The boatbuilding bug bit me when I was about 10, with a pretty ugly looking raft built in my back yard. It took almost 40 years before I tried again. One day when the boatbuilding urge was upon me, I stumbled across the technique known as "stitch and glue". The concept of an instant boat was appealing to me. My first attempt was a fishing skiff. I used twice as much epoxy as needed, and sanded half as much as I should have, but it floated and I was hooked.

I spend the next year looking for the "perfect" plan. I discovered Devlin Boat and really liked what I found. I always thought a tug was the most interesting boat. and when I saw the fantail of the Godzilli, I knew which boat I wanted.

As I waited impatiently for the plans, I could envision myself at the helm spending long days fishing, and exploring. I also ordered Sam's book and found it to be an excellent source of information, I wished I had bought it before I built my first boat.

When I received the plans, I decided that I wanted to move the cabin forward and enlarge it, while I was deciding how best to do this; Sam and Joel emailed me with some revised drawings showing just what I had in mind. I wasn't able to see a picture of a completed boat until I was underway with mine.

I started on June 15th 2005, I am a schoolteacher and had the summer off so I had more time than the average guy to work on the boat. Things went well and I rolled over the hull the second week of July. By the time school started I had the decks on and the hull roughed in. I modified the plan by not raising the deck in the front. I also cut access hatches in the seats for storage and placement of the portable gas tanks. On the deck in front of the wheelhouse I built a box for the anchor and line and it provides a seat that my wife has claimed as her spot for catching the sun. I also built my windows so I can remove them during warm weather, I live in Northern California, and so they will be out more than in.

Once school started work slowed considerably and little was done until November, Between Thanksgiving and the Christmas break. I was able to complete the cabin and paint. I also built two ultra-light canoes for my daughters and a small skiff to carry in the back of my truck. The boatbuilding bug has bit hard. I also started an after school program for kids and we are building several small boats.

On February 3rd I had a boat lifting party and we rolled the boat out of the shop and lifted it on to the trailer. Once out of the shop I could finish up, by adding the running lights and some other details. I powered it with a 15hp four stroke. It blew my budget, but after this much work and time, I figured, lets do it right. I plan on using the boat for gentle cruising and fishing. My kids can't wait to get it on the water.

First launch day was February 12, 2006, it was a beautiful day and all things went well. Lots of comments; what kind of boat is that? Did you built it? Took it fishing for the first time on Saturday, February 25, 2006. Again lots of comments and we ended the day with a stringer full of fish. The boat glides through the water and we burned less than 3 gallons of fuel on in 7 hours of trolling. I love it.

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