Welcome to the Nextwave Boat
Shop
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;
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Or rowing tandem;
Or in the sliding seat;
The Piscataqua Wherry is a quick,
stable row boat!
Specifications:
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LOA: 16'2"
-
Beam: 47" (inside)
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Weight: 195 lbs
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Mahogany transom, stem,
seats, and trim
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Dynel garboards and bottom
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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
------------------------------------------- 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 | 
