January 2023 Archives - Small Boats Magazine

Forlorn

Christopher Cunningham — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 16:18:42 +0000

About five years ago, when I needed to make room for another boat in the garage, I moved one of my Greenland kayaks out and tucked it under the eaves on the north side of my house. It wouldn’t be as well protected there as it had been in the garage, but it would be out of the sun and only occasionally subject to rain. Perched with its bow resting on a downspout and the aft deck on a bracket clamped to the power meter’s conduit, the kayak’s cockpit crossed the windows of my study and its stern hung over the back door. While it was never out of view, it was soon out of mind.

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Nexus Planing Dory

Andrew Kitchen — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 16:17:59 +0000

Owning a powerboat has been a new experience for me—my previous experience had been exclusively with oars, paddles, and sails. Learning to dock the boat was the steepest part of the learning curve. Fortunately, the dory is a sturdy little craft and has handled the punishment with aplomb. The flat bottom provides reassuring stability, a benefit when it comes to carrying people with little experience of boating. I have recently added a bimini, which provides shelter as well as a handhold when coming aboard.

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Cape Henry 21

Ryerson Clark — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 16:17:05 +0000

After years of building and sailing open camp-cruiser sailboats, my wife, Anne, and I had become less enchanted with crawling around under a tent at anchor. Spending time in our smaller open boats was no longer the simple, easy fun it once was and, while it might be hard to admit, we were no longer two sprightly 30-year-olds. It was time to look for a bigger boat.

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A Sneakbox on the Ohio

Christopher Cunningham — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 16:13:39 +0000

This new adventure was my second following in Bishop’s wake. In 1983, inspired by his book, Voyage of the Paper Canoe, I’d paddled a paper cruising canoe I’d made from Quebec to Cedar Key, a distance of about 2,500 miles that took four months to cover. I had travelled with a partner then, but for the sneakbox voyage I was eager to go it alone. Doing the trip in the winter, as Bishop did, would be a better test of my skills and endurance. I just hadn’t expected to be put to the test on the first night.

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A DIY Boat Cart

Jim Root — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 16:12:06 +0000

I pondered the idea of adapting a garden-cart to carry boats. I was put off by the price of the ready-made versions, and having a good stack of scrap wood left from old projects, I decided to figure out my own kayak carrier. My kids have always laughed at my frugal inclinations and love to say that our family motto should be: “We don’t need to buy that, we can make it.”

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The Silent Hitch Pin

Kent and Audrey Lewis — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 16:08:50 +0000

Whether the trailer is being towed loaded or unloaded, a drawbar can knock and rattle inside the receiver, which not only makes a lot of annoying noise while driving but also causes wear on both the receiver and drawbar. We recently found a device that reduces that wear and eliminates the noise.

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The Salus Coastal PFD

Tim Ingersoll — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 16:06:48 +0000

Before embarking on more singlehanded camping adventures in remote areas, I needed to find a life jacket that had all the features I consider most important: inherent flotation, pockets, a built-in harness, and comfort.

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PERIWINKLE

Christopher Cunningham — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 16:03:22 +0000

The coast of Maine is a magical playground for small-boat sailors. In summer, the days are long, the nights cool, and the breezes predictable. For the boat with a shallow draft, there are almost endless numbers of sheltered anchorages and beaches for overnight stays. Gavin was in the right place…all he needed now was the right boat.

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