PETIT BATEAU patiently awaits a grandchild.
photographs by Bruce Holaday
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I have a set of plans for a Shellback that sits in its original box in the knees holding up spare lumber in my shop. I have built a half dozen boats since these plans came into my possession, and I do not know why the boat has not yet been built. It is one of two sets of plans that are on my “one of these days” list. (The other is the 20′ Atkin Sharpshooter.) Your article raises the question once again, Bruce. The Shellback is a very pretty little boat. Able, as well. Thanks for posting. Good article.
What a beautiful boat !
The shellback’s a very nice-looking boat, and is on my building wish list. Also, thanks Bruce, for getting the gender correct. There’s a small sloop moored near us in Sydney named PETITE BATEAU* which drives me crazy every time I see it.
*A feminine adjective with a masculine noun—Ed.
Just found this article—sweet! Great build and storybook in anticipation. My story is a bit different. My parents boat was ARIES, so their sailing dink was named LITTLE STAR. LITTLE STAR became the first rowing mentor for all the grandkids. Upon my parents passing, LITTLE STAR was passed down to me, the youngest daughter, the only boat restorer, sailor, and captain. So upon my daughter starting her family, I told her that LITTLE STAR would one day be handed down to my granddaughters. The first one is 18 months and the second still in the basket, but we have a date on Sept 15th to begin the 4th generation in the same boat!
I built a Shellback 30 years ago purely because the design looked so good. Amazing boat—light, fast, and performs beautifully under oar or sail. I even found that, in the right conditions, the lightness of the hull made it possible to surf-ride under oars off the Cornish coast. The finish in this example looks very special, the addition of a ‘spaced’ double gunwale (not specified in the original plans) adding greatly to the appearance, to my mind. But I think a further improvement might be to add sealed tanks beneath the stern thwart and below the breasthook. This would make the boat safer, and need not involve changes to the basic design.