The 33rd Annual WoodenBoat Show occurred from June 27-29, 2025, at the Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, CT. This event, in partnership with WoodenBoat Publications, honored wooden boats' tradition, craftsmanship, and innovation. Over 100 classic and traditional wooden boats, from kayaks to schooners, were exhibited on land and water. Attendees could explore exhibits such as the "I Built/Restored It Myself" showcase, which featured boats built and restored by their owners.

A Concours d'Élegance for exquisitely designed and crafted wooden boats was also available. The show included a speaker series with authors and crafters, who shared insights into maritime history and boatbuilding. Live demonstrations by master boatbuilders highlighted traditional techniques, including caulking, woodcarving, blacksmithing, and strip-planking with fiberglassing. The event catered to wooden boat enthusiasts and maritime history buffs, attracting nearly 12,000 attendees. 

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

Wooden Boat enthusiasts gathered for the 31st annual WoodenBoat Show at Mystic Seaport on June 23-25, 2023. In addition to the main event, the John Gardner Chapter hosted our John Gardner Small Craft Workshop at Australia Beach all three days.

​Move your mouse cursor over the image below and click the Play button to view a slideshow.

​Come one, come all to celebrate Traditional Small Craft in the place where it was born!

Mystic Seaport Museum, WoodenBoat and the John Gardner Chapter of the TSCA are joining forces to sponsor the best ever small boat gathering.

The Seaport Boathouse Livery will be available to all at no extra charge. Go try out working replicas of the original small craft from the Museum’s Small Craft Collection. To celebrate breaking ground on the new Small Craft Hall, we will be honoring replicas of the originals. If you have one at home, bring it and share its story. If yours is in the tradition of the original, say of more modern materials, but honors the essence of the original, that is OK, even encouraged in this age of trailer sailing and garage storage.
​
Included will be special tours of the Small Craft Collection. Go visit your favorites then come
back and take a replica for a ride. Observing an original or replica is all well and good but there
is only one way to see how it feels. If you can’t find one but really like it, pick up a set of plans from the Collections Research Center and bring back the new boat next year to celebrate the Grand Opening of the new Small Craft Hall.

Séan McCann, the Shantyman, shares songs and stories of the sea.