Boatbuilding Academy Launch Day August 2022

Four boats built by the 15 students of the Class of October 2021 were launched at the BBA’s Launch Day in August. First in was Lorraine McGowan’s Paul Gartside-designed Skylark (top left). Academy students have previously built four of these in traditional clinker, but this one was built of glued carvel construction with 3/8in yellow cedar planking (epoxy/glass sheathed inside and out) and sapele centreline. Blustery conditions in Lyme Bay prompted the crew to reef the standing lug rig.

Tony Stringer’s 18ft traditional clinker launch (top right) is based on lines provided by Salcombe boatbuilder Nick Smith. With khaya planking, a sapele centreline and the timbers, outer stem and fit-out in oak, she is powered by a Beta Marine 14hp diesel. Dom Burger’s 16ft speedboat Snooks (bottom right) is the first boat ever built at the BBA to a design by the commissioning student. Naval architect Dom was allowed to do this after convincing the tutors that he had thoroughly researched the planning of the construction process as well as the design. Built from a combination of plywood and cold moulding on ring frames, Snooks has a 115hp Volvo Penta petrol engine, and Dom hopes to get her up to 40 knots after further trials.

Tim Odling’s 17ft Gartside design 221 (bottom left) was the last boat in. Strip planked in 5/8in yellow cedar, she has a laid deck with sapele covering boards and king plank, and iroko for the rest. She was designed for a 20-30hp outboard but supply problems forced an upgrade to 50hp. On launch day she reached 21 knots with three people on board and with a bit of a swell in Lyme Bay. Report and photos by Nigel Sharp