Built & Launched Registry
Heron
Peregrine 18 · Rowboat
- Registry No.
- BL-000007
- Hailing Port
- Travelers Rest, South Carolina, United States
- Launched
- 5 October 2023
Launched / Active Newest Boat
- Builder
- Jay
- Design
- Peregrine 18
- Length
- 18′ 2″5.5 m
- Launched
- 5 October 2023
- Hailing Port
- Travelers Rest, South Carolina, United States
My first try at glued lapstrake construction
The Story
In the builder’s words
I've built a number of small craft over the years, and had gotten away from boating over the last ten years while I built our house and got our land in shape. At age 70, I wanted to build 'one more boat', and make it a fancy rowboat. I wanted her to have enough room for my wife and I to go rowing on nearby lakes without getting out oars tangled. I chose the design by looking at a number of boats in this size range, and John Brooks design caught my eye. I built her in the finished great room of our barn because it has heat and air conditioning. The hardest part was trying to get a smooth consistent finish on the finished boat. I spent far more time filling, sanding, and painting than I did on the actual construction! I'm most proud of some of the small details, like the oarlocks that I custom made, and the woven cane seats. If I were to build another similar boat, I'd use clamps to hold the laps together rather than screws. Filling all of those tiny holes gave me fits.
Since building her, we've been rowing on several of the area lakes in upstate South Carolina. She's deceptively fast. Because of her size, you don't feel like you're moving that fast until you go up against another rowboat and breeze right on by. I have a friend with a shorter boat, but he has a sliding seat and much longer oars. I'm able to keep up with him in a sprint. I imagine with a sliding seat, outriggers, and longer oars she'd really fly, but I'm too old for that kind of heroics. I'd much rather just go up the lake and back, maybe pack a lunch, maybe do a little fishing. Our local lake, Lake Robinson is limited to 10 horsepower, so it's very quiet, especially during the week.
We took her to the Georgetown Wooden Boat Show, and we had a great time meeting hundreds of like-minded folks and talking boats all day long! We didn't win anything; some of the boats there look like fine furniture, but we got a lot of nice compliments.
Future plans include a possible modest sailing rig, and an electric outboard. Too many days are spent in port because it's too breezy to go rowing. Being a narrow hull, she won't take much of a sail, but I have plans to rig up a mast mount and leeboard mount that is removable. I have a small electric trolling motor for her. I'd like to build it into a wooden rudder to disguise the motor. As we get older, we can just silently cruise the lake.
Builder Knowledge
Practical lessons from this build
- What I Would Do Differently
The method I used calls for joining the laps with temporary screws while the epoxy sets up. It worked well, but you're left with hundreds of tiny holes to fill. The meranti plywood I used has a coarse grain, and the grain near the patched holes filled up with epoxy. This made those areas harder that the surrounding wood, so they stay proud as you attempt to sand and blend everything. Next time I would make deep lap clamps instead.
- Most Difficult Part of the Build
The worst part was trying to get a decent finish. See the above.
- Most Useful Tool
I took an inexpensive block plane and drilled a hole through the side to mount a round rod. The edge of the rod is exactly 1/2" above the sole. I then put a 1/2" thick batten on the forms where the next plank would lie. This gives you a perfect bevel as you plane the edge of the plank for the lap. The rod rides on the 1/2" batten to keep the plane on the same plane as the next plank will lie.
- Biggest Unexpected Expense
Coatings and paint! There are a lot of sealers, primers, and paints, and they're all expensive.
- Best Modification
I increased the sheer about 1-1/2" at the bow for a slightly livelier sheer.
- Advice for Future Builders
John Brooks' book on glued lapstrake is an excellent resource. Between the book and his plans, it went pretty smoothly for my first go at lapstrake boat building. One thing I did differently was to join my plank pieces on the boat. I used a ladder truss system to create the plank's shape, then I cut the pieces of out 8' long plywood. I cut the scarf joints on the ends of the pieces, and joined them on the hull. Most books call for scarfing together the plywood first, then cutting out the planks. I didn't have enough room to handle an 18' piece of plywood, and my technique saved me at least one full sheet of expensive plywood.
- Would I Build This Design Again?
If I wanted a similar boat, and something happened to mine- yes, I would.
Build Progress
1 of 14 stages complete
7% 1 of 14 stages
Next Plans in Hand
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Still to do
The drawings bought, the kit ordered, or the lines settled.
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Still to do
Drawn out full size, moulds and patterns made.
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Still to do
Stem, keel, hog and transom standing on the jig.
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Still to do
Every frame or bulkhead set up, faired and braced.
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Still to do
Bottom planked, plated or sheathed — the first surface closed.
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Still to do
Sides on, seams closed, the shell watertight in principle.
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Still to do
Rolled the right way up — the day the shed changes shape.
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Still to do
Beams, sheathing and covering boards down.
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Still to do
Coach roof, cockpit, hatches and anything standing above deck.
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Still to do
Filled, faired, primed and finished — inside and out.
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Still to do
Sole, berths, lockers, joinery and the fit-out.
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Still to do
Engine, wiring, plumbing, steering and controls aboard and working.
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Still to do
Spars, standing and running rigging, sails, oars or the outboard.
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Complete 5 October 2023 From her record
The Build
2 milestones, in order
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APRIL 2023
The Build Begins
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5 OCTOBER 2023
Launch Day
Launched at Ramp on Lake Robinson.
Specifications
As entered in the registry
Design & Type
- Boat Type
- Rowboat
- Design
- Peregrine 18
- Designer
- John Brooks
- Plans
- Built from plans
- Plans Source
- John Brooks
Construction
- Construction Method
- Clinker / Lapstrake
- Primary Material
- Marine Plywood
- Method Notes
- Glued lapstrake construction, 6 mm meranti plywood, cherry and mahogany trim
- Builder
- Jay
- Built At
- In my barn in South Carolina
Dimensions
- Length Overall
- 18′ 2″5.5 m
- Beam
- 3′ 10″1.2 m
- Draft
- 0′ 5″0.1 m
- Displacement
- 140 lb64 kg
Propulsion
- Propulsion
- Human Powered
Dates & Waters
- Build Started
- April 2023
- Launch Date
- 5 October 2023
- Launched At
- Ramp on Lake Robinson
- Hailing Port
- Travelers Rest, South Carolina, United States
- Home Waters
- Lake Robinson
The Design
Sister Ships
This boat is currently the only registered example of this design.
Know another? Invite its builder to join the registry. How the register works →
When somebody else registers a boat built to these plans, she will appear here — and this boat will appear on hers.
The Builder
In their own workshop
Jay
Founder MemberI'm a retired tool maker in upstate South Carolina. We live on 9 rural acres in a house that I designed and built 12 years ago. I've built a number of boats over the years, mostly simple flat-bottomed craft. I'm married with an adult son and one grandchild.
Home Port
Travelers Rest, South Carolina, United States
Home Waters Lake Robinson
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Built & Launched
The Registry of Home-Built Boats
Certificate of Registry
BL-000007
- Vessel
- Heron
- Builder
- Jay
- Design
- Peregrine 18
- Build Started
- April 2023
- Launched
- 5 October 2023
- Hailing Port
- Travelers Rest, South Carolina, United States
- Registry Date
- 27 August 2026
- Last Updated
- 27 August 2026
- Status
- Launched / Active
EST. 2026
Every Boat Has a Build Story.
Norm Johnson ⚓Founder Member
Comment 1 ·
Jay
Comment 2 ·