March 2025 Archives - Small Boats Magazine

In this month’s profiles we look at Phil Bolger’s Pirogue, a simple but versatile small boat for sheltered waters, and the Herreshoff/Gardner 17, a double-ended rowboat designed by L. Francis Herreshoff and modified by John Gardner for amateur boatbuilders. Nic Compton talks to a retired couple from Devon, England, who are exploring the U.K.’s rivers in an Iain Oughtred–designed Tammie Norrie. Bill Thomas reviews a cordless jigsaw from DeWalt, and Audrey and Kent Lewis enjoy painting and varnishing with the compact Preval Sprayer. Ben Fuller explores how to modify oarlocks to make them more user-friendly, and we meet Gerald Trumpp from Germany who built a Goat Island Skiff to sail with his wife and their dog.

Featured on our front cover is BETTY, rowed by Jacqui and Chris Price on the River Dart, England. Photograph by Nic Compton.

From The Editor

Adventures in Retirement

Finding excitement in small boats after retiring

When many people would think about slowing down and staying home, some small-boat owners are taking to the water and finding new adventures.

Boat Profile

Herreshoff/Gardner 17

A lightweight, fixed-seat rowboat for one or two people

Designed by L. Francis Herreshoff in 1947 and modified by John Gardner in 1980, the Herreshoff/Gardner 17 is a rowboat with pedigree, good looks, and excellent performance. It’s also suitable for amateur construction with modern materials.

Boat Profile

Bolger’s Pirogue

Phil Bolger’s Design #451 is simple but versatile

The Bolger Pirogue is shallow-drafted, flat-bottomed, and simply built of inexpensive materials. It can be poled, rowed, paddled, and sailed, and offers great versatility in intricate backwaters.

Adventures

The BETTY Effect

A retired couple discover the joys of river cruising under oar

Newly retired Chris Price built the Iain Oughtred Tammie Norrie which he and his wife, Jacqui, have since rowed hundreds of miles in coastal waters, lakes, and three of England’s biggest rivers.

Of Oarlocks and Lanyards

Modifying oarlocks for one-handed operation

Oarlocks come in various styles, and not all are well-suited to setting up one-handed. But most can be easily modified with nothing more than a drill or a hacksaw.

Product Reviews

Preval Sprayer

A compact aerosol sprayer for use with paint and varnish

Applying finishes to small or hard-to reach areas can be frustrating, but the aerosol-powered Preval Sprayer makes such jobs easy, producing less waste with quick cleanup.

Product Reviews

DEWALT DCS334

A cordless variable-speed jigsaw

Cordless power tools have many advantages over their corded counterparts, but being cordless shouldn’t compromise their performance. The DeWalt DCS334 jigsaw delivers precision cuts, long-lasting power, and excellent operator control.

Reader Built Boats

Building a Goat Island Skiff

A Goat Island Skiff is launched in Germany

Gerald and Petra Trumpp learned to sail in a Northeaster Dory, but for river and lake cruising in their native Germany and across the border in France, they were looking for a boat with more size, more stability, and more speed.

Past Issues

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