Designer Karl Stambaugh found the inspiration for his Redwing 18 design in the Camp Skiff designed by Howard Chapelle.
Dr. Don Lewis liked the looks of Karl Stambaugh’s Redwing 18 from the first time he saw the boat’s lines 14 years ago, leafing though an issue of WoodenBoat magazine. It looked like just the right boat for cruising his home waters on the Rock River in Illinois and poking into the sloughs, creeks, and streams on the fringes of the river. For months the boat slipped into his dreams, and he eventually ordered the plans and set the project in motion. The Redwing was his first boatbuilding project. He had a workshop and woodworking tools, but he needed knowledge and lumber. For the former, he haunted libraries for boatbuilding books; for the latter, his local lumberyard for their best oak boards and sheets of marine plywood.A month after the plans arrived, he was ready to begin work. The hull went together with bronze screws, thickened epoxy, and fiberglass tape. A year and a half later, the 18′6″ by 6′6″ hull was finished and ready to be rolled upright. The task was accomplished with a pair of plywood semicircles, a block-and-tackle, a truck, eight friends, and a case of beer.
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Comments (4)
What a beautiful looking little cruiser. She’d make a nice sailboat with those lines. I’d like to ask how he feeds air to the engine compartment to keep it running smoothly? Nice work Don. The older I get, the more I think smaller is better.
Vents on the sides and the front of the engine compartment provide enough air for all but maximum power running. I plan on enlarging the vents even further. The joy of building and modifying continues. Thanks for your kind comments.
I also read the original article in WB. At the time I thought if ever I were to build a power boat, Redwing would be very high on my most likely list. She looks as beautiful out on the water as I had imagined from the plans shown in the magazine. I may be thinking about such a project after I finish my 18′ Super Pelican project. Great job Dr. Lewis and nice choice for your first name, too!
I bought Karl Stambaugh’s Redwing a couple years ago. He used electric power. I rewired the boat for a 12-volt system, removed the wood canopy, and installed 9.9hp 4-stroke outboard. I also had a paint job done in Forest Green and added a green canvas canopy. I named her JUST ENOUGH. This is the same boat that was featured in four issues of WoodenBoat magazine (issues 179 through 182). Though I liked the spoke wheel for looks I had installed stick steering system for quicker response. I’ve been caught in two storms with very rough conditions and found the Redwing handled very well. I could go on forever about my boat for I enjoy every aspect of it.
all photos and videos by Ann Lewis
What a beautiful looking little cruiser. She’d make a nice sailboat with those lines. I’d like to ask how he feeds air to the engine compartment to keep it running smoothly? Nice work Don. The older I get, the more I think smaller is better.
Vents on the sides and the front of the engine compartment provide enough air for all but maximum power running. I plan on enlarging the vents even further. The joy of building and modifying continues. Thanks for your kind comments.
I also read the original article in WB. At the time I thought if ever I were to build a power boat, Redwing would be very high on my most likely list. She looks as beautiful out on the water as I had imagined from the plans shown in the magazine. I may be thinking about such a project after I finish my 18′ Super Pelican project. Great job Dr. Lewis and nice choice for your first name, too!
I bought Karl Stambaugh’s Redwing a couple years ago. He used electric power. I rewired the boat for a 12-volt system, removed the wood canopy, and installed 9.9hp 4-stroke outboard. I also had a paint job done in Forest Green and added a green canvas canopy. I named her JUST ENOUGH. This is the same boat that was featured in four issues of WoodenBoat magazine (issues 179 through 182). Though I liked the spoke wheel for looks I had installed stick steering system for quicker response. I’ve been caught in two storms with very rough conditions and found the Redwing handled very well. I could go on forever about my boat for I enjoy every aspect of it.