Joe Lanni’s boatbuilding journey began in 2020 when he built 3’S A CROWD, a sectional rowing and sailing skiff designed by Ken Simpson. Two years later, in search of something “more boatlike…a composition of curves flowing into one another,” he built David Beede’s Wackless Lassie, based on Fritz Funk’s Wacky Lassie. Still a boat of relatively simple construction—hard chine, flat bottom, sheet-plywood sides and bottom—the Wackless Lassie had enough curve and subtle sheer to satisfy Joe’s aesthetic leanings. But even as he christened it PARTY OF ONE, Joe was already musing about his next boat: “probably something larger and with, perhaps, even more curves.”In 2023, Joe did, indeed, launch his third boat, a Puddle Duck Racer. “The complete opposite of a boat with nice lines and curves,” admits Joe. “It is quite literally a box.” Joe made the parts for the hull inside over the winter then brought them out into the spring light for assembly. The side panel clearly shows the boat’s profile. The curve of the bottom is required for racing Puddle Duck Racers.
Joe Lanni
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I built my P.D. several years ago but have not sailed it yet. The reason for this is that the boat is so much fun with oars and electric motor that I have not finished my rig. The mast and spar are complete. I need to fabricate the sail, rudder, and leeboard. The boat is easy to build and fun to use. It is adaptable for a lot of uses and would make an excellent first-time or group build. Yeah, it’s a box, but beauty is not everything.
Our Sea Scouts want to build a working replica of a San Francisco scow schooner, around 15′, to keep this local type of vessel alive and because (I think!) it might be a relatively easy build for first timers. She must be lightweight, have a pram bow, flat bottom (the point of the design to allow sailing in shallow creeks), centerboard, 2 masts, and bowsprit for jib. Sailing only in sheltered waters. Any thoughts on adapting this design, or other ideas? We can build; we just need plans.