Over the years, one constant amongst our readers and contributors that has always impressed me is the shared spirit of “get up and do.” It permeates our community and is reflected in countless stories of adventures big and small, in articles that share ingenious solutions to problems, in reviews of boats used, admired, and often built by the authors, and in the personal, sometimes deeply affecting glimpses of life stories revealed in articles across each issue and perhaps most especially in the Reader Built Boat stories.There is, indeed, an indomitable spirit of can-do, of rising to a challenge, that enriches Small Boats, as well as an openness and welcoming attitude within the community that time and again inspires newcomers to give it a go. In this issue, we meet young Liam McEvoy, a 16-year-old from Long Island, New York, who went from daydreaming to searching for free boat plans online, to building his own boat in the family driveway. He was helped along the way by Bob Hillman, a boatbuilding mentor 70 years his senior and for whom he named his boat, HILLMAN. Today, Liam is the proud owner of an 18′ skiff in which he fishes for crabs in Great South Bay, or simply goes out on the water to test himself and his boat in the wind and the waves.Like Liam, Al Watts, who writes about the Wittholz 15, had never built a boat. He had years of sailing experience behind him but wanted to downsize from his much-loved 30-footer. After an extensive search for the right boat, he was inspired (perhaps persuaded) by an experienced friend to build his own. It wasn’t always an easy project, but with the help, guidance, and encouragement of the friend, Al worked through the challenges and today is happily sailing and trailering his very own catboat.
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Jenny, welcome to the new post as editor! Although we love the voice of your esteemed predecessor, we look forward to you sharing your life on the water with all of us. To a long tenure at Small Boats Monthly.
Thanks John!
Welcome Jenny, I look forward to your sharing more of your boating experiences. I grew up in the plains of central Kansas. I did mess about in a steel rowboat my dad built when I was a child. I am now building a PDRacer with 5 of my grandchildren in my 80th year. Old dogs can learn new tricks.
Thanks Donald, good luck with the Puddle Duck Racer.
Welcome Jenny! Happy to see another woman at the helm of a small-boat institution. (GM here from Gig Harbor Boat Works and Duckworks Boat Builders Supply — in fact I spy our 10′ Scout kit sailboat in this article’s cover photo.) Excited to see what you’ve got up your sleeve next!
Thanks Katie!
Ladies, speaking of this article’s cover photo, be much obliged if you could share the location – it looks awfully pretty. Thanks
Hi Brad,
The picture of the Scout 10 was taken at the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival in September 2023. In the distance, across Admiralty Inlet, is Whidbey Island. Chris Cunningham reviewed the design in our June 2024 issue: The Scout 10.
For certain, anyone who decides to start, let alone finishes, building a small boat is a can-do type. Or just heading out on water in/on one: a can do. An apt observation.
Regarding Katie’s comment: I’m all about women stepping up and showing everyone they can do, too!
Go for it everybody, go for it.