Crystal River Boat Builders

Working in Cortez, Florida

We will be on the road this coming weekend. We will be exhibiting the SILVER TIDE and the SALT RIVER SKIFF at the Florida Maritime Museum in Cortez. See and hear the 100 year old Gray Motor Company motor start and run. See an early 1900's fishing boat typical on the west coast of Florida. And celebrate the holidays.
https://www.floridamaritimemuseum.org/visit

…and here she is! “Salt River” is our new 15’9” skiff, CRBB designed and built. Frame is cypress and planking is 1/4” occume plywood. She rows nicely but she is designed to shine with low power. She is pictured here doing 7 knots with the 2 hp Honda. The future of powerboats is efficiency, so here’s our small start in that direction.

Bill is putting his CLC Jimmy Skiff I for sail. Beautiful little boat comes with Trailex trailer, CLC sail kit, take apart oars- all like new. Ready to sail, row. $2,500.00 https://www.clcboats.com/shop/boats/wooden-sailboat-kits/Jimmy-Skiff-II.html

We've been working on this 1975 C Scow for some time. It was in sad shape. We have made it strong and fun but not a race capable boat. We did not hide repairs or previous scars. First test had little wind but everything was working and it ghosted well. We hope to have a more exciting sail in it before it goes to a new owner. It is titled and available. It has two older but strong sails. We are asking $1,200.00.

We always ask our traveling members to bring us pictures of traditional boats they may come across. Theo brought us these from L’escala, Spain.

Pinmill Thames sailing barge race 2022!

Big old wood work boats putting on the ritz

Pinmill Thames sailing barge race 2022!

Riding the TIDE at Cedar Key Saturday.

Our skiff build is coming along. Chines are fastened in, and we trial fitted the sides. Frames still to be beveled for the side plank.

A few weeks ago Evan thought we could use a clock so we challenged him to design and build one. He showed up with this masterpiece. Under the clock Evan is cutting his first scarf.

Lofting the first of the CRBB skiff series

the tide gave us enough water to launch the Silver Tide this morning

We had a wonderful time visiting today at our Holiday get-together. A special treat was rides during the last sea trial of the electric Aqua-velvetride shore cruiser. There is just a bit more "pretty" work to do before it hits the market.

She’s almost done, and she’s beautiful—the electric pirogue “Electra Glide”!
Bill and Ed did the foredeck and are working on the aft deck. John (seen touching up the rubrail) is doing the bright finish.

This is a project we are just completing for the Crystal River Best Western Hotel. They asked for a display cabinet that represented the Crystal River area. The Hotel sits on some of the same property used for a cedar mill in the early 1900's hence the cedar top. The base is made from pine, another typical local wood. The "river" on top represents the Crystal River and the blue on the bottom represents the beautiful springs found here.

For the gearheads. Earl opened up the Silver Tide's transmition for inspection. Plenty of wear and a bearing issue in the reverse gearing. We lubricated what we could but will let the bearing issue ride for a bit. This is a unique system, in forward all components are fixed and turn with the input shaft.

20211023_084044.mp4

This mornings sea trial.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CSTBSqz5PtJ9XrlJYhaIS8sdnaRKfupl/view?usp=sharing

20211023_084044.mp4

Skiffs information pkg.pdf

A member asked us to send out some more information on the skiff projects. Here it is. We should be beginning work on one of these in the next few months. We have not decided which one will be first. Another thought that has been raised: could these designs be the basis for a sailing boat?
What do y'all think?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KVscEGSKuHSyA14snN6uIWC8YPxc6ur4/view?usp=sharing

Skiffs information pkg.pdf

ANNIE is now back home on disply with the EGRET at the Best Western Hotel, Crystal River. The Electa-Slide Cruiser is getting paint and will soon be ready for a new owner.

The majority of the funding for our limited budget comes from donated project boats. We have to be picky with the donations so we have a chance of them making money for us and definitely not costing us. Here is a really cool boat that we declined. It is reported as professionally built Florida boat, probably around 60 years old. It is a sharpie hull displacement power boat with an outboard well just ahead of the transom. The boat was recently surveyed by a professional wooden boat builder. The hull was found solid but the pilot house needs rebuilt. And of course all the cosmetic details. 27' long and trailerable, this tiny ship would make a nice economical coastal cruiser. We can put you in contact with the owner.

Our Swifty 14 is SOLD. This is a well behaved, roomy 14 footer with a like new sail. A donation of $650.00 makes this yours. An excellent little trailer is available for sale with this boat. $1,550.00 for both.

We'll offer this first to local boat builders who need a few pounds. We have scrap sheet lead available at $1.25 lb. Contact through our facebook PM

Evan finally was able to experience his boat in the water. He has been working hard to make the necessary repairs. This was also his first time rowing. Now on to making it look good.

Joel checking out boat trim and his motor control engineering in this test launch. This is going to be a fun little shoreline cruiser. Watch for the completed boat- it will be available.

Evan has been working hard on his boat while learning a whole lot of good boat building and boat fixing stuff

Rebuilding a wooden boat - 4 years in 29 mins! (Tally Ho EP100)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSXYZHVqmwY

Rebuilding a wooden boat - 4 years in 29 mins! (Tally Ho EP100) Rebuilding Tally Ho - UP TO NOW! (EP100)Rebuilding a historic sailing yacht - Rebuilding Tally Ho - UP TO NOW! (EP100)Support / Donate; http://www.sampsonboa...

With our EGRET now on duty as a historical land display we have Egret particular sailing items for sale. If you are building a Joel White Egret or planning to this is your deal. Suitable trailer, sails with gaffs and sprit booms, and ballast. We will sell separately but are hoping to get another Egret sailing.

We lowered the SPIRIT's mast this morning for maintenance. Oiled the mast, greased the stays, and checked the hardware. All good and the mast back up in a couple of hours.

We had a good time talking with friends at the Coastal Region Library in Crystal River this morning. After a short talk inside the SILVER TIDE got a close inspection. Photographs courtesy of the Library.