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Recreating a Gil Smith Catboat, WHIRLWIND II – Part 1: Introduction
November 21, 2025
Marine photographer Alison Langley followed the building of a Gil Smith cat boat from start to finish, so we get to sit back and take the whole thing in. After this introduction, builder Alec Brainerd of Artisan boatworks will walk us through each step of the building process.
PHOTOGRAPHER/FILMMAKER:
This video series features the video and still photography of marine photographer Alison Langley. Her website is: Langley Photo.
WHIRLWIND II's TEAM:
- Website for the boat: WHIRLWIND II
- Owner: Yarrow Thorne
- Builder: Artisan Boatworks
- Designer: Ezra Smith
- Naval Architect: Matt Smith
- Sails: Eben Wilson
- Carbon Mast & Gaff: Moore Brothers
- Blocks: Myles Thurlow
- LOA: 26'2"
- LWL: 19'9"
- Beam: 8'7"
- Draft (up/down): 1'9"/3'10"
- Displacement: 2,425 lbs.
- Ballast: 500 lbs. (21%)
MORE:
- Learn more about WHIRLWIND II on the boat's website.
- The painting in the video is by Russ Kramer.
- ARTICLES:
- "A Faster Breed of Cat" by Art Paine, Off The Drawing Board | Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors
- "The Evolution of Catboats" by Dennis Caprio, Soundings Magazine
- WEBSITES:
- The Catboat Association
- Long Island Maritime Museum - Original boats of Gil Smith can be viewed in the Everitt-Lawrence Small Craft Building
- The half model featured in this video is in the collection at the Suffolk County Historical Society
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Richard Pulley says:
Absolutely a beautiful creation
Chad Hudnut says:
Cool project and great footage!
Kent Harman says:
Marvelous photography. Stunning build. Wonderful discussion of the design process. Immensely enjoyable.
Jonathan Lewis says:
It seems shallow and incomplete to say that’s one beautiful boat but hey, that’s one beautiful boat!
Yarrow Thorne says:
thank you
Ed Louchard says:
I am very curious about the rudder stock. It appears to be wood, with the tiller going through it above deck.
Leslie Reed says:
Can’t wait for the next installment! It’s better than Netflix by a long stretch; I just want to binge boat videos. She’s absolutely gorgeous and I hope to see her sailing around Penobscot Bay. It’s both inspiring and dispiriting as I build my rowing wherry.
Jonathan Margolis says:
Wow!
DAVID WASHBURN says:
A beautiful video of a beautiful boat with an amazing backstory. Thanks, Yarrow, for documenting it with Alison.
Martin O'Connor says:
That is one gorgeous cat.
Michael Ozenich says:
OMG, what a beauty! Always loved Gil Smith cats. Thank you OCC, I can’t wait for installment #2!
Captain Keith Korporaal says:
Just “plane” beautiful! The conversation on the history, designing, and building, was so interesting, can’t wait for Part 2.
Bill Barton says:
Absolutely Outstanding!! Impressive how quick she is. I have a WylieCat 30 and am also very happy. Congratulations Alec on the stunning build, I saw it in your shop early on. Bill Barton of Brooklin
Richard Fried says:
Wow!