Construction details of Windfall Woodworks wooden boats

The bulk of my energy goes into building traditional wooden boats. I believe they have a beauty and attraction that cannot be found in other mass-produced, synthetic hulls. They are a joy to row, sail, and behold as much as they are a joy to build.

Log-product: With the exception of the white cedar planking (which comes from small local mills and is NOT old-growth), all the wood in my boats comes from salvaged timber. I select and cut only the best trees that the storms and chance of nature have felled. This gives me access to highest-quality stock, as well as to grown shapes that provide greater structural strength in places like knees, breasthooks, and stems.

Form & Function: I build traditional boats using traditional techniques and traditional designs. This is not an effort to produce replicas of the past, but rather an homage to the hundreds of years of experience of the builders and users who have come before. These designs and techniques have stood the tests of time and long term repeated use. They are highly evolved, and just as functional today as they were in days past. The ocean has not changed that much; nor have those who travel upon it.

Craftsmanship: In my boats—as in all my work—I am building for beauty, function, and longevity. Therefore I use only highly rot-resistant species of wood such as northern white cedar, black locust, and black cherry, in my boats. Furthermore, I use silicon bronze screws and bolts and English copper rivets for fasteners. These metals have proven over time to provide excellent holding power without concerns of rust and deterioration. Even the fittings are custom cast in silicon bronze to patterns I make myself. Together with exacting craftsmanship used in construction, these materials produce a boat that is beautiful as well as durable.

Handcrafted hardware: When you buy a Windfall Woodworks boat, you are getting not only the highest quality wood products, but also beautiful custom cast bronze hardware. I make the bronze fittings such as oarlocks, hinged mast partners, pintles, gudgeons, floor hardware, and other pieces as needed. Often it is nearly impossible to find these specialized fittings commercially that will fit traditional designs, and even rarer to find ones that are truly handsome.

Stock wooden boats: The menu at left lists my "stock" boats. These boats are still built to order and have customizable elements, but the preliminary steps of design, lofting, and building molds are complete and are not considered in pricing. Although my current stock list includes the melonseed (built to Howard Chapelle's design), a variety of whitehalls (including the Boston whitehall), and the Connecticut River drag boat, I am always happy to discuss and explore building other boats.

Custom orders: I am always interested in building new designs. If you have a different boat in mind, or have a design, plans, or sketches, or are simply interested in owning a traditionally-built wooden boat, please contact me! We can work together to find the best boat for your needs.