Preview: A Good Boat, Up Close: A Cruising Powerboat by John Atkin

*     *     *
OffCenterHarbor.com is a membership website with over 1,000 videos and articles on boat handling, repairs, maintenance, boat building, dream boats and more.

Sign up above to learn more, and get 10 of our best videos.

*     *     *

The snug and beguiling cruising powerboat is virtually nonexistent these days. That’s why we jumped at the chance to bring you this little beauty from the WoodenBoat Show.

Get Free Videos Start Free Trial Members Sign In

Comments, Thoughts or Suggestions?

You can leave a comment or question for OCH and members below. Here are the comments so far…

Leave a Comment

29 Responses So Far to “A Good Boat, Up Close: A Cruising Powerboat by John Atkin

  • Avatar

    John Wujack says:

    I love when OCH videos recycle and something catches my eye that I missed the first time around. Tell me please of Kathy’s ceiling with the small perforations. It is really lovely detail on a very lovely boat. Thanks for sharing

  • Avatar

    jim downs says:

    One of the prettiest boats afloat, Thanks for sharing and restoring an atkins classic.
    atkins seems to have shared his skills with modern designers like jay benford who trained with atkins.and continues “the proper look” in his designs
    we are all so lucky there are people like you Frank who save little ships like this for our children to see and understand how real boats look.
    jim downs
    australia

  • Avatar

    Greg Mactye says:

    Can’t add much to the comments, except to say in my opinion this is one beautiful boat. Functional, great classic work boat lines, no silly plastic-looking frills like most “so-called” boats have today. Sort of reminds me of grandpa’s 1954 Ulrichsen which he had on the GSB in Long Island when I was a very young boy. Have to admit though – Kathy is nicer. Wonderful work.

  • Avatar

    David Satter says:

    Great boat, Saw her at the show at Mystic. Even took a few photos of her.

  • Avatar

    mike kitchen says:

    Mr. Chase , I applaud your skills as a shipwright as you restored Kathy. She is one of the most beautiful boats I have seen in years. I would love to see her, and you on the Great Lakes in the future. OCH, once again, a great job on the video. Look forward to more on wooden power boats like Kathy. Mike

  • Avatar

    David Jeffery says:

    Were any rigged with the sail plan shown in the drawing?

  • Avatar

    Ricco Veldkamp says:

    Nice video of a pretty boat.

    In the video I see little holes beneath the portholes. I assume they are to get rid of water pouring in when opening the porthole. Can you sent me a sketch how this is done and protected against water damaging the wooden upper structure. Building a wooden schooner myself and expect this problem on my boat aswell.

    • Avatar

      FRANK CHASE says:

      RICCO…YOUR ASSUMPTION IS CORRECT. I PLACED A SMALL (#30) PILOT HOLE IN THE FRAME OF THE PORT , SET THE FRAME,THEN DRILLED A 1/4” HOLE AT THE REQ’D ANGLE (USE RIGHT ANGLE DRILL OR AS NEEDED) . EPOXY APPLIED W/ A COTTON SWARB OR PIPE CLEANER ,THEN PAINT …DONE!

      • Avatar

        Ricco Veldkamp says:

        Thanks for your answer. I will have a look if I can use this on my boat that I’m building.
        A Shpountz 38-40 designed by Daniël Z Bombigher.

  • Avatar

    Tom Vogel says:

    Love the character and features of the Kathy. Great, yet simple story told by a gifted wood worker of its restoration. Well deserving of the award.

  • Avatar

    Christopher Webb says:

    Great work Frank and OCH crew. I have admired the plan of Calisto V Canelli for many years as one of John Atkin’s best works in a powerboat. To see the real thing through this forum is just delightful.

  • Avatar

    Bryan Lowe says:

    Lovely boat, amazingly restored, and a very nice video.

  • Avatar

    Charles Thompson says:

    Enjoyed this one a lot. Lovely little boat.

  • Avatar

    Ken Strangward says:

    It’s difficult to get this sort of insight into a boat when your actually at a boat show.
    Great job Frank, good video OCH.
    Hopefully we will get a chance to visit the States in the next couple of years & see the Mystic boat show
    Cheers

  • Avatar

    Richard Gewax says:

    Kudos to you Frank; well done!

    OCH crew – I would love to see on this website any photos that Frank has taken of the restoration process.

    Also, I would gladly pay dearly if ‘someone’ out there in YouTube-land would document the proper way to replace a laminated keel on a 27′ Carver lapstrake…

    Oh, and a question to Frank – What, now that the boat is done, do you plan to do for “therapy”?

  • Avatar

    Reagan Tucker says:

    Very nice boat and video. Small cruising powerboats are seldom covered. thanks. Nice dinghy too. know who the designer was of the small dinghy rafted alongside?

    • Avatar

      FRANK CHASE says:

      REAGAN…THE SKIFF ALONGSIDE WAS BUILT ON A BUILDING JIG ORIGINALLY MY GRANDFATHER’S,PROBABLY HIS DESIGN. (1948+/-) MY DAD BUILT SEVERAL DOZEN,AND I BUILT A FEW,ALL FROM THE SAME JIG,THE ONE ALONGSIDE BEING THE LAST (1983). MY GRANDSON PLANS TO BUILD ONE THIS WINTER. A SET OF PLANS PROBABLY WILL BE DRAWN.CONTACT OCH IF INTERESTED.

  • Avatar

    Neil Thompson says:

    Eye candy. Perfect balance in everything. With a lady and a dog, ultimate.

  • Avatar

    Stephen McClure says:

    KATHY was by far the most interesting and practical powerboat at the Mystic show. It was obvious that she had been maintained well and equipped sensibly. It was a thrill to find her story in today’s email. Thanks again to the OCH crew, and to Captain Frank Chase.

      • Avatar

        Kit Laughlin says:

        Crack-up! Frank, a lovely practical vessel, every inch of which you know personally. Just lovely.

  • Avatar

    Ginny Jones says:

    Hey, how about perfect for a woman and a dog (or a male partner) or a cat………?

  • Avatar

    greg mclaughlin says:

    What a gift to be able to restore a boat the likes of Kathy.I envy your ability.
    What a beauty!

  • Avatar

    carl prestipino says:

    True class : hard to define, but you know it when you see it!

  • Avatar

    Michael Vaughan says:

    Kathy is to motor boats as a Vertue is to yachts. Straightforward form and function in a manageable size. Simply beautiful! Perfect for a man and a dawg.

GET THIS FULL VIDEO!

Get Immediate Access, Plus
10 More of Our Best Videos

Your email is safe with us.
We'll NEVER share it, and we DON'T spam.

or …


Start Free Trial

Get Instant Access as a Member to the Entire Site

  • Access all 1000 videos/articles
  • No risk! Cancel anytime
  • Get a nice discount if you join