Michigan-based Heritage Coast Sailing and Rowing members are constructing a 23ft lapstrake-built Mackinaw boat, with the aim of encouraging sailing and rowing on Lake Huron using the regional boat type.
The project weblog is here.
The Heritage Coast Sailing and Rowing project draws inspiration from the success of Scottish Coastal Rowing, and plans to organise similar rowing and social events. However, the new organisation has chosen the local Mackinaw boat type designed by Richard Pierce instead of the Iain Oughtred-designed St Ayles skiff favoured by the Scots.
Said to represent a merger of Native American canoe building and European carpentry, Mackinaw boats, were developed in the upper Great Lakes for fishing boats and carrying passengers and general freight.
Construction began in East Tawas on Lake Huron on the 16th April using a kit of cut-out planking and framing materials supplied by Alec Jordan’s Jordan Boats, which also supplies kits for the St Ayles skiffs.