Our Fleet of Small Craft

• Length: 17′ 8″
• Beam: 6′ 6″
• Draft: 10″ with outboard up
• Displcement: 1,200 lbs.
• Power: 40 hp
• Construction: Marine plywood on sipo & douglas fir
• Usual location: Dockside

This skiff was built as a replacement for our original launch BABSON. (BABSON II in the foreground; BABSON in the background.) The original boat was built in 1981 by Greg Snead, an employee of Bath Iron Works in Southern Maine. He used the boat for hauling a handful of lobster traps. WoodenBoat School purchased BABSON in 1987 and for 28 years had served admirably as our primary waterfront launch. When the decision to retire BABSON was made, it seemed fitting to build a replica hull using the original boat to take patterns, then make some small functional improvements which have led to easier use and improved safety. Our shop and waterfront staff ably maintains her each season.

• Length: 28′ 6″
• Length on Waterline: 23′ 2″
• Beam: 9′ 6″
• Draft: 5′ 4″
• Sail area: 636 sq.ft.
• Designer: W.A. Morse and Joel White
• Construction: Carvel planked — northern white cedar on white oak frames
• Builders: WoodenBoat School students, ’87 to ’92
• Instructor: Gordon Swift
• Usual location: Mooring

Jon Wilson found smallscale drawings for this vessel in a 1907 issue of Boating magazine (no relation to the contemporary magazine). Taken with the lines, Jon published the original plans in WoodenBoat #2 and later asked Joel White to create working drawings. These were eventually given to builder Gordon Swift and WoodenBoat School for actual construction. Upon completion, the boat would become a “floating classroom” in the School’s seamanship program. Over six summers (2 weeks a summer for 5 seasons and 4 weeks for 1 season) Swifty led an assortment of dedicated students through the lofting process, set-up, framing, planking, decking, house construction, and rigging. In 1992 the BELFORD GRAY was launched at Brooklin Boat Yard before a large crowd of friends and wellwishers of the School. The sloop is named after a highly regarded boatbuilder, instructor, and friend of WoodenBoat School. After a summer of sea trials, a series of seamanship courses have been offered on her each year. With plenty of lines to handle, she has proven herself to be a wonderful teaching tool and is very capable in both light and stiff breezes. With the passing of each sailing season, this Friendship Sloop is fast becoming a familiar and friendly sight in local waters.

The BELFORD GRAY is not available to students to use on their own. She is used in sailing courses and by our staff. If interested, ask the waterfront staff when she might have room for crew.

• Length: 19′ 6″
• Beam: 6′ 2″
• Draft: 11″
• Sail area: 170 sq.ft. (gaff)
• Displacement: approx. 340 lbs
• Designer: Iain Oughtred
• Construction: Glued-lapstrake plywood construction
• Builders: WoodenBoat School students, 2014
• Instructor: Geoff Kerr
• Usual location: Mooring

This handsome double-ender is one of Iain’s most popular and versatile designs and is guaranteed to turn heads on any waterfront. With well-balanced, relatively high ends, this lean and long yawl shows considerable reserve buoyancy above the waterline throughout her length. She’s comfortable to sail in a stiff breeze and dazzles in light air and to windward. In steady winds she’ll safely sail heeled over, her crew central and sitting up to windward. Set the mizzen first and it will keep the boat squarely into the wind while you raise the mainsail. To assure positive tacking, simply back the mizzen to the inside of the turn as you come about. The push/pull tiller may take some time to get used to but it works perfectly. Pulling the tiller forward will turn the boat to port. This boat was named in honor of Gordon Swift, an outstanding boatbuilder and long-time instructor at WoodenBoat School who passed away in 2013.

• Length: 18′ 8″
• Beam: 6′
• Draft: board up 1′ 6″, board down 2′ 1″
• Sail area: 242 sq.ft.
• Displacement: approx. 3,000 lbs
• Designer: Nelson Zimmer
• Builder: Doug Hylan
• Construction: Carvel planked — cedar on oak ribs
• Usual location: Mooring

This is an historically accurate 18′ version of the well-known, reputed Mackinaw boat, a sailing and rowing shallop type that was popular on Lakes Michigan and Superior in the late 1800’s. Being long-keeled, she won’t tack very quickly, but with the right breeze, she’ll provide a good turn of speed. This roomy, shoal-draft boat will give a good account of herself in a broad range of wind and sea conditions, and with a variety of loads.

• Length: 18’
• Beam: 7’ 3”
• Draft: 7” with outboard up
• Displacement: 1,100 lbs.
• Power: 40 hp
• Designer & Builder: Alton Wallace
• Construction: Strip-planked hull
• Usual location: Either on mooring or dockside

This particular boat was the last West Point Skiff that Alton built and it was donated to WoodenBoat School in 2007. Alumni of the school, along with our shop staff, completely renovated the interior and also added new decks, coamings, and rails over the next two years. The flat bottom aft and the V bottom forward make for a comfortable ride in all sea conditions. The 40-hp motor can push this hull at 25 knots when necessary.

• Length: 16′
• Beam: 4′ 5″
• Draft: board up 6″, board down 24″
• Weight: 150 lbs.
• Rig:Lug
• Sail area: 636 sq.ft.
• Designer: Joel White
• Builders: WoodenBoat School students, ’87
• Instructor: Tom Hill
• Construction: Glued lapstrake mahogany plywood
• Usual location: Mooring, rudder & tiller on board, rig in Boathouse

A very fast boat, as well as, an exciting sailboat. Ideal for two rowers. With her light weight and narrow beam, she accelerates remarkably well. Joel based this design on a Norwegian workboat.

• Length: 18’
• Beam: 6’ 5”
• Draft: 10” with outboard up
• Displacement: 1,200 lbs.
• Power: 50 hp
• Construction: Plank on frame; cedar on oak
• Usual location: Dockside

This skiff was built around 1981 by Greg Snead who worked at Bath Iron Works. He used the boat for hauling a handful of lobster traps. WoodenBoat School purchased the boat in 1987. Over the years this boat has admirably served as our waterfront launch. Our shop and waterfront staff ably maintains her each season.

• Length: 16′ 6″
• Beam: 3′ 6″
• Draft: 12″
• Rig: Leg-o-mutton with leeboard
• Designer: Steve Redmond
• Builder: Al Buxton—WBS Alumnus
• Construction: 4mm glued-lap plywood on spruce & cedar frames
• Usual location: On boat rack at end of dock

WHISP slides along most easily as a solo boat. With two aboard, she loses some of her weight advantage, though with her narrow beam and low wet­ted surface she’s still a very pleasant boat to row. Under sail, she seems equally fast with one or two in anything but light airs, and benefits from the stability of a second crew member.

• Length: 16′
• Beam: 7′ 9″
• Draft: board up 1′ 9″, board down 3′ 6″
• Designer: Fenwick Williams
• Builder: Maynard Lowery, 1983 at Tilghman Island, Maryland
• Construction: Carvel planking cedar over oak
• Usual location: Mooring— all equipment on board

Fenwick Williams gave his friend, Maynard Lowery, the plans for this boat just before Fenwick went into a nursing home, saying it reminded him of his youth in Gloucester, Massachusetts. It was the smallest catboat he ever designed. She’s a sturdy, weatherly and extremely stable shoal-draft centerboarder that’s fun to sail.

Length: 15′ 11″ Beam: 5′ 10″ Draft: 2′ 6″ Rig: Marconi Sloop Designer: N.G.Herreshoff Construction: Carvel planked, cedar over oak

Builders: WE 3—Herreshoff Mfg. Co.,1938 SEAL—Herreshoff Mfg. Co., date unknown DOVEKIE—Quincy Adams Yacht Yard, 1947 Usual location: Mooring—all equipment on board

Joel White, in Wood, Water, and Light, says: “The Herreshoff 12½ is probably the best small boat ever drawn. Only sixteen feet long and twelve and one-half feet on the waterline, it has a large comfortable cockpit that can seat four in regal style for an afternoon sail. The boats are seaworthy, good looking, well built, and long lasting. They seem much bigger than they really are—and very, very safe. One can hardly ask for more than that in a small boat.”

In getting underway, hoist the mainsail before the jib. In lowering the sails, drop the jib before the mainsail; it’s an indication of good seamanship and helps prevent the boat’s bow from blowing off downwind after you’ve picked up the mooring. Jib outhaul must be tightened up when sailing, and then slacked off in order to properly furl. Pump, sponge, and oarlocks are stowed in the lazarette.

• Length: 15′ 11″
• Beam: 6′ 1″
• Draft: board up 1′ 6″, board down 3′ 4″
• Rig: Gaff Sloop
• Designer: Joel White & Nat Herreshoff
• Builders: WoodenBoat School students, ’90 & ’91
• Instructor: Eric Dow
• Construction: Carvel planked, cedar on oak
• Usual location: Mooring—all equipment on board

In getting underway, hoist the mainsail before the jib, and take up on the peak halyard until diagonal wrinkles appear, running from peak to tack. In lowering the sails, drop the jib before the mainsail; it’s an indication of good seamanship and helps prevent the boat’s bow from blowing off downwind after you’ve picked up the mooring.

• Length: 15′ 11″
• Beam: 6′ 1″
• Draft: board up 1′ 6″, board down 3′ 4″
• Rig: Gaff Sloop
• Designer: Joel White & Nat Herreshoff
• Builders: WoodenBoat School students, 2000 through 2004
• Instructor: Brion Reiff, Ellis Rowe and Drew Maples
• Construction: Cold-molded, western red cedar veneer
• Usual location: Mooring—all equipment on board

In getting underway, hoist the mainsail before the jib, and take up on the peak halyard until diagonal wrinkles appear, running from peak to tack. In lowering the sails, drop the jib before the mainsail; it’s an indication of good seamanship and helps prevent the boat’s bow from blowing off downwind after you’ve picked up the mooring.

• Length: 14′ 10″
• Beam: 4′ 2″
• Draft: 14″
• Designer: Rice Brothers, East Boothbay, Maine
• Builders: WoodenBoat School students, ’93 & ’94
• Instructor: Greg Rössel
• Construction: Carvel planking with northern white cedar over white oak ribs
• Usual location: Mooring

This lovely rowing boat was taken from the lines of an old tender (ca. 1910) by Rice Brothers that is now in the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath. This boat’s construction was altered to that of a classic working Whitehall and building her this way yielded the first-hand experience and photos needed to produce an authoritative book on the subject (at Mystic Seaport Museum). The Whitehall has always been a favorite of amateur builders and many, many plans of this boat have been sold.

• Length: 14′
• Beam: 5′ 8″
• Draft: 3′ 4″ board down
• Weight: 550 lbs
• Rig: Standing lug
• Designer: Paul Gartside
• Builders: WoodenBoat School students & alumni ’03, ’04, ’05
• Instructor: Greg Rössel
• Construction: Traditional clinker planking over oak frames
• Usual location: Mooring —all equipment on board

This handsome dinghy is an ideal family daysailer. It is stable, will carry up to four people, sails well, and will provide plenty of delight to all on board.

• Length: 14′
• Beam: 4′ 8″
• Draft: 8″
• Rig: none
• Designer:Robert Elliott — this particular dory is a hybrid between the straight-sided Banks Dory and the round-sided Swampscott type.
• Builders: WoodenBoat School students, ’93
• Instructor: Robert Elliott
• Construction: Cedar and pine lapstrake planks on hackmatack knees and oak frames
• Usual location: Mooring

This is a handsome, stable dory that is a fun boat to row. Traditionally used as workboats, dories, if properly handled, provide a wonderful source of pleasure and exercise to the oarsperson.

• Length: 14′5″
• Beam: 5′
• Draft: board up 1′, board down 3′
• Rig: Sloop
• Designer: N.G. Herreshoff
• Builder: Eric Dow, 1987
• Construction: Mahogany plywood
• Usual location: Mooring—all equipment on board

Very responsive and quick. Take along a couple of cushions to sit on for more comfort. Construction of boat was featured in WoodenBoat #96, #97 & #98.

In getting underway, hoist the mainsail before the jib. In lowering the sails, drop the jib before the mainsail; it’s an indication of good seamanship and helps prevent the boat’s bow from blowing off downwind after you’ve picked up the mooring.

• Length: 13′ 6″
• Beam: 3′ 11″
• Draft: 10″
• Designer: Unknown
• Builders: WoodenBoat School students ’98 & ’99
• Instructor: Greg Rössel
• Construction: Carvel planking with northern white cedar over oak ribs
• Usual location: Mooring

Just who built the original design and when are not known for sure, although it is reputed to have been built about 1880 at Northport, Maine, by a member of a Northport boatbuilding family by the name of Drinkwater. It shows a strong resemblance to boats used for recreational rowing in the 1880’s on the Charles River in Boston. The skiff is not heavy for its size and is a very speedy rower, although a bit tender.

• Length: 12′
• Beam: 6′
• Draft: board up 8″, board down 30″
• Rig: Gaff Cat Sloop
• Designer: Charles Beetle
• Builder: Concordia Co. — WoodenBoat School cold-molded over WHIMSEY’s original hull in 1993 to add strength and eliminate the need for refastening.
• Construction: Plank on frame
• Usual location: Mooring

This is the classic yacht club racing boat and wonderful craft to learn the art of small boat sailing. A good-size sail makes it a fun boat to sail. Take along a couple of cushions to sit on for added comfort. She sails best with the gaff well peaked up.

• Length: 12′
• Beam: 6′
• Draft: board up 8″, board down 30″
• Rig: Gaff Cat Sloop
• Designer: Charles Beetle
• Builder: Concordia Co.
• Usual location: Mooring

This is the classic yacht club racing boat and wonderful craft to learn the art of small boat sailing. A good-size sail makes it a fun boat to sail. Take along a couple of cushions to sit on for added comfort. She sails best with the gaff well peaked up.

• Length: 12′ 8″
• Beam: 4′ 6″
• Draft: board up 6″, board down 20″
• Rig: Spritsail
• Designer: Joel White adaptation of Nathanael Herreshoff design
• Builders: WoodenBoat School students & alumni, 2014,15,16
• Instructors: Greg Rössel, Wade Smith, Warren Barker, and Bill Thomas
• Construction: Cedar carvel planking riveted to steam bent oak frames
• Usual location: Mooring—rudder & tiller in boat; oars & rig in Boathouse

JESSE is an all-purpose boat. Safe, stable; she’s easy to row and makes a nice sailing dinghy to boot. She goes best under fairly sizable oars — 7½′ or better and has two rowing stations.

• Length: 12′ 8″
• Beam: 4′
• Draft: 6″
• Weight: 60 lbs.
• Rig: Standing Lug Ketch
• Designer: Robert H. Baker
• Builder: Robert H. Baker
• Construction: Cedar lapstrake on steam bent oak ribs
• Usual location: Boat rack in Boathouse

This is a jewel of a boat! She’s very nice to paddle with double-paddle and fun to sail with her complicated little rig (for light airs only). Please treat this boat with special care—she’s worth it.

• Length: 12′ 8″
• Beam: 4′
• Draft: 6″
• Weight: 60 lbs.
• Rig: Standing Lug Ketch
• Designer: Robert H. Baker
• Builder: Robert H. Baker
• Construction: Cedar lapstrake on steam bent oak ribs
• Usual location: Boat rack in Boathouse

This is a jewel of a boat! She’s very nice to paddle with double-paddle and fun to sail with her complicated little rig (for light airs only). Please treat this boat with special care—she’s worth it.

• Length: 11′ 2″
• Beam: 4′ 5″
• Draft: board up 6″, board down 2′ 3″
• Sail area: 56 sq.ft.
• Weight: 115 lbs.
• Rig: Standing lug
• Designer: Joel White
• Builders of RACHEL: Matt Murphy, Rich Hilsinger, Rob Dwelley, and Jim Miller, ’93 – ’94;
• Builders of ARETHA: Pat Lown, Michaela Baldwin, and Marion Wright, ’95
• Construction: Glued lapstrake mahogany plywood
• Usual location: Mooring or at float (rudders, tillers, daggerboards, and rigs are stored in the Boathouse.)

Comments: Jon Wilson says, “The Shellback provides an education in the fine points of sailing, rowing, and sculling for sailors of all ages, her standing lug rig easily dropped altogether if the winds come on too strong. She is not easily adapable to outboard power, primarily because the weight of the motor throws her fine hull out of trim, but she rows well enough to provide plenty of efficiency and speed, even with a load.” Sailed correctly these Shellbacks are very quick and responsive. For comfort and safety, adult sailors should sit on the floor, not thwarts, when under sail.

• Length: 11′ 6″
• Beam: 27″
• Draft: 12″
• Weight: 25 lbs
• Designer & Builder: Tom Hill
• Construction: Glued lapstrake plywood
• Usual location: In Boathouse or out on dock rack

With its classic design influence, the famous Rushton ”Wee Lassie“ is one of Tom Hill’s most popular canoes. A finely made spoon-bladed double-paddle can make this little craft really fly. She is an unusually enjoyable solo boat, yielding that exhilarating experience of personal freedom so necessary to the lone paddler. She has enough additional capacity for 2 or 3 weeks’ gear, too. This boat is a perfect choice for gliding silently over a clear body of water.

• Length: 10′ 6″
• Beam: 28″
• Draft: 6″
• Weight: 42 lbs
• Designer: Harry Bryan
• Builder: WoodenBoat School students, 1994
• Instructor: Harry Bryan
• Construction: Lapstrake planking with northern white cedar over spruce frames; cedar decks; ash coamings
• Usual location: Boat rack in Boathouse

This great little double-ended craft is a more able version of J. Henry Rushton’s Wee Lassie model. It is small and light as to be easily portable, yet able to carry its paddler over long distances, be safe in choppy conditions, and be exceptionally maneuverable in confined waters.

• Length: 7′ 6″ and 9′ 6″
• Beam: 4′ and 4′ 4″
• Weight: 90 and 100 lbs.
• Draft: 5″ board up (both) and 21″ board down (both)
• Designer: Joel White
• Builders: Joel White and Eric Dow
• Construction: Glued lapstrake mahogany plywood
• Usual location: Mooring or at float. Rigging, rudder, tiller, daggerboard all stored in Boathouse

Excellent rowing and sailing dinghy for beginners on up. As in most boats this size, trim is very important; try to keep her level fore and aft, perhaps a little bow high when going to weather. When rowing with one passenger aboard, use the forward rowing station.