Melonseed Skiffs |
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 Dave Toner's American Photos: © John Kohnen Mouse over for stern view |
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 Barry Long's AEON (mouse over to see CAESURA) Click here to view Marginalia, building a pair of 19th century gunning skiffs. |
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Crawford Melonseed History of the Crawford Melonseed |
Brush Creek Yachts Melonseed Interior Brush Creek Yachts |
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Melonseed Skiff Melonheads Group
The Melonseed Skiff by Rob Thompson. WoodenBoat Magazine issue 180 (Sept/Oct 2004)
The Melonseed Skiff by Mike O'Brian Small Craft Magazine
Melonseeds
Mike Wick
Ever since I moved to this area, twentysome years ago, I have been fascinated by the melonseed. My buddy, John, has one that is very light and fast. I was amazed how well it sailed, even in rough water. First thing I did was write to the Smithsonian for the Chapelle plans and imagine building my own version. It’s interesting that Chapelle says that it developed from the South Jersey Beach Skiff, only a little wider and flatter, with its tuckup keelson and the skeg added on. But it seems very modern and almost perfect for the way we use boats these days. Because it was developed for duckhunters and made to be dragged, paddled and portaged, the melonseed is easy to store at home, trailer, launch, and rig. I keep mine on a dolly at a local lake, and I use it often. Kind of like a wooden Laser. It takes only a matter of moments to get her ready for sailing. Melonseeds make a good choice for sailors who don’t go after ducks. They still want to explore the same waters and at least watch the ducks. At the same time, melonseeds are seaworthy with their fine entrance and sleek low hull; Adequate beam and form stability makes them stable and secure even in strong winds. I have cruised all over the area and have always felt secure. It may seem a paradox, but when the wind is gusty, I raise the daggerboard. That way, when a gust hits, the boat doesn’t heel over but skates to leeward, and I stay upright and dry. Continued on Mike Wick's page...
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Reducks-Chapelle/ Smithsonian plans |
Photo: Andy Slavinskas
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John Guideras' w/extra strake |
Photo: Andy Slavinskas |
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Gary Holmes' Bat-Wing Seed (Chapelle) |
Photo: Andy Slavinskas |
Rivus (Barto/Brady) |
Photo: Rachel Cobb |
Send any additions or corrections to Info@TraditionalSmallCraft.com
Boat Name |
Builder |
Owner |
Design(er) |
Remarks |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Carl Weissinger |
Mike Wick |
John Brady 16' |
Strip Planked |
Actively sailed NJ |
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Candide |
Tony Thatcher |
Marc Barto 13' |
Strip Planked |
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Barry Long |
Barry Long |
Chapelle/Barto 13.8' |
Strip Planked |
Launched 2011 |
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Marc Barto 13' |
Glued Lapstrake |
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TOT YOT
|
Marc Barto 13' |
Glued Lapstrake |
Sailing in Texas |
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Mallard |
Marc Barto 16' |
Glued Lapstrake |
Sailed in the UK |
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Steve Brookman |
Steve Brookman |
Barto/Brady 16' |
Glued Lapstrake |
Model |
|
Mike Wick |
Mike Wick |
Roger Allen/Cortez |
Cold Molded |
Launched 2011 |
|
Laylah |
Roger Allen/Cortez |
Strip Planked |
Florida |
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Reducks |
Carl Weissinger |
Carl Weissinger |
Chapelle |
Strip Planked |
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Chapelle |
Strip Planked |
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Rex & Kathie Payne |
Rex & Kathie Payne |
Barto 16' |
Strip Planked-Cedar |
Spring Hill, FL |
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Sheila Ann |
Don & Sheila Traut |
Chapelle 13.5' |
Glued Lapstrake |
Scottsboro, AL |
|
Catspaw |
Crawford Boat Building |
Don & Sheila Traut |
Crawford 13' 8" |
FG |
Scottsboro, AL |
Selkie |
Scott Brumenschenkel |
Scott Brumenschenkel |
Barto |
Strip Planked |
New England |
James Farrelly |
James Farrelly |
Barto |
Glued Lapstrake |
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Phil Maynard |
Chris Bickford |
Chapelle 13.5' |
Stitch & Glue |
Jamaica Bay, NY |
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Babs |
Rex & Kathie Payne |
Rick Schramm |
Chapelle 13.5' |
Strip Planked-Sapelle |
Madison, Wisconsin |
Stray Wren |
Bob Arant |
Bob Arant |
Barto 13' |
Strip Planked |
Nebraska |
Mike Borrett |
Mike Borrett |
Chapelle 13.5' |
Strip Planked |
Oregon, W |
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Aria |
Michael Bogoger |
Michael Bogoger |
Modifed Chapelle? |
Glued Lapstrake |
Keel version! |
Mre Angharad |
Sedge Island Skiffs |
Evan Rudderow |
Kerr/Barto/Chapelle 13.5' |
Cold Molded |
Actively Sailed NJ |
Proud Mary II |
Richard Honan |
Richard Honan |
Barto 16' |
Strip Planked |
Massachusetts |
Steve Brookman |
Steve Brookman |
Barto 16'/Brady rig |
Glued Lapstrake |
Blue Hill, ME |
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Tom Wilson |
Tom Wilson |
Modified Barto 13' |
Strip Planked |
Massachusetts |
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Doug Sharp |
Doug Sharp |
Modified Barto 13' |
Strip Planked |
Massachusetts |
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Sylvia |
Josua Braun |
Barto 16' |
Strip Planked |
Regensburg, Germany |
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Melonseed Light |
Dave Gentry |
Dave Gentry |
Chapelle 13.5' |
Skin on Frame |
77 lbs! |
Don Kerr |
Don Kerr |
Modified Barto 16' |
Strip Planked Cedar |
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John Owen |
John Owen |
Barto 16' |
Glued Lapstrake |
Burlington VT |
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La Vita e’ Bella |
Marc Barto |
Ron Marchetti |
Barto 13' |
Glued Lapstrake |
Ashland, OR |
Melissa |
Tim Crawford |
Tim Crawford |
Barto 16' |
Strip Planked |
Longmont, CO |
NEW! |
Nienke Adamse |
Nienke Adamse |
Barto 16' |
Strip Planked |
Bingham, ME |
poule d'eau |
Buddy Simons |
Buddy Simons |
Barto 16' 9" |
Strip Planked |
Spring, Texas |
Plug |
John Murray |
John Murray |
Barto 16'/Brady rig |
Strip Planked |
Silver Spring, MD |
Sand $ |
Etienne Muller |
Etienne Muller |
Selway Fisher 13'4" |
Strip Planked |
Sneem, Ireland |
Persistence |
George Myers |
George Myers |
Barto 16' |
Strip Planked |
Lancaster PA |
Melonseeds currently under construction |
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Mike Miedlar |
Mike Miedlar |
Modifed Chapelle 13.5' |
Skin on Frame |
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Kevin Lott |
Kevin Lott |
Cortez 15.5' |
Strip Planked |
Waleska, GA |
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Bill Ryno & John |
Bill Ryno & John |
Barto 16' |
Strip Planked |
Appleton, WI |
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