BUILDING PLANK-ON-FRAME POND YACHTS
Build PEONY or NASKEAG, 50/800 Class radio controlled traditional pond yachts.
- THOM McLAUGHLIN — AUGUST 10–16
Pond yachts are exquisite small wooden sailboats raced in urban settings. In the height of their popularity, the 1920’s to 1940’s, 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 have a choice of building one of two 50/800 Class sailboats. The instructor designed each of the boats and the WoodenBoat School area inspires their names. The form of both of the boats is based on traditions from their period. Peony is a pre-1945 type boat with overhangs on its 50" LOA making it a beautiful classic. NASKEAG is sourced from a post-1945 design using its full 50" LOA for its waterline making it a fast racer. Either boat when fully rigged for sailing is over 7' tall, which makes them very impressive from shore when they are under sail. The boats can be easily dismantled for transport in keeping with the origin of the 50" length, which was to facilitate fitting the boat into a 1930’s car rumble seat. Both boats are intended to be sailed using contemporary radio controls.
Each student will work on his or her choice of hull using the plank on frame building method. Besides actually building a pond yacht, this class is excellent for someone interested in building model boats or being exposed to the fundamentals of boat building. Students will work from lines drawings, set up station molds and frames on a strong-back, fabricate a keelson, and then apply planks.
This course will be an intense six days of building and learning through demonstration and practice. Some of the furnished materials will be precut 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 examples of completed class boats will be available in class for sailing during the week.
While no previous boat building experience is needed for this class, a basic understanding of simple hand tools and fundamental woodworking is a requirement.
Tuition: $700
Materials: $150
Note: This is a six-day course ending Saturday afternoon.
“Thom McLaughlin’s work and teaching plan was well thought out, his instruction tools were thorough and beautiful, and he inspired all of his students. I was able to accomplish more than I ever expected and am confident to move forward with my pond yacht. A great week and overall experience!”