A group of lucky schoolchildren have built two 16ft Julie skiffs at a Faversham Creek Trust boatcamp led by local boatbuilder Alan Thorne and assistant Malcolm Hazleton at the trust’s Purifier building.
The skiffs are to be launched at the town’s nautical festival around mid-day on the 23rd July. Naturally, Julie and I plan to be there!
See the free boat plans page in the tabs above to download the drawings etc to build this lightweight plywood flat bottomed skiff and two shorter versions at 14 and 12ft.
When I called by on Friday afternoon I met a small crowd of enthusiastic, engaged kids and a clutch of happy parents – and two cool looking boats, Santa Crews and Stormy. Alan and Malcolm had done a good job, and the FCT’s boatcamp had been a success.
‘Have you had a good time?’ I asked.
‘Yes,’ the kids called back.
‘Would you do it again?’
‘Yes,’ they chorused.
A mother turned to me and said ‘My son’s always been a maker and now he’s decided he wants to be a boatbuilder.’
I think she must have been reasonably happy with the idea, as she did not add ‘but I think he should have a proper job as well’.
The following shots are Malcolm’s. Thanks fella!
The skiffs looked great as did the Russian special forces foldable RIBs!