Class description
Lapstrake Hvalsoe 13: Hands-on Learning to Keep Old Traditions Alive
Looking for some wooden boatbuilding experience? Join us in building a 13-foot traditional lapstrake rowing and sailing skiff, designed by Seattle-area’s Eric Hvalsoe, a boatwright whose career has spanned more than 40 years. He designed the Hvalsoe 13 while still learning the trade in the 1980s, and by all accounts, was remarkably successful in striking the balance between rowing and sailing performance.
The start of the build will be similar to that of many small craft - we will be lofting, making molds and erecting them on a strongback, and assembling the backbone. But the rest of the process is what sets the lapstrake method apart: you'll learn how to fit cedar planks accurately around your molds in fair curves and plane a water-tight rolling bevel along each plank edge. Along the way, you will pick up skills in riveting, strembending, and fitting structural components accurately into a curved hull. You’ll learn about species selection, grain orientation, and many other burning questions you may have about a trade that has been all but relegated to the dustbins of history.
The build will be organized into several class series, working sessions, and workshops.
The build will start with a free kick-off event on October 23rd and end with a boat launch on May 16th, 2026.
Build Hvalsoe 13 with us
Class Series
Weekly Building Sessions
Weekly Building Sessions
Join us for 3-hour hands-on classes dedicated to various steps of lapstrake boatbuilding. Learn how to make molds, fit a plank, steam bend a frame or fit a seat to a curved hull. Here we will be teaching the skills that you can then choose to practice during our weekly "Building sessions".
Thursdays, 6PM-9PM
Weekly Building Sessions
Weekly Building Sessions
Weekly Building Sessions
Traditional wooden boats take many hours to build. We will be moving the boat along on Saturdays from 9:30 am to 4:30pm. You are invited to join us for part of the day, or a full day as your schedule permits. Here you can practice the skills you learned in the class series and, likely, pick up some new ones. Participation in the corresponding "class" is a prerequisite for these sessions.
Saturdays, 9:30 AM- 4:30 PM
Workshops and Events
Weekly Building Sessions
Sign up for Full Build
Creating a community around wooden boatbuilding is a part of the reason we started Sheer Craft. Join us at our shop to connect with fellow woodworkers and boat enthusiasts. Each event/workshop will be organized around a topic (e.g. lofting, sharpening, material sourcing, etc.) with a short lecture or demonstration followed by a social hour.
Thursdays, 6PM-7PM + Social
Sign up for Full Build
Sign up for Full Build
Sign up for Full Build
If you are interested in learning the entire process of lapstrake boatbuilding this option is for you. This bundle includes all classes, building sessions, and events with 15% discount. Additionally you will be invited to participate in elements of the build not covered in classes.
Thursdays and Saturdays
Sponsor The Boat
Sign up for Full Build
Sponsor The Boat
Wooden boatbuilding is not the most lucrative market for a business. If you would like to support this project but can't participate in our classes, you can make a contribution towards materials and tools for this build. Contact us or use this link to make a direct contribution.