Tuesday the 5th of July. Launching at the steamer quay early in the morning to catch the tide and clear weather. The Steamer Quay slipway has an easy gradient and is sited beside the all day car park at Totnes. Observing the speed limit on the river a cruise to Dartmouth and back takes two hours eac...

First trip out on the longest day so I launched from the back beach Teignmouth where the parking is close and the hard beach ok at any state of the tide. Once the fuel line was attached to the outboard she started fine. Not equipped yet for my bass fishing the gentle cruise passed by the Parson & Cl...

An after-thought since the building of Sophia, now under cover for the winter, engine serviced in readiness for 2022. My blog was posted piecemeal so it required a good sorting out. Take a new look and the right hand side-bar menu leads to each blog-post in sequence. If and when I build "Sophia 11" ...

For some years I was a Dawlish resident and worked quite close to the sea. During the summer months a wooden passenger boat would take the holidaymaker to view the fascinating coastline between Teignmouth and Exmouth. David Mitchel was one of the crew with the loudest voice and his cry “ Last trip :...

I have lately spent time and effort trying to teach myself computer aided design for the purpose of better designing a successor to the woody runabout built last year. Something with cleaner lines has emerged - I though I would share it with the CMBA ......https://moggo-blog.blogspot.com/

Hello Alan, Welcome aboard the CMBA. That's a fine looking vintage craft and a great barn find of a project. Though I'm no expert on the older engines I am a crafter in all things wood. Covid seems to have hit so many events lately but hopefully next year opportunities to meet up will arise. Do plea...

https://photos.app.goo.gl/EiwmrFfaxBdpUuum8 My woody runabout Sophia takes us on a flat calm sea on a beautiful September day between Dawlish and Teignmouth. Any CMBA member interested in exploring the coast and estuaries of this corner of South Devon is welcome to tag along with me (weather permit...

Here are two sites I often use close to where I live in South Devon. Both are free to use by the public. The first is at Teignmouth, close to the docks at the sand quay, is handy being near a car park, and good for all states of the tide. It's a hard sand and gravel beach, not too steep for my Volvo...

Fished out of Teignmouth today but very liitle to show for it. My brother and me only managed a baby Gurnard and an undersized Bass between us but the weather was the warmest of the year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=413eGBESOYQ

If you shop around there will be companies prepared to insure you - be ready to supply photos of the build, but don't be put off by those silly quotes. As for not being able to launch anywhere on the south coast without insurance. This is a slightly misleading statement in my humble opinion. I have ...