I am a city boy who did not grow up around the water. My first boat was a $25. special purchased with two partners. we got a 25 hp Evinrude and away we went.The boat resembled the African Queen at full power. the bow would go up and the engine would roar but the boat would never go on plane. It was a heavy wooden boat of 15 feet and it was given to the first taker after one season.

I went away to college  and on my return I found another partner and we brought a brand new fiberglass 15 foot runabout with a 60 hp Johnson. We were a big hit water skiing and fishing the whole summer. We had the boat docked off the Severn river and left it in the water until October, it was running sluggish and when we pulled it out we had a two inch growth of barnacles on the bottom. We had  never heard of painting the bottom of a brand new boat. After a month of scrapping and sanding we were back to fiberglass. The boat was a midnight blue and we painted the bottom with a sky blue lead paint (now you know how long ago this was). The following season went well until a freak storm hit at the end of October with winds in excess of 60 mph.

I am a city boy who did not grow up around the water.

I came to the dock and saw the sky blue of her bottom, the boat had been turned upside down in her mooring lines. With the aid of three strong young men I could not right her. The marine insurance adjustor and his 10 year old son righted the boat with some line and a bumper jack. The boat was repaired and sold. I moved on to a bride and three kids.

Twenty years later after a job change and relocation to Florida I again got the boat itch. I started with a $100. special, 15 foot fiberglass, 20 hp, older than dirt, in and out of the shop, towed back to port several times and given to the first taker.

History was repeating itself. I was determined not to follow the same route. I purchased an old aluminum 12 foot Montgomery Wards row boat with an old 5 hp Sears outboard.This outfit proved cast iron and gave many years of service, eventually I wanted something different. I had the boat building itch.

I am a thrifty individual (my bride would say cheap) and so I wanted to see how little I could spend to get on the water.

My trusty Wards and Sears combo was sold and I began my new avocation. I am a thrifty individual (my bride would say cheap) and so I wanted to see how little I could spend to get on the water. After much research the one sheet boat of Herb Mcleod was built and named after two of my seven grand kids (you can see where this is going).

Next was the two sheet dh boat of Gerard  named after my bride. This was followed by the one sheet "dug "of Hannu Vartiala named after three more grand kids. My boat yard over flowed.

I sold the dh boat and gave away the dug boat but I still had the two undedicated grand kids. Ever thrifty I drew my own plans for a 10 foot row boat using door skin for sides and 1/4 inch plywood for the bottom.

In reality I realize the building of the boat has become the addiction.

This boat has worked well, it is light, under forty pounds, stable with a width of 36 inches and paddles well. Destiny is fulfilled for the seven grand kids and my bride.
I am smitten with my success. What if I redrew my lines and used more of a dory shape would I have the perfect boat? In reality I realize the building of the boat has become the addiction.