WaterCraft

01/08/2025

A hunch that his own wooden rowing boat might be a replica of a much older design sent Jim Tolpin on the trail of the Tyee boat – a 100-year-old Canadian salmon skiff design built by shipwright Ned Painter in Campbell, BC.

Enjoy the full story in our July/August issue, out now.

For stockists and subscriptions: www.watercraft-magazine.com

Photograph: Rebecca Welti

25/07/2025

Summer weather brought a celebratory finish to SkiffieWorlds 2025, the largest gathering of St Ayles coastal rowing boats in history:

Stranraer Water Sports Association is riding on the crest of a wave following the success of SkiffieWorlds 2025. The world championships of coastal rowing

24/07/2025

“…one of those boats meant to move at speed with little effort and look graceful at the same time.”

Designer Paul Fisher of Selway Fisher Design celebrates the American Melon Seed in our July/August issue, as he talks us through his 13’ (4m) strip-planked version.

W172 is out now. For stockists and subscriptions: www.watercraft-magazine.com

Drawing: Selway Fisher Design

20/07/2025

1066…and all that work!

Professional boatbuilder Geoff Bowker, teaching at the Boat Building Academy, helps student James Ball take on a challenging and fascinating project: restoring 1952 hot-moulded Firefly dinghy no.1066.

Designed by Uffa Fox as a one-design racer, the 12’ (3.66m) Firefly class was built by Fairey Marine from 1946 and competed at the 1948 Olympics.

Read the story so far in our July/August issue, out now.

For stockists and subscriptions: www.watercraft-magazine.com

Photograph: Geoff Bowker

14/07/2025

A boat for unhurried cruising…and building.

A few years back Dick Bedell began building Paul Gartside’s design 228 from his home in Australia.

This year saw this handsome 20’ (6m) inboard cabin launch completed and officially launched.

Proper job, as we say in Cornwall! And apart from the rosewood motor control panel, “not a skerrick of varnish to be seen anywhere”.

Read all about MERRY B’s launch in our July/August issue, out now.

For stockists and subscriptions: www.watercraft-magazine.com

Video: Dick and Merry Bedell

11/07/2025

Taking your small boat from home waters to fresh cruising grounds? You’ll need the right trailer.

Dinghy cruiser Keith Muscott talks us through the options in our July/August issue, out now.

For stockists and subscriptions: www.watercraft-magazine.com

Photograph: Andrew Wolstenholme

07/07/2025

Build your own 15’ (4.6m) traditional clinker rowing skiff.

Designer Paul Gartside, raised in Cornwall and resident in the US, reflects on designs on both sides of the Atlantic as he sends plans for a proper ‘pulling boat’ for our July/August issue, out now.

For stockists and subscriptions: www.watercraft-magazine.com

Drawing: Paul Gartside

30/06/2025

“Something fragile, yet still very much alive.”

Is there a future for traditional wooden boatbuilding in Spain?

Daniel Caparrós Torres has the answers, as he continues his journey through Spain, this time exploring the boatyards of Galicia.

Our July/August issue is out now. For stockists and subscriptions: www.watercraft-magazine.com

Photograph: Branco.

27/06/2025

The Whitstable Harbour & Boat Show returns this summer with its newest attraction, The Heritage Boat Building Centre:

The Whitstable Harbour & Boat Show returns this summer and its newest attraction - The Heritage Boat Building Centre - has already been extended to

26/06/2025

Taking off-roading to extremes!

Amphibious vehicles are all part of the fun at the Thames Traditional Boat Festival, held from 18-20 July at Henley-on Thames.

In our July/August issue, Kathy Mansfield and Colin Henwood recall past gatherings and remind us of what to expect at ‘The Trad’ this year.

W172 is out now. For stockists and subscriptions: www.watercraft-magazine.com

Photograph: Kathy Mansfield

23/06/2025

August can be a wicked month on the backroads of Cornwall and July isn’t much kinder. No wonder so many locals stay home, leaving it to the postman to navigate around the tourists to deliver all those July/August issues of WaterCraft.

• LOOKING BACK AT THE TRAD – Kathy Mansfield’s pictures recall the appeal of this festival of traditional Thames craft and Colin Henwood - Boatbuilder looks forward to July’s Thames Traditional Boat Festival gathering.

• TURNING THE TIDE 2 – Daniel Caparrós Torres continues his exploration of wooden boatbuilding in Spain on the coast of Galicia.

• BUILDING YOUR OWN 15’ (4.6m) ROWING SKIFF – Designer Paul Gartside – raised in Cornwall; designing in the USA – sends plans for a ‘proper pulling boat’.

• WE MADE IT! – In Australia, Dick Bedell – who doesn’t like to rush things – completes his build of another Paul Gartside design, a proper motor launch for family days out.

• 1066 AND ALL THAT WORK – At the Boat Building Academy, Geoff Bowker helps student James Ball restore his 1952 Firefly racing dinghy ready for June’s Launch Day.

• ONE FOR THE ROAD – Taking your smaller boat from home waters to fresh cruising grounds, you need the right trailer. Dinghy cruiser Keith Muscott offers timely advice.

• THE TYEE ROWBOAT – Jim Tolpin rediscovers a 100 year old Canadian skiff design which still has appeal for cover girls today.

• PLUS…
Dick Phillips sets up the frames for his new pocket cruiser Florin • And reviews new ways with old glues • Moray MacPhail continues his series on refining traditional rigs with a study of the humble gaff saddle • Naval architect Ian Nicolson revisits wooden booms • Paul Fisher of Selway Fisher Design offers modern interpretations of the American Melon Seed skiff • And teachers at the Boat Building Academy remember their colleague Matthew Law.

Cover photograph by Lance Walker: Here comes the bride! In Port Townsend, USA, Jenna Nelson surprises the wedding guests by arriving in a traditional Canadian Tyee rowing boat.

16/06/2025

We’re very proud to have readers all over the world enjoying our magazine, produced and edited in our office in the small Cornish village of Gweek. But despite our international audience, WaterCraft is also printed in Cornwall, a few miles up the coast at Deltor Print & Design in Saltash. In fact, our July/August issue is there as we speak!

One of just a handful of certified Carbon Balanced Printers in the UK, Deltor’s commitment to environmental responsibilities is one of many reasons we’ve been working with them since 2018. Among other commitments, their factory’s 14000 sq. ft. of solar panels mean that WaterCraft is produced, in part, using sustainable energy.

Photograph: Deltor Print & Design