Small Wooden Boat Design: with John Welsford, John Harris, Michael Storer, and Clint Chase 

So glad you guys put this conversation together! Thank you.

Thank you for your time gentlemen. What is new, and must always remain new, is adapting the plans to the current available materials. Not modern materials, but available. And, in this economic collapse that will be a greater challenge!

Interesting conversation guys. Thanks for organising and hosting John of CLC. Its a good observation and its certainly true, that you each have your own recognisable style.

Awesome notes on small boat design. Good to see such a team together. Hope you do it more often, thanks for sharing :)

I really enjoyed this program. Thank you for getting this group of pros together. I've build Michael Storer's Eureka Canoe. Great service, product and designer. Cheers

Thanks! I bought a ticket for the Virtual Festival, but didn't get to this before the time limit was up. ❤️👍👍

Great pre-season / pre - launch chat....makes me hope the weather warms up so that we can sail comfortably once again.. Fairwinds

Designing boats is about art as much or more than innovation.

Best convo I could listen to......

Enjoyed this video immensely I live near John Welsford and may have met him on the water a couple of times, a cool dude. I have built a few small ply boats and have just completed a self designed 11ft sailing dinghy I won't do it again (self designed) as its just too hard I reckon it took me 2 years longer than it should. I salute the skill of the designer in solving problems for the home builder in the pages of their plans while I enjoy the exercise I also enjoy a build that flows through the process naturally. Of course its always slow because its a hobby and not on a time limit but the previous boats built to plan are a much less cerebral exercise. Next boat plans already bought and paid for, a Tango 15, which is the first boat I intend to keep for myself. Previous boats are tenders for my 28ft keeler or sailing dinghies for my children (latest one is for grandchildren). The Keeler is for sale right now.

Greatly enjoyed listening to the discussion among you four gentlemen. I consider myself a kindred spirit - one who whenever I have a pencil in hand, is drawing boats. My current boat gets people asking for plans, but I have not sold any as it is not an easy shape to build. It was initially created as a plug for a fiberglass mold, so I was not concerned that is was a difficult shape. I spent most of my career in commercial shipping, but worked in the design office of MacLear & Harris, while a student at Webb and later was production manager for Bristol Yachts and Chief Engineer at Luhrs Boat Company. Wish you all continued success. I believe there is definitely a trend toward smaller boats that are much less expensive to build and maintain. I sail nearly every day in the summer and keep my boat on a trailer in my garage where it's always clean and ready to go.

Thanks to all four of you, a very interesting discussion. I'd love to see more drawings of that beautiful round bilge canoe yawl.

Terrific!

Nice to put faces to the designer names. Thanks John.

I love the Wooden Boat Festival and I’m feeling lucky to have found this video. I’m looking at a boat to build, have built a s&G kayak years ago. I’m also looking for a shop to build it in, which will have to come first! Long Steps is currently at the top of my list, but I have not done a lot of sailing, and even less rowing. But I’d like to go farther than my little kayak wants to go. It has been a joy to hear your stories!

Great conversation. Please continue them. The idea of collaboration among you and perhaps others is excellent for a host of reasons that are all wrapped up in the words “continuous improvement”. I’m new to small boats and know very little about ‘em although I've a bit of reading. Omnipresent cost is an issue here (UK) Gaboon/Okoume ply being UK£100 ish per sheet of 6mm. Here's my tuppence worth: There's a shortage of PROVEN designs for lightweight, seaworthy, high capacity (2 maybe 3 adults & gear), beachable, row/sail boats =

Thanks for a great discussion! It was most informative, and I cannot wait for something similar in the future. I know most of your boats are made for serious sailing. (Not just protected waters) I would like to get an opinion of the Stevenson Weekender or similar type boat aimed for sailing in protected waters. Which type of boat of around 15 to 18 foot is good for sailing in protected waters and will not use too many materials for cost saving? I am planning to make my sailboat as a pension project. Thanks Again!

I'd love to see a kit for an American catboat, open, short enough to build in a two car garage but beamy enough to sleep a couple folks (who don't necessarily want to snuggle) under a boom tent, maybe, maybe with a well to hide an outboard. Too hard to build? Too similar to commercially available designs?

Nice one

00:43:15 "Adapted to the meanest understanding" , this guy reads Patrick O'Brian.

No need for Mik Storer to redesign Lock Crowther's Buccaneer 24 - the original plans are 'out there' on the internet. Seek and ye shall find....

John Welsford looks intimidating af when he's just sitting there.

I'd build a Rozinante, lol