PROVIDENCE RIVER BOAT

This boat, documented by Howard Chapelle in his book American Small Sailing Craft, was originally built in 1875 by a man named Button Swan. The boat was commonly used for crab fishing. It featured a live well and carried a huge gaff rig.

I built this skin-on-frame version for my own use. With a 75-square-foot sprit rig, she slips downwind without even a detectable breath of air.  Her full bilges provide an easy heeling motion as the wind picks up.  Best of all, seeing and hearing the water through her translucent skin is nothing short of thrilling.

Specs: Loa: 12’;  Beam: 5’3”; Weight: 150 lbs.