Building Plank Constructed Pond Yachts
Build Rusticator, a vintage Marblehead-class pond yacht designed for radio-control.
- THOM McLAUGHLIN — JUly 11–17
Pond yachts are exquisite small wooden sailboats raced in urban settings. In the height of their popularity, the 1920s to 1940s, they were a common sight in public parks. They conformed to class ratings and were raced in international competitions, including the 1936 Olympics. Today we admire them for their beautiful woodwork, simplicity of form, miniaturized fittings, and their ability to be sailed without high maintenance costs or storage and slip fees.
In this course each student will be gaining experience in building a hull for a Marblehead-class pond boat. This type of small sailboat originated in 1932 with the minimal design requirements of 50″ LOA and 800 square inches of sail area. Over the years, this type of pond boat became the premier example of a racing pond yacht. Rusticator has been designed by the course instructor, but it exemplifies the classic qualities of boats from another era. Rusticator’s form includes overhangs, tumblehome aft, and a hollow bow entry—a pleasing boat to look at, besides sail. When fully rigged for sailing, the pond boat is over 7′ tall, which makes it very impressive from shore when under sail. The boat can be easily dismantled for transport in keeping with the origin of the 50" length, which was to facilitate fitting the boat into a 1930s car rumble seat.
During the week each student will work on their own hull using the strip-plank building method. You will work from lines drawings, set up station molds on a strongback, fabricate a keelson, and then apply planks. Several past students have gone on to build other designs of pond boats using methods learned in this course. Besides actually building a pond yacht, this class is excellent for someone interested in building plank-constructed examples of model boats or being exposed to the fundamentals of full-sized boatbuilding.
This course will be an intense six days of building and learning through demonstration and practice. Some of the furnished materials will be pre-cut before the course. However, this is not a kit boat, and the student will learn to make decisions based on reading blueprints and developing an eye for form, along with enhancing building skills. Also, instruction on decking, painting, mast and boom construction, rigging hardware, and radio-control devices will occur during the week to ensure ease of completion of the sailboat. A number of completed class boats will be available for sailing during the week. If you can schedule an extended stay at WoodenBoat School, join Thom for next week’s VINTAGE POND YACHTS—PART II course. While no previous boatbuilding experience is needed for this class, a basic understanding of simple hand tools and fundamental woodworking is a requirement.
Tuition: $750
Materials: $150
Note: This is a six-day course ending Saturday afternoon.
Thom McLaughlin is first-rate. He has an incredible sense of humor and is able to relate well to all student levels of experience. Thom is always very supportive and a terrific problem solver. His passion for pond yachts is unsurpassed and evident to all. A wonderful experience. 
Thom McLaughlin’s pond yacht course was very enjoyable. This was the first time I ever attempted to build anything. I was looking to see what pond yachts were all about in the hopes of finding a new hobby. I am hooked! Thom was outstanding.