Throughout a career that includes engineering, operations and production management, Chris has maintained an interest in creative challenges, wooden boats and things mechanical.

As a community volunteer, Chris designed an innovative pump system to draw down Bare Hill Pond for invasive weed management, led his Church through a major renovation program and won approval for and oversaw the completion of a new municipal sewer project.

A 1952 Chris Craft, acquired shortly after college underpins Chris’ love of and involvement in wooden boats. Over 35+ years of ownership Chris has completely rebuilt and repowered “Maggie”. Other projects include a new Adirondack guide boat, restoration of a pair of St. Lawrence river skiffs and the rebuilding, with his son Hunter, of a 1954, 13’ Old Town lapstrake skiff and the 1960 Evinrude Fastwin to power it.

“Twenty-five years ago, while actively engaged in boat building and repair, I started the Westlawn Yacht Design program. Life and a young family conspired to prevent my completion of the program but the idea of marrying an air-cooled vee twin to a small boat to create a ‘water cruiser’ stuck with me.

“Some of my earliest sketches were pretty clunky. Cylinders projecting out of a jet ski body like an aquatic Frankenstein’s monster. Over time, my thinking evolved to a long, lower, more elegant hull with inboard power and an outboard mounted rudder, grander and like the old race boats.

“After years of sketching, I decided that a CAD package was needed to move forward. I purchased Solidworks® 2010 and set out to learn surface modelling before taking on all the custom mechanical components required in this design.

“Along the way a friend suggested extending the bob tail stern. Drawing on an encounter 30 years ago with the gorgeous commuter yacht “Aphrodite“, I added a tapering, rounded transom that was absolutely captivating. I distinctly remember the “Oh, sh*t” that accompanied that sketch because I knew how hard that transom would be to build.

“In December 2016 I decided to finally pursue my dream and make my vision a reality. I recall the day I started construction of the prototype. I drove home with a load of marine plywood in the truck and by the town commons where supporters and opponents of the new President picketed on inauguration day.” From the CAD model, it took over a year later to admire the gorgeous hull, realized in wood.

New design inputs

Positive feedback matched with a practical approach. The hull performed, the lines – beautiful. Reward – cruising joy in a boat that lets you touch the water, stow your gear, and confidently navigate landings.