What is Boatbuilding
Most folks come to boatbuilding without really knowing what it is. Paul Boyer is one. But he is learning fast and better yet putting down what he has learned in a most eloquient manner.

The Texas200 - Two Points of View
Bobby Chilek and his daughter, Kristen both wrote about their experiences on the Texas200. Their differences were so compelling that we decided to post them side-by-side.

Welding 101
If you are like me you have an old welder in the garage but you don't feel competent enough to use it. Well, read Rob Rohde-Szudy's lesson and you will be welding in 15 minutes.

Jim Michalak's Newsletter
We are big fan's of Jim Michalak's designs and like to let you know when there is a new issue of his newsletter. His essays are always worth reading. He talks about Rend Lake this time.

• July Letters

The Big Lebowski - Slimed
We are taking the unsual action of printing two letters from Ed Einhorn in which he reports some even more unusual actions by person or persons unknown. Ed thinks he knows who it is.

• July Splash

It May Change Your Life...
In this essay, Ross Lillistone takes careful aim at misinformation, particularly on the internet. I guess it is not surprising that he originally wrote this for a print magazine.

Where The Wind Blows
There seems to be a very wide spectrum of model sailing boats and the ways that they are used, and where  they brighten peoples lives as Mark Steele reveals.

Laguna
After sailing the Texas200, I asked Jim Michalak to design the perfect boat for that event. Now that another one has come and gone, I am pretty sure we got it right. Why not build one?.

• July Reports -

Building SLACKTIDE: A T26x7
Back in 2000 Duckworks had a design contest and Dave Zeiger entered his Trilobyte design. It did not win but Dave has since designed a whole family of of these striking and unique boats.

Remembering Phil Bolger
Gary Blankenship probably knew Phil Bolger as well as anyone who contributes to this site so it is only fitting that he would put his memories of the man down for the rest of us admirers.

Mangrove Jack
Here is a brand new design by Mark Bowdidge. It is a reliable and seaworthy little fishing boat that looks like a fiberglass boat - yet it is quick to build with modern S&G composite methods.

Homemade Paddles for Homemade Boats…
It is funny how many of us who build canoes and kayaks then go buy our paddles. None of that for Glynn Sirmans - he rolls his own and shows us how to do the same thing ourselves.

Redecking a Blue Jay
I admire Bob Booth for having the tenacity to continue this project. At first it looked to me like a real labor of love, but with the new decks on, it is starting to seem like a boat again.

• Special Report: The Texas200
  - déjà vu all over again -

Building the Sprucegoose
Would it ever occur to you to build a canoe out of cheap spruce t&g wainscotting? It would not occur to me either. It occured to Brian Anderson, though. He built this boat in 20 hours, for $50

• July Webwatch

Building Pathfinder - Part 5
In this month's installment of Perry Burton's series, He tackles one of the most difficult parts of a John Welsford boat: the cockpit coaming. Take notes here because he nailes it.

Kitsetting Glued Lapstrake Boat Designs
You might think that creating a kit for a lapstrake boat would be easy. You would be wrong. Alec Jordan has spent years producing lapstrake boat kits and gives a good overview.

Why Be Timid and Conventional?
Today we have a treat: The inaugural column by Paul Boyer. Paul will be writing monthly from a beginner's perspective in a feature called: "Confessions of a Novice Boat Builder".

Lateen is Keen
Sometimes Paul Austin is "Out There" but sometimes he is down to earth - as in this discussion of types of sails. From the title you may be able to deduct that he favors Lateen sails.

A (Rio) Grande Sojourn - Part 2

A (Rio) Grande Sojourn - Part 1
This is a photo essay that I put together. It covers a paddle trip that Skip Johnson and I were luck enough to take part in last February. Last week he wrote about the boat he built for it.

Aluminum Casting Part 3 - Casting Other Metals
In this final installment of Rob Rohde-Szudy's series on Aluminum casting, he talks about casting other metals, specifically Iron. Who knew there were amateur iron molders?

• June Letters

Philsboat Coastal New Zealand Camping Trip
Way down on New Zealand's South Island, Rob Kellock has built a Philsboat and has been taking some adventurous trips in it. Here he gives an account of one trip plus lessons learned.

Building EasyB in One "Easy" Month
When I got an invitation for two to paddle the Rio Grande River, I asked my friend Skip Johnson. I figured he would be able to build a boat for the trip in a month if anyone could.

SPECIAL REPORT:

Phil Bolger - 1927 - 2009

Another Approach to Shaping Foils
Ross Langford has come up with a really easy method for shaping foils - it is for you, at least. He spent a lot of time doing the math and creating a spreadsheet and even a template.

• Splash!

Swirly World, some place sometime long ago, a schooner called Martha and the model boats of Andreas Gondesen
Mark Steele takes another monthly dive into the waters` of the world of model sailing boats’.

One Sheet Wonders
In this story from Phillip McCracken down in New Zealand, we learn about his efforts to feed his "healthy obsession" to creat floatable plywood boats. He seems to be getting on fine.

• June Reports

KD 650
In a lifetime of designing and building catamarans, Bernd Kohler has learned a few things and he puts much of that knowlege to work in this new coastal cruising catamaran.

Adding Art to your Favorite “Build”…
Glynn Sirmans has reported on building Totos here before. He has also shown some of his wonderful art work on those boats. Now he tells some of the secrets that lead to his success.

Redecking a Blue Jay - Part 1 - Fore Deck Structure
In tough economic times, it may make more sense to rebuild a classic like this than to build new. This time, Bob Booth takes you from extracting screws to replacing the mast partner.

Mushulu 12
Australian Mark Bowdidge has drawn much more than another fishing boat/yacht tender. His many years drawing and using such boats gives him an advantage you can profit from.

Blown Away at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival in Hobart!
We are very fortunate to have Greg Fleming reporting on these boat festivals down under - especially since he does such a great job of photographing the boats and people at them.

Building a home made Chart Plotter
If you lust after a chartplotter, don't worry, In this documented and illustrated story, Harry James shows you step-by-step how to make your own. It won't cost an arm and a leg, either.

• June Webwatch

Forest & Stream
Here is a set of free plans for anyone who wants a nice little flattie skiff for rowing or sailing. Sergey Sinelnikov from Russia sent them and they are 1st class with drawings and photos.

Building Pathfinder - Part 3
For the fourth installment of Perry Burton's story about his build of a John Welsdord Pathfinder, he chose the subtitle "Planking Nightmares" but as you'll see from the photos, he did just fine.

Sailing to the Dry Tortugas
It was a relatively short offshore trip and Larry Whited was prepared - he had all the necessary gear and had planed down to the last detail. But things can go wrong any time, any where.

The Eggnoggin School
This is the first of what I hope are many regular columns by Paul Austin. Paul writes both technical articles as well as whimsical fiction. This time it is definitely one of the latter.

Casa Cat
This may just be the holy grail of small catamarans. Terry Culley has designed a spacious yet easily trailerable boat that assembles quickly on a special trailer - he is selling plans too!

Aluminum Casting - Part 2
In the second part of Rob Rohde-Szudy's series on Aluminum casting, he finishes the project he started last month. The basics are certainly there for you to do your own metal casting.

• May Letters

PDR286 RANGER
Last year three intrepid sailors amazed the world by completing the Texas200. Jon Kowitz wanted to be one of them but could not make it happen. This year he will and here is his new boat.

2008 Lake Pepin Messabout
For several years now, Bill Paxton has been organizing the Lake Pepin Messabout. I am sad to say I have not made it yet, but you shoud go this year. Here is the story from last year.

Pollywog Sail Rig Progress
Ken Simpson is the guy who designs those clever take apart boats that you have read about. His latest, Pollywog, is getting fitted for a sail and Ken goes about it in his usual capable way.

A kind of model Bluenose encounter, Ron Scobie marine artist, some funning, and that lady legend of a yacht, Ragtime!
Mark Steele, our model sailboat `writer at large’ brings another collection of `little yacht’ news from here and there, often from surprising places.

A tale of 3 Sails
Grahame Harris build a John Welsford Truant and documented his adventures in these pages. But until now, he was never entirely happy with his sail, until he bought a balanced lug.

K.G. Woozle
I dare anyone to read this story all the way through with a dry eye. Ed Einhorn has has put more feeling in 749 words than anything I can remember publishing in these pages.

Building an 18ft Trailer sailer: Waller TS540
Don't be fooled by the title of this article. This is much more than a building log. Robert Ditterich actually discusses more of the "why" than the "how" of our boat building hobby.

• May Reports

Building Little Leon – A 16’ Brigantine
When Doug McKenzie was 12, he built his first model sailing ship. It took him two years. By the time he got to the rigging, he was thinking about building one big enough to sail...

Radar Reflector Revisited
Tom Schultz came up with a great radar reflector design and published an article about it here in 2007. Now Tom has decided that he needs to clarify the construction technuque.