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.
It’s our November/December issue: looking back on wooden boats at the Southampton show and looking forward with the graduating boatbuilding apprentices in Brittany on the cover. Look for it in good newsagents from 23 October.
• FOUR LAUNCHINGS AT LES ATELIERS DE L’ENFER – of traditional wooden boats built by the apprentices at the wooden boatbuilding school in Douarnenez. Jacques van Geen recounts a life-changing year: Click to see
• ABBEY & THE WOMEN IN BOATBUILDING – tiptoeing lightly across boatbuilding politics, Kathy Mansfield celebrates the launch of a new boatyard: Click to see
• THE ENGLISH RAID IN SCOTLAND – encourages boatbuilder Colin Henwood and designer Andrew Wolstenholme to trail their own Kite north: Click to see
• BUILDING YOUR OWN 25’ (7.6m) CRUISING GAFFER – Such stuff as dreamships are made of: Paul Gartside sends a very full set of plans with offsets for his latest design in a long line of well-proven double-enders: Click to see
• BUILDING A TRADITIONAL CLINKER DINGHY – Another Paul Gartside design, much smaller at 12’ (3.7m) but meticulously built by amateur boatbuilder Peter Robinson is much closer to completion. Will she get afloat before the end of the season?: Click to see
• MAKING A BIG IMPRESSION – Marc Fovargue-Davies returns to the recreation of the 7th century Sutton Hoo Ship from its imprint in the Suffolk sands: Click to see
• BEAUTIFUL PEAGREEN BOATS – Cat Holman meets members of the Wooden Boatbuilders Trade Association, Women In Boat Building and graduates of the Boat Building Academy, all taking a stand at September’s Southampton Boat Show: Click to see
• PLUS…
In the US, Jim Tolpin explores the evolution of the Waterman’s Skiff, over here and over there • Moray MacPhail has refinements for the booms of modern gaffers • Naval architect Ian Nicolson suggests better ways to finish the frames in wooden boats • In Grand Designs Andrew Wolstenholme presents the Roamer, a new open version of the Norfolk Gypsy • And in Join The Club, the Steam Boat Association saves a lovely launch from the scrappers.