Nextwave Boat

 

Welcome to the Nextwave Boat Shop

 

We will be at the Portsmouth Boat Show April 10-12, 2008

 

Here's a sampling of projects being built at the shop in the summer of 2007:

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Ulua

OK, it's true, we're building a sailing canoe in the true Polynesian style. Whether it's surfing, sailing, or paddling this boat will get to you. Now is the time to talk to us if you are interested for Spring 2008.

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The Piscataqua Wherry

The Piscataqua Wherry is a handsome 16 foot rowboat intended for the challenging waters of Portsmouth, NH. The boat has a narrow flat bottom, lapstrake, with a reverse chine fore and aft to improve its rowing and tracking abilities in the difficult current of the tidal Piscataqua river.

Again, now is the time to check it out if you want a boat for 2008.

 Whether rowing solo;

 

Or with a special passenger;

Or rowing tandem;

Or in the sliding seat;

The Piscataqua Wherry is a quick, stable row boat!

Specifications:

  • LOA: 16'2"

  • Beam: 47" (inside)

  • Weight: 195 lbs

  • Mahogany transom, stem, seats, and trim

  • Dynel garboards and bottom

  • All bronze hardware and fasteners

History:

It's an amazing boat. The boat is circa 1850. The original was built by Simon Cole of Eliot, Me. It resembles a dory, but the design evolved substantially from the dories of Maine and Massachusetts. Most of the changes are for better rowing and tracking for the quick water of the Piscataqua River but a number of changes are subtle tapers, rabbets and finishes. Floors and storage add to the refinement of this classic row boat.

I'm still researching the history of this craft. A boat so popular in the Piscataqua may have been stolen by the Smuttynose murderer to commit his crime in 1873. In any event it definitely was the taxi cab from Portsmouth, New Hampshire to Kittery, Maine.

The trial records highlight a wherry and its recently replaced but worn thole pins as proof of the culprits difficult row to the Isles of Shoals and return to Newcastle. Worn hickory tholepins may have put him away! Celia Thaxter's testimony recounting of the crime was also inconsistent at the trial.

Stop by the shop. I'll tell you the whole story!

Construction:

The boat is lapstrake with mahogany frames, stem, thwarts, transom, and trim. All the mahogany is treated with penetrating epoxy for minimum maintenance when finished bright. The garboards are treated with Dynel for abrasion resistance. All hardware is bronze.

We'll paint in your choice of colors.

 

If you are interested in getting involved with the selection of trim woods, brightwork, or finish, let me know! And a sailing rig is coming.

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Bolger 16 foot Runabout

This is the Phil Bolger designed Daisy, a 16 foot center console runabout which is 3/4" cedar strip planked and finished bright.

Bolger designs are always a little special and this stable runabout is no exception. Lots of comments about the look of the bow, partial frames, and all the mahogany is treated with the epoxy/clear coat method.

 

 

I'd love to build another of these!

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Jake's Missouri Chair

Although I build a variety of boats, lately Jake's Missouri Chair with its no-maintenance marine epoxy finishes has been getting a lot of attention and time. I'm suppose to be building boats! The chair was featured in the Boston Globe Magazine on 8/14/05. This is a big, comfortable chair with striking mahogany grain pattern that can withstand New England weather without a problem.

 



In typical “Jake’s Missouri Chair” fashion, I have further refined the design to avoid the large legs of an Adirondack chair that you always trip over, make the chair easily disassembled for shipping and storage, and impenetrable to rain, snow, and ice.

The chair is built from South American mahogany, all stainless  screws and fasteners which are plugged with cross grain mahogany, and most importantly.........specially finished!

This finish provides great ultraviolet protection and amazing weather resistance. It's very natural and not at all "plastic" in appearance and the chair requires little or no maintenance. That's why the significant difference in price between the finished and unfinished chair.

Finished - $540.00

 Unfinished- $250.00

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On finishing mahogany

To get a true low maintenance finish, all mahogany is finished with two coats of a high penetrating marine epoxy to seal the wood and displace water in the surface of the wood. This effectively plasticizes mahogany and makes surface motion impossible. What's needed then is a finish that provides antioxidant and ultraviolet inhibitors. But varnish (with it high content of penetrating oils) isn't needed because there is nothing to penetrate! I apply 3 coats of a two part finish that's more like an automotive clear coat and adheres well to the epoxy base and is loaded with UV protection.

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 Saint Lawrence Skiffs

This is a 21 foot Saint Lawrence Skiff and arguably one of the best sailing and rowing craft ever designed for protected waters. The Maine Peapod is a close second. Great stability and tracking and a "hoot" to sail. The boat is a strip planked reproduction of the Katherine Robbins in the collection at the Thousand Islands Shipyard Museum originally built in 1885 at Wilbur & Wheelock also of Clayton, NY.

 

 Specifications:

21 feet LOA, 43 inch beam,  220 pounds, 74 sq. ft. sail area, folding bronze centerboard.

To make sailing less strenuous, I have also added a rudder but the original boat was "steered" by shifting your body weight around the boat. A great description of the strengths of the Saint Lawrence Skiff is contained in John Gardner's book "Building Classic Small Craft".

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Pentominoes

When the shop gets too cold, I've built a number of wooden puzzles, the best of which is the Pentomino Puzzle. It consists of twelve pieces. Each piece is every possible way that 5 cubes can be put together. Twelve pieces of 5 cubes  fit nicely in a 3 x 4 x 5 box. The puzzle has a great feel and it's pretty difficult to get all the pieces back into the box.

 

A great puzzle made from Australian Lacewood and finished with Tung Oil. About 7"x6"x5".

 $110.00

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You can reach the shop at 603-373-0512 or stop by at 1 Plains Avenue at the ball field end of Islington Street in Portsmouth, New Hampshire or at: info@nextwaveboat.com