September 2023 Archives - Small Boats Magazine

Summer Breeze

Bob Van Putten — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 17:31:49 +0000

Designed to be the most boat from the least materials the Summer Breeze is a robust all-purpose skiff targeted primarily at pleasurable rowing and sailing in protected waters, but also suitable for a small motor. It’s light enough to car top, narrow enough for most truck beds, and yet has capacity for two adults and a child. When fully loaded (up to 500 lbs) with two adults and gear her transom and stem barely touch the water.

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John Greiner, His Way

Jenny Bennett — Sun, 13 Aug 2023 00:07:36 +0000

John Greiner celebrated his 85th birthday in February 2022 and, six months later, sailed his newly launched 24′ boat into a slip at the North Cape Yacht Club in La Salle, Michigan. The boat’s arrival was the culmination of 23 months of work, and the realization of John’s lifelong dream to build a small cruiser.

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Flex Tape vs. Densyl Tape

Christopher Cunningham — Sun, 13 Aug 2023 00:05:52 +0000

If the kayak took on water, it would be easy to get ashore and my safety would never be compromised, but getting back to the launch ramp overland wouldn’t be easy. I’d have a miles-long walk with a tote bag full of gear slung over one shoulder and my kayak over the other. I would spare myself a lot of misery if I could simply patch the hull and paddle back to the ramp.

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A Universal Marine Compass

Jenny Bennett — Sun, 13 Aug 2023 00:04:44 +0000

One boat had a compass that hung in a simple bracket mounted on the forward bulkhead and could be removed to be used as a handheld bearing compass. I researched the product number and details only to discover that it was no longer on the market. Through the ensuing 20 years I have, from time to time, half-heartedly looked online for my compass. Last month I found it.

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A DIY Light Bar

James Kealey — Sun, 13 Aug 2023 00:03:37 +0000

Conventional trailer lights have it hard: they are often cheaply made and poorly wired; they are subject to the indignity of regular dunking; and they rely on the metal of the trailer and its oft-corroded bolts for their ground connection. By building an LED light bar you can ensure that the lights are properly wired, reliably grounded, and never dunked.

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Jim Schroer

Christopher Cunningham — Sun, 13 Aug 2023 00:02:47 +0000

We sailed the sloop to Hawaii. I had rerigged it with two jennies to run downwind, a tradewinds thing, but they overpowered the little boat, so we only used one. That was better than the mainsail, which made it difficult to steer—it wanted to round up when we didn’t want to round up. Our slow trip to Hawaii took 39 days. That was in 1969.

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Portage Pram

Bruce Bateau — Sat, 12 Aug 2023 23:57:57 +0000

We acquired a 19′ Phil Bolger–designed Chebacco gaff cat-yawl and quickly realized that we’d need to find a dinghy as well. Although it will float in a foot of water, the Chebacco’s weight and bulk make shore landing more challenging, and we cruise tidal waters where the possibility of being stuck aground in an outgoing tide makes it prudent to anchor out and row ashore. The Portage Pram would be perfect for our needs.

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Brother Jim’s Paddle

Christopher Cunningham — Sat, 12 Aug 2023 23:52:38 +0000

We both had done long cruises in small boats, though he had done many more and continued even after getting married and having twin daughters. Our fathers were teachers and we both had attended the schools where they taught. We both had flown hang gliders, though he had become an accomplished and licensed flier and I could only claim to have gotten airborne, briefly, with bamboo, plastic sheet, rope, and duct tape.

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