Preview: The Smallest Boat in the Harbor — Nutshell Pram & Shellback Dinghy

46 Responses So Far to “The Smallest Boat in the Harbor — Nutshell Pram & Shellback Dinghy”

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  Jon Crawfurd says:

  Lovely video!

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  Charles Neuman says:

  I’m looking to build a boat. I’m plenty busy with my 19′ sailboat, that I realize anything bigger will just soak up more time. So I don’t need a yacht. But I am attracted to various designs of slightly bigger boats, and I admire lots of brightwork. It’s hard to keep it simple. In the end, I think I’ll be happiest with a small boat like this.

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    Steve Stone says:

    Hi Charles. Well said. The large Nutshell (9.5′) is an excellent boat as I’ve talked about in this video. You may also want to look at the OONAGH/ARRIBA which is a very similar boat but almost 12′. It simply has more room and is a more substantial boat than the Nutshell, and can also carry a small electric motor. There was only one thing I wished for that the Nutshell did not have and that was a bit more room and the OONAGH solves that. We sell the plans and a kit for this boat, plus have an entire video series on how to build it. There’s also an active forum where other builders have shared their building experience. So all this makes for an enjoyable experience and a great boat. You can see the first two videos in the series above in “related videos”.

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  Kent and Skipper says:

  Keep it small and simple. Our Nutshell Pram EXCUSE ME will splash this week. Thanks for making the video.

  Cheers,
  Clark and Skipper

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  Conbert Benneck says:

  In the late ’60’s, we lived in Munich, Germany. Our Tripp-Lentsch 29 had been trucked from the Seine, near Paris to the Chiemsee, a large lake between Munich and Salzburg.
  We had a 9-foot round bottom Dutch dinghy with sail. I ordered an OPTIMIST kit from a boat builder in Denmark, and then, together with our two children, “we” built the OPTIMIST.
  In spring, we launched our new toy. Our thinking was, one of the children could sail the 9-foot dinghy and the other the OPTIMIST. That just shows how stupid well-meaning parents can be! Ater the first sails by both in the OPTIMIST, that was the boat “they” wanted to sail, and the bickering between them started….. “I don’t want to sail the big slow bathtub, I want to sail the OPIMIST”. So, the following winter “we” built a second OPTIMIST, and now each child had their own identical vessel. Our Tripp-Lentsch 29 was named “FUN” and the Dutch dinghy was “GAMES”. Our daughter named her OPTIMIST “RESULT”. Why “RESULT” we asked? She grinned and said, wasn’t I the “result” of your and mother’s fun and games….? With two OPTIMISTS we had happy sailing children, who then participated in the Chiemsee Yacht Club OPTIMIST races, and both became very competent sailors.

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  Joseph Wl Haley III says:

  My first sail was in the 8′ Optimist Pram. I was in the Sarasota Pram Fleet. must have been 25 or30 of us. Work all summer mowing lawns for the $85 for a new unpainted hull with hardware and sail. Still had her at 12, but was now sailing with the big boys in 21′ Fish Class. Sailedl all over North and South SRQ Bays in that Pram and took her camping on many of our Islands. Great place to grow up.

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    Joseph Wl Haley III says:

    I can’t tell you how much I enjoy your site.

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    David and Margaret Tew says:

    The junior YC I belonged to on Cape Cod bought a small fleet of Optis built in Flordida and had them shipped north. We drew lots for each. Mine leaked like a sieve and so named it ‘Tea Bag’. A girl from Palm Beach winters brought her brightwork one which she sailed very well, to the envy of us all.

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  Tim Charles says:

  Steve, I just love the Smallest Boat in the Harbor video. To start the grand kids off on a life of sailing I just bought them a Walker Bay 8. Can’t wait to see if they catch the bug. Hope so.

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  Charles Coull says:

  OK so I’ve been watching these a wee whiley now. They are all magic but this is flat out the best so far. As we say on the West Coast of Scotland: “Pure dead brilliant” (that’s praise!)

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  Rick Robinson says:

  Wow…..thanks for confirming my sailing desires that have been challenged by all my big boat sailing mates.

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  David Robbie says:

  Wonderful video. Loved the story and great footage of the boats being sailed. Now I don’t know which to build. The nutshell or the shellback. Both look great. This video is a nice reminder when there is always a pull toward a large boat.

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  Kent Lewis says:

  Small boats are our favorites, easy to maintain and manageable for all ages.

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  David Tew says:

  My dad and I built two prams in the sixties, one a sailing version for me, the other a tender for the family’s cruising boat. It was a great experience all around and it was most certainly the start of a lifelong interest (if not obsession) about boats. It lead me to develop a sense of mastery on my own, at a young age. What a gift it was from a father to son.

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  steve johnson says:

  Similarly,as with boats so too with motorcycles ! Three years ago I sold two snazzy rockets. An 800 Ducati Monster & a much faster wilder Kawasaki 1000. Replacements came my way two years ago.. a Vespa 200 plus a 235TT-R Yamaha off roader . Tons more smiles per mile every time guaranteed . Has some ring of our childhood,where we 1st get the bug. Its the simpleness, and the frugalness . Bunch of stuff .. the list goes on . Mom use to remind us..’good things come in small packages.’ Beautifully told story here.. thank you. I’ll share this film with my daughter who’s a 1st time mom of a 2yr.’r . They know so much yet seeing it acted in film will punch it home . Thank you Steve and family !

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  Scott Christianson says:

  By the way, I’m 65 and will be getting the grandkids out. I think a Shellback is in the cards!

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    Steve Stone says:

    Right on, Scott! So glad to read this.

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  Scott Christianson says:

  What a great story! Thanks. Just yesterday in 60 degree sun, I went for my first sail in my 9-6 Nutshell, “into the Mystic”. She was given to me with a split garboard plank (cedar) and had previously been the tender for a big boat I assume. Then was dropped, I’m guessing resulting in the plank problem. I was able to get the old plank off and duct taped it together to get the pattern on a new one. She is copper clench nailed. A friend was the outside guy for the re-clenching party. I sent off for the plans to build the rudder, etc., and sailing hardware kit to WB, and to Sailrite for the sail “kit”. A couple weeks ago I was rowing her out in Lake Washington while trolling for a Coho and nabbed one-beautiful! I used to not really be a fan of the blunt bow, but she’s grown on me. Thank you Joel.

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  EeBee4 says:

  Absolutely sublime! A great family story. I never tire of watching these. This one is certainly a favorite. Ready to build another “small” boat. Thanks Steve.

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  David Wickland says:

  Hi Steve, it was great to see you and Eric at the Wooden Boat Festival in Port Townsend. I sold my Doughdish the week before the show to a guy from Texas that was coming up for the show. Just prior to the show I watched your video again on the small boats and specifically the Shellback and that was what I decided I wanted. I ended up buying one at the show and I think I’ll build a Nutshell for the grandkids this winter. Thanks again for the video and thanks again for the beer at the festival. I wish I could have stayed longer but I had to catch the ferry back with my new Shellback. I’ll look forward to seeing you guys again next year and of course, enjoying my subscription to OCH.com all year long. Best Regards, Dave

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    Steve Stone says:

    Awesome, Dave. So glad to hear this. Go for the bigger 9.5′ version of the Nutshell. Not the smaller one as it doesn’t sail well or sail with two adults like the bigger Nutshell does so well.

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      David Wickland says:

      Thanks for the tip

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  Blogs Battle says:

  Hello Steve,
  I am currently building a Nutshell and intend making our own sail according to the plan dimensions. My question relates to the shape of the sail when set. Is the sail a flat sheet and the shape of the sail determined by the spars or is some shape sewn into the sail?
  Thanks,
  Blogs

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    Steve Stone says:

    Hi Blogs. You’ll want to check out the videos in the sailmaking category where that topic is shown and discussed in depth in the making of the sailmaking series.

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  Steve Stone says:

  Thanks for the great comments. Just returned from the Bahamas where the kids you saw in the video (now 15) navigated and skippered our powerboat all on their own from Little Harbor (far left) to Hope Town harbor (far right).
  

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  Michael Appleby says:

  Glad to see you have the same love for small boats. I’m just starting to build a Shellback.

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  Christopher Whaley says:

  Hurrah! for the seriously simple games and play (“messing around” in adultese) that are accessible to children surrounded by nature. A loud applause for the parents who care for their children’s development.

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  Tom Blake says:

  Thanks Steve for bringing the video back where your business got started. To the kids very very well done .Thanks

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    Steve Stone says:

    Your son provided a lot of the inspiration for this path, Tom.

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  Peter Brackenbury says:

  Really nice video. Glad to see that you selected a cartopper boat in the nutshell and shellback. Could you do something on canoe (single or double paddle) and/or kayak sailing. I bought a beat up Grumman sailing canoe in the fall because I wasn’t taking out the more complex boat I have on a trailer and I have really enjoyed it. I would love to see others who use them more extensively and combine sailing with paddling for day or extended trips. I think this is an overlooked small sailing option that needs some Off Center Harbor PR to detail how it’s done.

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    Steve Stone says:

    Thanks for the nudge Peter.

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  Chad Brown says:

  After arriving at anchorage, and getting the boat shipshape for the night, there is nothing I long for more than getting about in a sailing dinghy, exploring in the easy evening air.

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  Chubba Kane says:

  I once heard an old salt tell me “a boat’s use is inversely proportional to its size”. The smaller it is , the more you use it. This is often found to be so true. Simple pleasures often are the best.
  Keep smiling!

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  Walter Allan says:

  Way to go, Steve. Love the kids sailing together.

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  bob mcCorkle says:

  Fine, inspiring video. I sold my last sailboat, a Valiant 37, in 2008 and have been boatless since. As I will turn 70 this summer, I think it is high time I got back on the water. This video has inspired me to find a small boat and start “messing around” in it. Perhaps I can also entice my grandchildren to accompany me. Thanks so much for the impetus to do it.

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  Larry Cheek says:

  Beautiful video, excellent philosophy. Though I have to embrace the Shellback and kind of avert my eyes from the Nutshell pram footage. A boat should have a pointy bow. It’s a law of nature.

  Congrats on the #300 milestone, all of you OCH guys. I’m looking forward to the next 300.

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  simon lippett says:

  I love the simplicity and honesty of your videos. I get excited every time a new one is put up on the the site. Thank you OCH :)

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  Hugh Bamford says:

  Dad and I were starting one of these a few years back but when he passed away I couldn’t bring myself to work on it, this has inspired me to dust off the plans and start fresh – thanks.

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    Steve Stone says:

    Well done, Hugh. Glad this provided the inspiration.

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  Joe Rouse says:

  Great video!

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  Richard Schneider says:

  For your 300th video you could not have done better. This one say it all simply just as it should be. Thank you and Congratulations on getting this far so well.

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  Burton Blais says:

  Very cool, guys.

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  Nathan Lunstrum says:

  Currently building a small boat with my 9 year old so this 300th video was the perfect inspiration for us!

  Bravo OCH!

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    Burton Blais says:

    Watcha buildin’?

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      Nathan Lunstrum says:

      A Newt…designed by Warren Jordan.

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    Steve Stone says:

    So glad to hear this Nathan.