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Boat Building Academy students launch a sleek cold-moulded kayak

Touring kayak - Ewan Thomson - Jenny Steer 154

Lars (14) web Emma (296) Ewan Thomson - touring kayak - Jenny Steer

Students Ewan Thomson and Patrick Hughes built this cold-moulded 19.6 by 1.4ft fast touring kayak, ready to hit the water at the Boat Building Academy’s December student launch.

Ewan, who is from Isle of Skye, has worked in various practical roles from timber framing and gardening to boat repair, but it was the latter that grabbed his attention after he fitted out a plastic dinghy, repaired a clinker boat, did some boat painting and a spot of fibreglassing.

He then joined the BBA’s 38-week course to gain more experience with different construction types and designs.

A keen kayaker, Ewan had seen a kayak that he wanted to adapt and build as a prototype for a potential business and with help from group lead instructor Mike Broome he drew up new plans.

The finished kayak is made from 1.5mm sapele veneers – not an easy material to work with in so slender a hull form – and is finished bright.

Ewan’s next project is a GRP Orkney longliner, but he also hopes to start his own business on Skye and build more kayaks. Academy staff report that he feels a sense of relief that he now has the skills he needs to start a business of his own.

Fellow student Patrick’s background is in graphic design and communications. He joined the long course after completing the eight-week woodworking skills course, during which he was impressed by the achievements of some of the students on the 38-week course. I gather Pat now plans to start his own business, offering boat repairs, maintenance and storage in France.

A photo diary of the build can be found here.

A lateener from the drawing board of Antonio Dias

Antonio Dias lateener

This intriguing drawing from the Antonio Dias Design weblog is of a trailer-sailing lateener he’s working up for a customer who intends to sail the boat around the Channel Islands of Southern California. Read all about it here.

I think this very cute little boat has a great deal in common with Mr Dias’ long standing interest in canoe yawls – read all about that here: Boats I’d like to design: canoe yawl. Those who have spent some time dreaming about canoe yawls as I have will be interested to know that the interior is along the lines of L Francis Herresshoff’s canoe yawl design Rozinante.

I must say I felt better when I realised the boat was bound for California – the idea of managing that big yard in a strong wind in the area of the British Channel Islands made me feel a tad queasy. But I guess we should temper that with the knowledge that lateen sails were all the rage among Barbary pirates in the same area of sea just a few centuries ago.

If it worked for those pirates of long ago, perhaps lateen rigged boats could work for us – I’d certainly like to try sailing one some day.

Boat Building Academy students launch 22ft slipper launch

'Graciela' in the water - Photo by Derek Thompson LRPS

'Graciela' - Photo Jon Palmer Will Hide with 'Graciela' - Emma SONY DSC

Slipper launch ‘Graciela’ photographed by Derek Thompson, Emma Brice, Jon Palmer and Charlie Couture

This modified version of a slipper launch designed by Paul Fisher of Selway-Fisher was launched in early December by students at the end of their 38-week course at the Boat Building Academy.

The elegant ‘Kennet‘ design slipper launch, Graciela – the name is a nod to owner Will Hide’s girlfriend Grace – is made from stitch and glue construction with a 9mm ply hull and subdeck, and a sapele deck and fitting out.

It has a quiet electric motor, and it is to be used on the River Dart, near Will’s home.

The bows underwent some changes to produce a more flared shape, and a curved  transom, and to complete the slipper launch look there are two traditional, moveable Lloyd-loom chairs.

To add a touch of Lyme Regis to the boat, a fossil has been placed sits proudly at the centre of the hand-made steering wheel, which was made by fellow student Rob Hounslow.

Yachtmaster-qualified Will is from Totnes, and grew up navigating the River Dart and sailing out of Dartmouth, and since he was 15 he has been restoring and selling boats in his spare time, starting with a Hurley Felicity 20.

Will chose the slipper launch for its tradition and heritage, and liked the shape of it. ‘I could never see myself owning one so it was nice to be able to build one.’

Will’s main build partner was Louis Rhoades. Louis recently gained ‘A’ Levels in business, biology, media and photography. He stumbled across the Academy while visiting his grandparents in 2008 and was fascinated by what was being created in the workshops.

Louis left the course with a job lined up at Elephant Boatyard at Southampton, and Will is hoping to put his entrepreneurial skills to new business ideas with fellow student Scott Russell (see the earlier post on Scott’s boat Florence).

Will and Louis were the youngest students on the course, and the BBA staff say that Graciela respresents a terrific achievement for two under-21s. Justifiably proud of his achievements, Will remarked that at 22ft his boat is the longest built by this year’s class. ‘I never do things small,’ he said.

For myself, I’m just savouring that photo of a slipper launch heading out to sea. It’s an image I’ve never seen before!

A set of photos covering Graciela’s build from start to finish, is on the BBA website.