The Compass Harbor pram has been designed as a small rowboat and dinghy with plenty of capacity and stability for carrying loads. She is shaped to be a good small rowing boat for one rower (or two kid rowers, each with an oar, side by side.) Her stern transom is large enough to carry a 2HP outboard. The Compass Harbor pram is a particularly good boat for kids: small; light; good stability; ample flotation. . .and an easily driven shape that will reward kids just learning to row, with her narrow flat bottom and a bow transom that rides well above the water. She cartops easily and of course can ride on a simple light trailer. One adult, or a couple of larger kids, can slide her in and out of the back of a pickup. She tows easily, with excellent manners.

The Compass Harbor pram has a narrow flat bottom with generous rocker (fore-and-aft curve) and glued-lapstrake sides. The pram’s shape makes the building go smoothly, since her bow transom means there is little twist to the forward end of the planks, making them easier to fit, and no need to cut any gains (tapered rabbets in the plank laps that make adjacent plank faces flush with each other at a boat’s stem.) She can be built at very reasonable cost with long-lived, attractive, quality materials, or fancied up to yacht style with pricier woods, hardware, and finishes. . .as you choose. She makes an excellent companion to a larger boat, and therefore makes an excellent first project if you’re not sure if you’re ready to tackle the big boat just yet.

The standard Compass Harbor pram weighs about 95 lbs. when built of 6mm high-quality marine ply for the planking; 9mm bottom; a lighter version with 5mm planking and 6mm bottom should come in about 80 pounds or a bit less.

READ MORE about the COMPASS HARBOR PRAM. . .

Compass Harbor pram: This pram has been designed as a small rowboat and dinghy with plenty of capacity and stability for carrying loads. She is shaped to be a good small rowing boat for one rower (or two kid rowers, each with an oar, side by side.) Her stern transom is large enough to carry a 2HP outboard. The Compass Harbor pram is a particularly good boat for kids: small; light; good stability; ample flotation. . .and an easily driven shape that will reward kids just learning to row, with her narrow flat bottom and a bow transom that rides well above the water. She cartops easily and of course can ride on a simple light trailer. One adult, or a couple of larger kids, can slide her in and out of the back of a pickup. She tows easily, with excellent manners.

The Compass Harbor pram has a narrow flat bottom with generous rocker (fore-and-aft curve) and glued-lapstrake sides. The pram’s shape makes the building go smoothly, since her bow transom means there is little twist to the forward end of the planks, making them easier to fit, and no need to cut any gains (tapered rabbets in the plank laps that make adjacent plank faces flush with each other at a boat’s stem.) She can be built at very reasonable cost with long-lived, attractive, quality materials, or fancied up to yacht style with pricier woods, hardware, and finishes. . .as you choose. She makes an excellent companion to a larger boat, and therefore makes an excellent first project if you’re not sure if you’re ready to tackle the big boat just yet.

The standard Compass Harbor pram weighs about 95 lbs. when built of 6mm high-quality marine ply for the planking; 9mm bottom; a lighter version with 5mm planking and 6mm bottom should come in about 80 pounds or a bit less.

Somes Sound 12 1/2: The Herreshoff and Haven 12-1/2’s, from which the Somes Sound 12-1/2 is derived, have been described as “the biggest little boat” and “the finest family boat ever developed.” The Somes Sound 12-1/2 keeps this heritage well: she is a lovely boat; a delight to build and very enjoyable to sail.

The  Somes Sound 12-1/2 has a centerboard with a shoal, nearly 600-pound lead ballast keel (just like the Havens.) She is a displacement boat, weighing about 1,400 pounds total, and therefore has an easy motion as well as being stable, comfortable, forgiving, and seaworthy. She also moves right along, going where you want her to, making sailing her very satisfying.

Either rig, Marconi and gaff, can be easily reefed to handle plenty of wind and waves. There is enough weight in the keel to help the Somes Sound 12 1/2 easily carry her way going to windward in a chop. With plenty of overhangs on the ends and flare to the topsides, the Somes Sound 12-1/2 bobs in the waves like cork, hardly shipping a drop. The laps act like little spray rails keeping her even drier, and add the wonderful benefit of the delightful sound of waves riffling along her lapstraked hull as she sails.

READ MORE ABOUT THE COMPASS HARBOR PRAM. . .
READ MORE ABOUT THE SOMES SOUND 12-1/2. . .

This popular design has been built and enjoyed by builders from dedicated beginners to experienced professionals. She sails very well, rows very well (single or double), and can take a small outboard if you wish. The Ellen is agile and quick, but also forgiving and comfortable. Her sliding gunter rig features a vertical reef, which does not require dropping sail to reef or unreef. She can be built with a moveable aft rowing thwart that can be positioned for single or double rowing, or removed when sailing or carrying gear.

While not a simplified boat, the Ellen's design and glued-lapstrake construction, together with the detailed plans, make it possible for builders with less experience to build a beautiful boat the first time. Our book, How to Build Glued-Lapstrake Wooden Boats, is a detailed instruction manual describing all aspects of glued-lapstrake construction for small boats. For builders of an Ellen, it is especially helpful, since we show the construction of an Ellen as our main example.

READ MORE ABOUT THE ELLEN. . .

The Herreshoff and Haven 12-1/2’s, from which the Somes Sound 12-1/2 is derived, have been described as “the biggest little boat” and “the finest family boat ever developed.” The Somes Sound 12-1/2 keeps this heritage well: she is a lovely boat; a delight to build and very enjoyable to sail.

The  Somes Sound 12-1/2 has a centerboard with a shoal, nearly 600-pound lead ballast keel (just like the Havens.) She is a displacement boat, weighing about 1,400 pounds total, and therefore has an easy motion as well as being stable, comfortable, forgiving, and seaworthy. She also moves right along, going where you want her to, making sailing her very satisfying.

Either rig, Marconi and gaff, can be easily reefed to handle plenty of wind and waves. There is enough weight in the keel to help the Somes Sound 12 1/2 easily carry her way going to windward in a chop. With plenty of overhangs on the ends and flare to the topsides, the Somes Sound 12-1/2 bobs in the waves like cork, hardly shipping a drop. The laps act like little spray rails keeping her even drier, and add the wonderful benefit of the delightful sound of waves riffling along her lapstraked hull as she sails.

READ MORE ABOUT THE SOMES SOUND 12-1/2. . .

The Herreshoff and Haven 12-1/2’s, from which the Somes Sound 12-1/2 is derived, have been described as “the biggest little boat” and “the finest family boat ever developed.” The Somes Sound 12-1/2 keeps this heritage well: she is a lovely boat; a delight to build and very enjoyable to sail.

The  Somes Sound 12-1/2 has a centerboard with a shoal, nearly 600-pound lead ballast keel (just like the Havens.) She is a displacement boat, weighing about 1,400 pounds total, and therefore has an easy motion as well as being stable, comfortable, forgiving, and seaworthy. She also moves right along, going where you want her to, making sailing her very satisfying.

Either rig, Marconi and gaff, can be easily reefed to handle plenty of wind and waves. There is enough weight in the keel to help the Somes Sound 12 1/2 easily carry her way going to windward in a chop. With plenty of overhangs on the ends and flare to the topsides, the Somes Sound 12-1/2 bobs in the waves like cork, hardly shipping a drop. The laps act like little spray rails keeping her even drier, and add the wonderful benefit of the delightful sound of waves riffling along her lapstraked hull as she sails.

READ MORE ABOUT THE SOMES SOUND 12-1/2. . .

We’ve had many requests for the plans for our 16’ Merlin rowboat. She’s next up on the drawing board, after the Compass Harbor pram sail rig. . .and when the new Somes Sound 12 1/2 in the shop and John’s WoodenBoat classes let him back at the drawing board. Meanwhile, we have supplied interested builders with a set of full-size patterns (stem, transom, sections, frames), interior layout drawing, and parts list for the Merlin accompanied by a set of plans for the Peregrine 18’ fast rowboat. The Merlin is the Peregrine’s smaller sister, so the details for building the two designs are essentially the same. This option is best suited to experienced builders, as there is definitely figuring out and reworking involved.

READ MORE ABOUT THE MERLIN. . .

The Peregrine can be set up to row single or double, and/or be adapted to take a sliding seat rig. She is very fast, seaworthy, stable, and capable of carrying people and picnic gear or going all-out in a race. We’ve had folks build Peregrines for serious exercise and/or racing; touring, picnicking, and leisurely long rows; taking the kids along while mom and dad get some exercise; and also for fishing, since standing up in the boat to cast works very well.

Built with 4mm sapele plywood planking, a typical Peregrine weighs about 110 pounds; a boat built of high quality meranti marine plywood would weigh a bit less. One rower, never mind two, can easily put her up to hull speed and beyond; she begins to get up on plane and sets up a nice little rooster tail. When you ask her to, this boat goes.

READ MORE ABOUT THE PEREGRINE. . .