The Kessinger Fleet

Because Memsahib is just about the only wooden boat out on the Loop this year, and people seem so interested in her, we spend a lot of time talking to boaters and dockwalkers about not just Memsahib, but wooden boats in general.

The state of my addiction is revealed by the fact that I not only own and maintain good old Memsahib, but spend every minute I can spare building and restoring smaller wooden boats. So several of our readers have asked to see the rest of the fleet:

Shellback Dinghy

The first boat I ever built after a class at WoodenBoat School taught by the talented John Brooks. This is a Joel White design and kept me on the water and sane during a short period between cruising boats. She is now in the Bronx at Rocking the Boat, a group that provides water-oriented training and activities to disadvantaged teenagers.

Iain Oughtred Wee Rob Canoe

Built after a WoodenBoat School class with another one of my heroes, Sam Devlin. We still have this one.

Gunga Din — Iain Oughtred Auk Dinghy

This is actually Memsahib’s tender, but to get through the locks and to keep our overall length in check for marinas, I didn’t want to have her on davits, hence the ugly rubber bathtub toy on our roof now.

Jericho Bay Lobster Boat

This is a 1971 Joel White design built in Maine by the legendary Jimmy Steele. I restored her over a three-year period and just got the engine on when Voyage preparations took over my life. So I am hugely anticipating getting her in the water when we get pack.

Memsahib's Voyage