I decided to build the Swimmer because my dad, Mark, had built a Weekender named The Flyer. I wanted a small boat for two that could take me on an adventure. The Amphora was perfect! Note: I built the first Amphora (except for Mike Stevenson, the creator of the Amphora) on Messing-about.
It took about a month to build the Swimmer. I reluctantly let Laura, my sister, help. She is 8 years old. (In case you're wondering, I’m 10.)
Dad did half of the Swimmer’s work. I did the other half. Dad had already built half of The Flyer. So, he was a big help. The easiest part of building Swimmer was painting her. The hardest was putting on her rub rails!
When I brought Swimmer to school, she was the center of attention! Everyone wanted to look. Half of them talked to me.
I was fully confident the day we launched. I was nervous about the speech,
though. We launched her in the ice-filled Chena River. I rowed over to
the dock to pick up dad and tools. We caught a fishing lure from last
year.
Back Yard Yacht Builders
A non-commercial association of amateur boat-builder enthusiasts.
All our wooden boats are Stevenson designs.