Art Arpin was a Flying Tiger. He wasn’t one of the original group of American aviators—he joined just after the departure of their commander, Claire Lee Chennault, in 1942—but took part in their ongoing mission to defend China against the Japanese. How do I know this? Because Art told me while he was holding one end of a board I was cutting for a boat I began building in 1998 and launched three years later. I cut a lot of boards, and Art told me a lot of stories.First I have to tell how I came to build a boat in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. My wife, Samm, and I met as children growing up in the California Delta. I tell people our town was so small that we were the only people left who could legally marry. Samm is a remarkably understanding person, and when I asked her if she’d allow me to have my midlife crisis by building an Amesbury Skiff in the garage, she wholeheartedly agreed, as my other option involved gold neck chains and a Corvette.The skiff, named ARCUS, cost $300 in materials and $400 in books to build. Now, 21 years later, I still use ARCUS on a weekly basis, and she looks brand-new.
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Great story. I really respect Rann for bringing an almost-forgotten design back and powering it with such an appropriate engine. Nicely done!
Small Boats Monthly could feature a dozen of this class of boat and its build every month and I’d never tire or lose interest. Thank you for the fine, well written article, the boat, the vision and your great publication. Power to traditional power boats!
Kevin Morin
Kenai, AK
Wonderful story indeed. Great mag please keep up the hard work!
Wonderful story. Are there any such boats around, but maybe 18′ to 20′? 26′ would be a little too big. Are there plans, kits, or a boat for sale?
Thanks for a great story. It brought tears to my eyes reading about a veteran helping a friend build a classic boat. Beautiful boat and story. Thank you for sharing!
Such a great story. I’m just starting my first project a 16′ skiff. It’s the people that make this story great. And what a place to build it! It was nice to read a story about a neighbor: My family and I live north of you just past Spirit Lake. I will keep my eyes open for your boat when we’re down on Lake Coeur d’Alene.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Hammond dory article. I have a 23′ Lunenburg dory with a 10hp outboard in a well in Camden, Maine. I always love to talk dories.