Some thoughts on barge and smack boats

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Mike Feather’s smack boat Lettuce on the bar at Brancaster

Mike Feather sailing smack boat Lettuce over the bar at Brancaster, Norfolk. Mike comments that with a reef in she was under good control and rode the waves without shipping any water.

Alf Last’s boat Smack boats racing at Walton on the Naze 2002 Smack boat on its side

Above left. Maldon boat builder Alf Last built his best and last barge boat and a mould was taken off it. Here is a cast ready for fitting out. Many barges now carry these – they are stable and sail well. They do not dry out if left in the davits. Above centre.smacks’ boats racing at Walton on the Naze 2002. Above right. A smack boat on its side shows the shallow draft and centre board slot. Click here for more: Continue reading “Some thoughts on barge and smack boats”

Lena Reekie’s Nautibits shop is back in business

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Lena Reekie’s Nautibits back in business

Lena Reekie’s Nautibits back in business Lena Reekie’s Nautibits back in business Lena Reekie’s Nautibits back in business

Back on line, finally, I have good news to share. Bob Telford has been in touch to say that Lena Reekie’s little shop at Iron Wharf has been refurbished and is back in business. So now there’s another reason to visit Faversham – in addition to the attractive old town, sheltered creeks, legendary boatyards, brilliant pubs and great beer, there’s now a cracking little shop selling second-hand bits and pieces of interest to classic boat nuts and low-budget sailers generally. You can bet I’ll be there as soon as I can make it.

If you are planning a visit, Iron Wharf is on the eastern side of Faversham Creek. While you’re there, check out John Copper’s bookshop, and the boats for sale at Cardinal Brokerage. From the Cardinal site, I can see there are some interesting boats on their books, including lifeboat conversion RNLI 47, a Belgian barge, an Alan Buchanan-designed 27ft East Anglian Sloop and a fiberglass-hulled Vertue II. Anyone out there drooling yet?

If you have local news to share, please tell us now at gmatkin@gmail.com.

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Book a room in South-East England

Ultrasimple Boatbuilding is now on sale!

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The book that has filled my life for the last 18 months is finally published. Naturally, I think about this event in much the same was as I would regard having to gybe in a strong wind – but there’s no going back now. Having done the best I can to make sure everything’s as tight and ship-shape as can be, I’ll just have to grit my teeth, pray the book gets a favourable reception, duck my head and concentrate on following the best course out of the gybe.

Readers might be interested the blurb published by Amazon, and presumably provided by International Marine. I hope the book and I live up to it!

Ultrasimple Boat Building (Paperback) by Gavin Atkin

The first complete how-to guide for building the latest generation of quick and easy boats

In Ultrasimple Boatbuilding, renowned designer Gavin Atkin shows you how to create elegant, seaworthy plywood boats with a minimum of time, experience, and expense. Using clearly written and illustrated step-by-step instructions, Atkin explains the basics of stitch-and-glue construction, tools, materials, shop safety, and more, as he helps you choose and build the simple boat of your dreams.

Gavin Atkin is known around the world for his minimalist boat designs. His award-winning creations, including the celebrated Mouse, have been built by countless boat enthusiasts.

Buy it here: Ultrasimple Boat Building: 17 Plywood Boats Anyone Can Build