The Wineglass Wherry, a plywood pulling boat, takes its inspiration from the beach-launched working craft of Seabright, New Jersey, and Penobscot Bay, Maine.
Paddling for long stretches of time has never been my thing. I like the convenience of my kayak perched atop the car or near the water, ready to go at a moment’s notice. Likewise, I have fond memories of kayaking expeditions to Maine islands, with all of my essentials tucked away in dry bags and stowed neatly under decks. When paddling for over an hour, however, I invariably find myself craving more leg space, or shifting my weight to restore restricted blood flow. I also find myself craving cookies, and want to dig out one of those dry bags while underway, to get to the Mint Milanos stuffed in beneath my polar fleece.Avid paddlers, please do not take offense at this admission; it’s my shortcoming, not yours or your sport’s. You who are more sophisticated kayak folk than I might chafe at my chafing, and might suggest that I pack the cookies more thoughtfully, within arm’s reach in the cockpit. Fair enough. But still the fact remains: While paddling my kayak for long periods, I always find myself asking why I am not rowing instead.
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Comments (6)
Hi from Dorset, UK. I built a Phantom hi-performance single-handed, single-sailed racing dinghy by the stitch and glue method some 25 years ago now.
I can testify that if you follow the instructions properly it is remarkably straightforward.
In my case I visited the designer, purchased a rolled-up sheet of brown paper on which were drawn all the necessary outlines for each plank, and a typed up set of instructions, and was sent on my way! So I had the added challenge of cutting out each plank.
The result, some 8 months later, was a lovely, fun single hander for a 196-lbs ex-Royal Marine. I should add that by sticking firmly to the design outlines etc, when the boat was comprehensively measured for class racing she passed with flying colors too. I had just turned 60 at the time.
Sadly I rather think that getting a kit of the Wineglass Wherry from the US would be prohibitively expensive – however she would be absolutely what I would like as I downsize from a 26′ (plastic) sailing boat for pottering around the extensive and fascinating shores of my home port of Poole Harbour in Dorset. At the time of writing all the over-wintering birds from Scandinavia are just arriving – what a sight.
PS I thoroughly enjoy your magazine – and can but dream!
I built a Wineglass as my first stitch and glue project, and it was a lovely boat. Being a sailor, I felt the need for a sail rig, and put one together, but it never quite “took”. Does anyone produce kits to this design now that Pygmy has closed? If the kit were available, particularly if it were lap strake, I’d consider building another. Improvements in CNC cutting could make “lap stitch” construction possible and improve the panel joints from their earlier butt joint configurations. This was a very easy boat to build, and the results were just beautiful!
The email linking to this page refers to “the former Pygmy Boats, Inc.” Does the company still exist? Has it changed its name? Is the kit still available and, if so, from whom?
I have wondered how builders fare when glassing lapstrake boats. Seems like it could be problematic, getting the glass to go around sharp corners and into the valleys between strakes. Are there tricks that make this work out okay?
Pygmy Boats
Hi from Dorset, UK. I built a Phantom hi-performance single-handed, single-sailed racing dinghy by the stitch and glue method some 25 years ago now.
I can testify that if you follow the instructions properly it is remarkably straightforward.
In my case I visited the designer, purchased a rolled-up sheet of brown paper on which were drawn all the necessary outlines for each plank, and a typed up set of instructions, and was sent on my way! So I had the added challenge of cutting out each plank.
The result, some 8 months later, was a lovely, fun single hander for a 196-lbs ex-Royal Marine. I should add that by sticking firmly to the design outlines etc, when the boat was comprehensively measured for class racing she passed with flying colors too. I had just turned 60 at the time.
Sadly I rather think that getting a kit of the Wineglass Wherry from the US would be prohibitively expensive – however she would be absolutely what I would like as I downsize from a 26′ (plastic) sailing boat for pottering around the extensive and fascinating shores of my home port of Poole Harbour in Dorset. At the time of writing all the over-wintering birds from Scandinavia are just arriving – what a sight.
PS I thoroughly enjoy your magazine – and can but dream!
I built a Wineglass as my first stitch and glue project, and it was a lovely boat. Being a sailor, I felt the need for a sail rig, and put one together, but it never quite “took”. Does anyone produce kits to this design now that Pygmy has closed? If the kit were available, particularly if it were lap strake, I’d consider building another. Improvements in CNC cutting could make “lap stitch” construction possible and improve the panel joints from their earlier butt joint configurations. This was a very easy boat to build, and the results were just beautiful!
The email linking to this page refers to “the former Pygmy Boats, Inc.” Does the company still exist? Has it changed its name? Is the kit still available and, if so, from whom?
I built the wineglass wherry over 20 years ago in my basement as my first kit build. It goes together really well and is a delight to row.
I have wondered how builders fare when glassing lapstrake boats. Seems like it could be problematic, getting the glass to go around sharp corners and into the valleys between strakes. Are there tricks that make this work out okay?
Are there any plans available for the whineglass wherry, from South Africa?