At Hunter Bay Woodworking we build a variety of things, including custom doors, cabinets and furniture, but we mostly like to build boats. I find boat building to be the most demanding wood work of all. The complexity, problem solving, and woodworking techniques are inspiring and satisfying. Good work if you can get it.

Wooden boat builders are romantics and traditional builders are the biggest dreamers of all. Last spring Fred Howell and his son Bill Howell asked me to finish their dream, a 32' Lyle Hess Bristol Channel Cutter. Fred , now in his early 80’s, began this project in the 1990’s. They did not skimp on the quality of the materials, nor on the quality of their workmanship. The back bone structure and double sawn frames are made of balau bolted with bronze. Precisely fabricated bronze floors sit a top the keel assembly for frame attachment. The planking will be vertical grain yellow cedar fastened with copper rivets. Mahogany deck beams over laid with marine ply and then teak form the deck. Solid mahogany house sides and sitka spruce spars are planned. Bronze hardware from Port Townsend Foundry and Murray winches from New Zealand are some of the details. Fred and Bill drew heavily from the excellent book by Larry Pardey, “The Hull” for their construction techniques and process. Larry Pardey and his wife Lin helped make Lyle Hess Cutters famous by building two and sailing them all over the world. Fred Howell and his son Bill made a superb start on this boat, but Fred’s health has declined and was unable to continue.

An article by Becca Leaphart in Wooden Boat no. 195 titled “Rite of Passage” captured Fred’s attention. He was looking for someone to take on his boat project and finish it. Becca’s article is the story of Tern’s building and journey to Alaska. Tern was a collaboration between myself , my son Ben and several young people interested in building a boat and venturing forth. Inspiring! Unable to find a home for his dream, he contacted me and through the generosity of Fred and Bill Howell, Hunter Bay Woodworking acquired the makings of a 32’ Bristol Channel Cutter.

We plan to start construction in September. To continue our tradition of teaching, two skilled apprentices will participate. We are looking for a buyer for this boat, to share the dream of this handsome, traditionally constructed blue water cruiser.

Contact us for more information.