Category: Journal Entry

Opti builders around the world

CABBS Optimist dinghy plans: Alastair shows the way Eleven-year-old Canadian, Alastair of Invermere, British Columbia purchased a set of the CABBS Optimist dinghy plan and set to work. He stated, “Dad helped, but I...

Tom Wareham: Marine Surveyor

Before you defer your boating opinions to someone who calls himself or herself a marine surveyor consider this. The profession of marine surveyor is unregulated and does not require a license. If you can...

Sixty-five Years of Wooden Boatbuilding

Guest Speaker: John Bridges John Bridges’ boatbuilding resume  tallies twenty-five boats, quite a performance for an amateur builder. His interest in boating started a young boy living on the Isle of Wight in England....

Solo Sailing on the Great Lakes

Guest Speaker: Paul Nickerson President, Great Lakes Singlehanded Society Sailing solo for days on end is not for everyone. It’s too challenging for some, too isolating for others, and possibly too radical for many. Paul...

Paddle Making with Max Peterson

Max Peterson, a professional woodworker in the Pittsburgh area, believes just about anyone can make a paddle and can make it from just about any wood. He thinks of a paddle in three parts: the...

Building Masts and Spars by the Bird‘s Mouth Method

[dropcap]R[/dropcap]ic Altfather’s clear explanations and finely crafted samples took the mystery out of building lightweight yet very strong masts and spars by the bird’s mouth method. Now that we know the magician’s tricks, we...

Kirk Lombardy: Maritime Weather Forecaster

If there is one bad boy of weather it is hot, moist air. It is the foundation on which thunderstorms and hurricanes develop. Kirk Lombardy and other weather specialists at the NOAA office based at...