A Nonprofit Initiative to Empower, Educate, and Launch
HANDS ON DECK
Introducing Dharma Voyage’s New Boatbuilding Project
Dharma Voyage is proud to announce the launch of an exciting new project — the construction of a traditional 32' pilot gig! This hand-built vessel will be crafted at a private barn by master boatbuilder Bob Fuller of South Shore Boatworks, whose decades of expertise bring deep craftsmanship and care to every plank and frame. The boat has been beautifully designed by David Wilkins, known for his thoughtful integration of form, function, and tradition.
The wood for this project has been carefully processed by Newfound Woodworks, with special thanks to Rose Woodyard for her skill and attention to detail — ensuring that each piece meets the highest standards of quality and performance.
This Boat Building Project 2025-2026 honors the rich maritime heritage of pilot gigs while offering a unique opportunity to witness traditional boatbuilding in action. Stay tuned as we bring this incredible vessel to life — plank by plank, stroke by stroke.
Boats & Belonging: The Spirit of Community Craftsmanship
Dharma Voyage: 2023 Southard Skiff Project
Dharma Voyage has proudly collaborated with Westport High School for several years, offering students a full-semester course that blends hands-on boatbuilding and design with local maritime history, river science, and ecology. Below is a summary of our 2023 project — our eighth year building boats with Westport students.
That year, the class constructed a Southard Skiff, a historically significant boat originally owned by the Southard family of Westport Point and likely built between 1890 and 1900. In 1979, Bob Baker documented the original skiff, measuring and lifting its lines. We were fortunate to locate and purchase his plans from the Mystic Seaport Museum.
The build was led once again by master boatbuilder Jon Aborn in the MakerSpace at Westport Middle-High School. He was joined by Jamie Soares, who assisted in teaching woodworking techniques. Over the course of three months, students completed the skiff using okoume marine plywood for the hull and white oak for the gunnels. The design called for a traditional two-plank, lapstrake hull construction.
Meanwhile, high school teacher Dan Harrington led the classroom portion of the program, connecting the boatbuilding process with academic study. Students explored topics such as whaling, navigation, engineering, model-making, knot-tying, Westport’s maritime history, and traditional boatbuilding techniques.
The final touch? Students painted the skiff’s exterior hull a classic medium blue, with a gray interior — and named the boat after legendary blues musician Muddy Waters.
A Legacy of Learning: Past Boatbuilding Projects
Dharma Voyage: Highlights from Past Builds
Over the years, Dharma Voyage and Westport High School students have brought local maritime history to life through hands-on boatbuilding projects. Each boat tells a story — not just of craftsmanship, but of place, purpose, and the people who shaped our coast.
One standout project was a modern reconstruction of the Westport Sharpie, built using the original lines of a single-plank shore boat designed for the southeastern Massachusetts coastline and the Westport River. The first Sandpiper was built by Fred Tripp in 1922 and lived many lives — including a stint as a child’s sandbox — before being rediscovered in a barn. Bob Baker preserved the boat’s legacy by documenting its lines, allowing our students and builders to recreate it using hand tools, marine-grade okoume plywood, and updated construction techniques. The finished sharpie can be both rowed and sailed.
In another memorable year, students built two 18-foot rowing bateaux based on a modernized Pete Culler design. Working with boatbuilding instructor Jon Aborn, the class constructed the boats using okoume marine plywood, beginning with hulls built upside-down on station molds. Once shaped, the hulls were reinforced with fiberglass cloth and epoxy for strength and durability. These sleek single-rower boats — proudly named Liberty and W.S. Creamsicle — were launched at the Head of Westport Landing and are now part of our community rowing fleet.
Each project builds more than just boats — it builds knowledge, confidence, and a lasting connection to Westport’s maritime roots.