Founded in 1997 by Pete Greenfield, previously editor of Classic Boat and The Boatman, WaterCraft magazine is an independent international bi-monthly. It’s aimed at the boat enthusiasts who want to do it, not dream about it, presenting appealing boat designs from around the world and practical articles about all aspects of boatbuilding, in the boatyard and in the backyard. WaterCraft regularly features wooden boats and ‘green’ boats, with plans for home boatbuilders in every issue. WaterCraft looks at tradition for information, not replication and to the future for inspiration and innovation.

The days may be shorter, but the boats are still afloat. And the new boatbuilding season is just around the corner.

Soak up the last days of summer on the water and welcome a busy winter in the workshop with our September/October issue, in the mail to subscribers around the world from 20 August.

• LAUNCH DAY IN LYME – Boatbuilder Geoff Bowker, teaching at the Boat Building Academy, celebrates the completion of the 2024 students’ boatbuilding projects: Click to see

• 1066 AND YET MORE WORK – for student James Ball to finish the restoration and update of his 1952 Firefly hot-moulded dinghy to today’s class racing specification: Click to see

• TURNING THE TIDE 3 – Daniel Caparrós Torres, researching wooden boatbuilding in Spain today, meets the mestres d’aixa of Catalonia: Click to see

• BUILDING YOUR OWN 24’ (7.3m) OUTBOARD SKIFF – Designer Paul Gartside keeps it simple with full plans and offsets for a fast ‘surface skimmer’ for the grown-ups: Click to see

• ONE FOR THE SHOW – Colin Henwood, chair of the Wooden Boatbuilders Trade Association, previews their exciting collaborative exhibits at the Southampton Boat Show: Click to see

• ONE FOR THE ROAD – 2 – Dinghy cruiser Keith Muscott advises on trailers for dayboats and Debbie Purser is in for the long haul, towing a 32’ (9.8m) Cornish pilot gig: Click to see

• NEVER SAY NEVER – Lucky the amateur designer with sailing-mad grand-daughters; a focus group keen to test-sail Colin Cumming’s new but affordable Outrigger Canoe: Click to see

• PLUS… 

In Norway, boatbuilder Jon Seal meets Peter Helland-Hansen, builder of Hardanger boats • Anthony Dew launches his restored 21’ (6.4) Finesse with members of the Humber Yawl Club • Moray MacPhail says gaff saddles bear us no ill-will, they’re just misunderstood • Naval architect Ian Nicolson on how to row a sailing yacht if you really must • Francois Vivier presents an easy-to-build family-size sailing skiff • And the OGA goes to St Malo.