My boat was built by a western Pennsylvania builder in 1975, the same year Bob Baker made plans available through Mystic Seaport Museum. He built her with glued lapstrake plywood over sawn frames, with tight-laid floorboards and ceiling planks. There is more to say, but there's a start.

I got the boat in 2013 and sailed her for several years form a mooring on the Mystic River, right opposite Mystic Seaport Museum. However, I had to haul her and took her home for some problem solving:

• She had a hanked-on cotton sail, which was not workable stowed on the boom while on a mooring. I did find a Beetle Cat sail, but I need to decide how best to hank it on. 
  
• I also think the rudder inadequate so will be building a new rudder and tiller. 
• I want to drill and epoxy some limber holes in the frames as this was never done by the builder, a fresh-water sailor and not as clear-thinking as I would have liked in some of his building choices. 
• She needs basic scrape and paint, as you might expect. While I don't think there is any significant rot, it is possible. (Refer to limber holes.)

There's a start on my project. I look forward to talking with interested TSCA members about mu unique little boat.

One more thing; she is a drop-dead beautiful little boat that needs to get back to the water. I look forward to talking with you about Button Swan.

Thanks!
Alan

Arnold Chester describes his experience building the Biscayne 22 at a meeting of the John Gardner Chapter of the Traditional Small Craft Association. ​

The Biscayne 22 is a classic mahogany runabout. Plans are available from Glen-L: https://www.glen-l.com/Biscayne-22/products/726/​

A description provided on the Glen-L website:

​"The Biscayne 18 & 22 classic mahogany runabout designs capture the look and feel of production runabouts built in the several years either side of 1940, and incorporate similar hull shapes accordingly. That means reverse-curved flaring topsides at the bow blending gracefully aft to a generous tumblehome at the transom. Such attractive contours are impossible to build using sheet plywood alone, yet easily reproduced using our carefully detailed building methods."

In addition to his boat building activities, Arnold had an interesting career as an engineer. One of his projects involved working on the life support systems that the Apollo 11 astronauts used to walk on the moon.

The John Gardner Chapter of the TSCA and the New London Currach Rowers participated in the Messing About in Boats Day at the UConn Avery Point Campus. The event was sponsored by the Connecticut National Estuarine Research Reserve and provided an opportunity for UConn students, faculty, and staff to enjoy a variety of water activities.

The JGTSCA offered participants the opportunity to take a traditional dory for a row. The boats are “Hybrid Avery Point Dories” modeled after traditional Grand Banks fishing dories. They are built lighter and are set up for “Gunkholing” perfect for exploring the estuarine coastal areas found here at the mouth of the Thames and Poquonnock rivers.

The New London Currach Rowers allowed attendees to give Irish rowing a try with a traditional Irish currach. The design of a currach is 2,000 years old, built for fishing in the wild Irish Sea and northern Atlantic, and is now mainly used competitively.

The John Gardner Chapter of the TSCA hosted its annual Small Craft Workshop. The workshop ran in conjunction with the 32nd annual WoodenBoat Show at Mystic Seaport on June 28-30, 2024.

The JGTSCA quarterly meeting was held at the Avery Point boathouse on April 7, 2024. The meeting was followed by a tool sharpening workshop led by Bill Rutherford and Dan Nelson.