga and Tonka go Swimming!
Here is the sequel to Larry Pullon's article from Monday. It seems his unusual idea has a lot of merrit. As you can see from the picture at left these are very stable boats.

• July Webwatch

Building Muga and Tonka
If you can believe an experienced boater like Larry Pullon would need a canoe with "training wheels" then you will believe this story about how he designed and built just such an animal.

Debatable Inflatable
The Texas 200 begins today and Kellan Hatch will be there. He originally planned to sail his XCR trimaran but fate stepped in and he had to make some last minute changes to make it

American Ingenuity
Here is a quick and cheap boat that anyone can build for a few dollars and a little time. Ben Glick, Daniel Glick, and Jeff Moening give complete instructions in this article.

Mahurangi Regatta
Frank Bates, the new owner of Paul Groom's Pathfinder, Varuna is back with another of his great tales of adventure. In this one, Sandra and I play a small part - enjoy.

Crestwood Gig
Here is the latest Joe Dobler design to be reintroduced thanks to his son-in-law, Tom Setum. The Crestwood Gig is an open water racer with six sweeps and Cox, perfect for groups.

Wheel Steering Revisited
The title tells what the article is about, but it does not give a hint of the depth and imagination involved in Rob Rohde-Szudy's 'take-no-prisoners' approach to DIY boatbuilding.