I first learned of the boat designer, John Welsford, from Richard Gooderick’s Openboat Web Site (no longer online) in which he featured one of John's beautiful, but practical sailing dinghies. The name of this boat is ‘Houdini’, and she is suitable for a variety of uses. A boat of character, she has a sprit-boomed lugsail of 115 sq ft. With a LOA of 13ft 5ins, a beam of 5ft 11ins and a capacious cockpit; she is an ideal cruising dinghy. Her centreboard case is placed well forward, leaving an uncluttered space in which to set up camp for two under a boom tent. In addition to her admirable qualities as a camping cruiser, she has a good turn of speed. For general sailing, she can accommodate a family of two adults and two children, and for those who like pottering, or fishing, an outboard engine can be clamped to the transom. There is ample dry stowage for day sailing or camp cruising.
This is just one of the 22 designs for amateur or professional boat builders featured in John Welsford’s ‘Backyard Boat builder', published by Reed Publishing (NZ) Limited, 39 Rawene Rd., Birkenhead, Aukland, New Zealand. First available in 1999. (ISBN 0 7900 03120)
If you have an inkling or a craving to build your own wooden boat, from the most modest project, such as a pram dinghy, to the commodious 42ft Rainbow Riverboat, you would do well to purchase this instructional and entertaining guide to the techniques, tools, facilities and minimal skills necessary to accomplish your dreams.
Not only does the book feature designs of a variety of easily constructed plywood craft, suitable for rowing, sailing, powerboating and motorboat cruising, but the author includes accounts of various adventures he has undertaken with prototypes of his own built boats. These anecdotes are penned in an easy-flowing descriptive style, evoking nostalgic reminiscences of the joys of cruising small boats. John explains the main characteristics of each one by detailing how he met specific design requirements - either for his own needs or for those of his clients.
Even if you do not want to build your own boat, I can guarantee you will enjoy reading every page; but watch out! Because John’s enthusiasm for building boats and fulfilling his own dreams, by taking his creations on their various adventures, will motivate you so much, that you will not be able to resist the first step of purchasing a set of his plans.
Before you know it, you will have the frames and plywood pieces being assembled, using the simple technique of stitch and tape with epoxy adhesives and fillers. Each stage of the design is sequential set out - just one simple step at a time. For the smaller boats, no expensive tools are required, simply those which are around most households. A garage or an outhouse is an added advantage for those who live in cold or wet climates.
Excellent drawings and black and white photographs of the 21 plans, along with prices, addresses and postage etc., can all be found in the book, the pages of which number 205. (18cm x 26cm x 1.5cm in softback form) Your very own copy can be purchased directly from the author for £18.00 UK Sterling (airmail post paid), or the equivalent in your local currency. Payment can be made by cheque, Visa or Mastercard to John Welsford Small Craft Designs, at: PO Box 314, Ngongotaha, Rotorua, New Zealand. Phone/Fax: +64 (0) 7 3575354 (after hours), E-mail: jwboatdesigns@xtra.co.nz
For details of catalogues and plans visit his web site at http://www.jwboatdesigns.co.nz .
