Category: River boats

Ben Crawshaw’s Light Trow makes a mysterious journey

Trow sub frames

Ben’s deck-support sub frames

Well, I think it’s mysterious. First he works by lamplight. Then we see all the deck subframes in place (hoorah, by the way). Then there’s a photo of a bug so strange it’s clearly an extra from a Dr Who set. (I must say I enjoyed the Daleks’ Pig-people this week, by the way.) Then we see the boat sitting under a cafe parasol, presumably sipping a quiet daiquiri. Can anyone guess what our beach-boat-building hero Ben Crawshaw is telling us?

He’s doing a nice looking job, though, isn’t he? And, praise be, he hasn’t made any serious changes to the design that I can see. The prototype Light Trow is going to be the real thing.

Ben Crawshaw’s Invisible Workshop weblog: http://theinvisibleworkshop.blogspot.com/2007/04/some-photos.html

Download the Light Trow plans: http://www.duckworksbbs.com/plans/gavin/lighttrow/trow.zip

[ad name=”intheboatshed-post”]

Subscribe to our free occasional newsletter

Betty, 1927 PBB Jetstar 1024

Albert Strange’s Betty, Practical Boatbuilding for Amateurs, Donald Cambell’s Jetstar
If you’re not on the mailing list and would like to be, please subscribe for free right now, either by filling in the little box in the right-hand panel, or by writing to me direct at gmatkin@gmail.com .

Thanks, Gavin

Boat building and cruising inspiration from New Zealand

John Welsford’s cruising dinghies

John Welsford’s cruising dinghies John Welsford’s cruising dinghies John Welsford’s cruising dinghies

John Welsford’s cruising dinghies John Welsford’s cruising dinghies

Navigator Jaunty and Pathfinder Varuna photographed by David Perillo

Take a look at these photos – I can’t imagine how anyone could look at them without feeling inspired. The scenery is the coast of New Zealand, and the boats are a Navigator and a Pathfinder, both large cruising dinghies designed by John Welsford.

Just as we slide gloriously into summer here in the UK, it seems odd to think of John and his countrymen and women slipping towards their winter. But we shouldn’t feel too sorry for them yet, judging by Continue reading “Boat building and cruising inspiration from New Zealand”