Yawl boat, Lake Wherry, S Boat Yankee
For a running log of shop activites; try Facebook page, Still Building Boats, info is available to public and an easy venue for me to keep current. Thanks, Garry.
Chequamegon Boat Works is the sole proprietorship of builder Garry Couch. This Traditional Wooden Boat Shop is located across from Bodin Fisheries on the south face of Bayfield Wisconsin, the main port of call for the Apostle Islands of Lake Superior.
The builder has lived the past 35 years in the World of Wooden Boats; on their decks fishing and sailing, working on gridirons, in yards and shops, on a lofting floor and drafting table. Every boat is a culmination of a life's work.
Plank on frame construction employed; air dried cedar planking over white oak frames. Copper nails, rivets and roves, bronze nails, screws and bolts. Finished with Kirby paint, Epiphanes varnish, plus various oils, oil based goos and occasional glues.
Half Hulls are being shaped from lines of boats taken by the builder and from plans available at the Smithsonian's National Watercraft Collection. Particular concentration on documentation of Lake Superior Fishing Boats.
Custom work available;
- wood/canvas canoe canvasing and restoration.
- custom oars and spars for small craft.
Pricing; one can expect to pay $800/foot for a custom built, open, wooden small craft. Canoes are recanvased at $100/ft., with the total cost depending on the carpentry required. Those interested are encouraged to visit the shop, see what's under construction and what's planned.
Photos; The shot above, half hull photos and others noted are by Bayfield photographer and wooden boat guy Don Albrecht. Alaska photos by old friend Willard Kaul while visiting our salmon fishing fleet in 1977. The obviously lesser shots are by a boat builder.
Hope you enjoy the site. It was set in motion June of '09, needs tuning, always will, and was put together by somebody who should spend more time in the shop..... Present projects are featured and over time, past projects will be documented.