Welcome to Tad Roberts' small boat designs

These small boat designs are based on traditional types but incorporate modern hull forms, appendages, construction, materials, and ergonomics.  Most can be built by the dedicated amateur; one of the benefits of a new design is simplifying construction.  Many are available with full size lofting.  Traditional styling ensures these little boats can become heirlooms, valuable for generations. Have fun looking, and contact me with any questions.

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Design Thoughts (At Home & Abroad)

Out now in WoodenBoat and Watercraft magazines: Yellow Cedar 34, Tokara Lapstrake Speedboat, and Pogy 17 Motorsailer

June 29, 2016

2016/06/29: Out now in the current issues of Wooden Boat and Watercraft magazines, WoodenBoat does a design review of Yellow Cedar 34 and the Pogy 17 motorsailer is reviewed by Watercraft. In the same WoodenBoat issue, in an article about the Great Lakes Boat Building School, there is a nice picture and write-up about a stretched Tokara 16 Lapstrake Speedboat that was built by the school.

Update: 2016/06/12 The 2011 aluminum Timbercoast Troller 22 is now listed at Yacht World. The listing is http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/2011/Timbercoast-%28bartender-Boats%29-Motorsailer-2966294/Anacortes/WA/United-States#.V12cDaKGOFV.

2016/02/09:. Just launched after complete refit, Selkie, 15' inboard launch. A traditional, bright finished 15' black-hulled carvel launch with new Briggs and Stratton inboard.

2015/10/24: Plans in aluminum for Sitka Spruce 18, a fast outboard fisherman are now available; a 34' custom cold-molded version of classic motor yacht Yellow Cedar 38 is underway; and a design review of the Barefoot 5.8 by Tad is in the current issue (96) of Small Craft Advisor.

2015/08/13: Barefoot 5.8 is on the cover of the current issue (95) of Small Craft Advisor; story inside by barefootwoodenboats. In the works for a following issue, a design review of the 5.8 by Tad.

2015/08/03: New photos of Barefoot 5.8 racing in the 2015 r2ak and a thread about a modified racer/cruiser version underway.
2015/08/03: The Norwegian Ironbark 28 is for sale. The listing is http://www.classic-yachts.de/sales/details/202/.
2015/08/03: The happy owner/builder of a new Berrypoint26 has a new thread at the Woodenboat Forum.

2015/05/21: The 15' electric launch is for sale has been sold. It will be refitted with an inboard diesel and towpost.

2015/05/11: New design, the Khutze 26 coastwise trailerable motorsailer. Ketch rig. Spacious interior and airy pilothouse with full headroom. Multi-chine plywood planking built over plywood bulkheads.

2015/04/14: The 15' electric launch is for sale to support Barefootwoodenboat's entry, the Barefoot 5.8, in the upcoming Race-to-Alaska. Bartender Boats' aluminum Timbercoast Troller 22 is also up for sale. For inquires, please contact eqmarine.com.

2015/04/14: Barefoot 5.8 a planing sail and oar boat and Barefootwoodenboat's entry in this summer's Race-to-Alaska was launched Saturday. The race starts June 4th in Port Townsend and leaves Victoria June 7th.

2015/03/08: A new sailing scow design, the Laura Cove 28. The Laura Cove design came about as the most boat that will utilize 4’ X 8’ plywood sheet material better than the larger Harry II design

2015/03/06: Barefoot 5.8 race team has a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for the sails and a nice design review of the Lambert 28 over at volkscruiser.blogspot.com.

2015/02/17: New, some nice photos of a recently completed Berrypoint 26. The Wedgepoint 31, a larger custom version of the trailerable classic launch Wedge Point 27, has started construction.

2015/01/12: Barefoot 5.8, Barefoot Wooden Boats' entry in the upcoming 750 mile-long and strictly sail and oar powered Race to Alaska is now under construction and seeking sponsors. Read more at Barefoot Wooden Boats.

2015/01/12: There are some nice construction updates over the winter at Benjamin Lester's blog about building a Ratty, a 20' lapstrake cat ketch.

2014/11/05: Two new custom designs: 31' Wedge Point & an all new top secret Barefoot Wooden Boats' entry in the upcoming Race to Alaska.

2014/03/29: Design Update: Northcoast Double-ender 18 webpage replaces and amalgamates the Northcoast 18 and Double-ender 18 pages to reflect the latest plans.

2014/03/05: New Design: 28' Sail Assisted Outboard Cruiser. About the most basic possible liveaboard coastwise cruiser for two people. The cabin is full width and 13’3” long. The raised deck sides are intended to be full length plexiglass.

2013/12/18: New Design: 15’ inboard diesel launch for UK builder. Based on our successful Seka (13’6”) design, this new launch is to be strip-planked as a semi-production project by J and J Gloucester of the UK.

2013/12/01: New Design: Nu-Wa 20. A tiny schooner rigged junk for day cruising and occasional overnights on Lake Geneva. Plywood construction. The cabin is filled with windows and her double doors open the interior to the covered cockpit that seats four. Large double berth forward, a small galley area, and private head space.

2013/11/30: New views of the classic launch Wedge Point 27.

2013/11/14: Upcoming: Tilikum 25's big sister, Tilikum 32 included in a postscript on barge yachts in "Under the Cabin Lamp", a collection of early 20th century English cruising yarns by Alker Tripp. Out February 2014 from Lodestar Books.

2013/11/01: What's New: On the board, a custom 20' Chinese junk for Lac Leman; currently under construction, a modified Tokara lapstrake runabout at the Great Lakes Building School; and an upcoming design review of the Pogy 17 motorsailer for Small Craft Advisor.

2013/09/27: New Design: Regan 18, another custom version of the DE 18, this one with a new transom and inboard diesel for an Australian boatbuilder. Also new, updated plans description of the Shanty 20, versions A and B. And, in the over 30' power section, photos from this summer of the Wedge Point 27's "big sisters", Yellow Cedar 38 and Memory 38.

2013/08/28: Latest press. The new pilot house version of Harry 2, 30' LOD sailing scow, has been featured at Shanty Boat Living and Viva V is in WoodenBoat's summer 2013 MotorBoats magazine launchings anthology.

2013/08/27: New models for Bear Bay 23, a lapstrake plywood motorsailer close to the minimum size to take 2 people north for a month or two of summer cruising.  A very capable boat that can also be trailered with 295 sq.ft. of sail area, a 9HP inboard diesel or 4-8HP outboard in well, 6’1” headroom in pilothouse, and a 6’6” pram with 3’6” beam carried in davits.

2013/06/15: New design Tanu 24, a small full-displacement boat with some accommodations for two people, including a separate head compartment. Forward vee-berth can be a large double, there is space for a small galley and dining for two at a table with convertible helm seat. The aft cockpit is 8’6” long and full beam, room for chairs and an outside table. Aluminum plate over transverse web frames with longitudinal stringers.

2013/05/23: Updates for Shanty 20 version B, 20' trailerable outboard shanty boat.

2013/05/23: Custom updates for Northcoast 26 with Flying Bridge underway, model to follow.

2013/01/02: New Pilot House version of Harry 2, 30' LOD sailing scow.

2013/01/02: Just getting started, a new construction blog on building Ratty, 20' lug-rigged cat ketch.

Tad Roberts