
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.
The days longer but perhaps it’s still too early for evening boatwork. Fortunately there’s the March/April WaterCraft on its way to subscribers from 20 February and in the best newsagents from 27 February.
• FECAMP’S GREAT ESCAPE – Since 1986, the French have been showing the world how to do traditional boat festivals and they’ve not stopped yet.Kathy Mansfield recalls last year’s latest in Normandy: Click to see
• FROM DAWN ‘TIL DUSK – Peter Robinson cartops his sailing canoe to the Netherlands to meet the challenge of the one-day Raid Extreme. Click to see
• WATER, WIND AND WOOD – Long before before the Industrial Revolution in the UK a ‘poor farmer’s’ invention launched a boatbuilding boom in the Netherlands. Bert Van Baar celebrates the wind-powered sawmill: Click to see
• BUILD YOUR OWN 22’ (6.7m) SUMMER LAUNCH – Designer Paul Gartside has an electric dayboat for quiet cruising in a noisy world: Click to see
• BUILDING A TRADITIONAL CLINKER DINGHY – Having riveted over 1,600 copper roves, all the steam-bent frames are in and amateur Peter Robinson begins fitting out his 12’ (3.7m) craft in the same patient way: Click to see
• FOGGY DEW MEETS MISTY – In Episode 2.5 of the restoration of his ‘eminently sailable’ 20’ (6m) Finesse cruising yacht, winter wind and rain is not helping professional rocking horse maker Anthony Dew: Click to see
• GRAND DESIGNS: SPARKLET – Andrew Wolstenholme designs a pretty little cruising gaffer for a long neglected little port in North Norfolk: Click to see
• PLUS…
Colin Henwood asks: ‘What Makes A Proper Boatyard?’ • Annie Means meets Italian boatbuilder Gaia Brojanigo who learned her trade at Falmouth Marine School • Continuing his series on scantlings for amateur dinghy designers, Julian Wolfram considers round bilge hulls • Fellow naval architect Ian Nicolson and his children ‘beachproof’ an old dinghy • Moray MacPhail is pulling strings • And the gaffers gather at the Windermere Jetty Museum.