Richard Wilson is a boatbuilding instructor. His smart-looking wooden power dory, Kingfisher, grew out of his desire for a practical inshore craft suitable for sportfishing, flatfish netting, and scuba diving. As a bonus, it also happened to be a good boatbuilding project for his students, which could be completed within the time frame of his course.Wilson, a master tradesman with years of experience, became a director of his family’s boatbuilding company, Brin Wilson Boats, in 1974, when his father died. In partnership with his brother, he ran the company until 2000, when they made the decision to sell. Today, Wilson is a marine technology tutor at Auckland’s University of Technology, UNITEC. Kingfisher is an outboard-powered skiff whose lineage can be traced back to New England dories. Her topsides are planked in lapstrake plywood, and she has a double bottom that provides both flotation and self-bailing capability.
Photo by John Eichelsheim
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So many things resonate with this design, among them: simplicity, good looks, and modest power.
Is there anyway to get a set of plans and material list?
I did a search for the designer’s email address and phone number that were listed in the original review and neither was still in service. That’s noted at the end of the review. If any readers know of a source for more information and provide us with details, we’ll pass them along.
—Ed.
Also interested in any plans that might be available.
Any word on building plans yet?