I’m Arch Davis – I learned boatbuilding and design in New Zealand in the 1970s. I have been helping people to build beautiful wooden boats since 1988. You can see a few of them by clicking on Picture Gallery. My approach to design is to put into your hands the means to use modern materials – marine plywood and epoxy resin – to build a truly lovely boat with classic lines.

      I believe that a boat should be beautiful, not just by virtue of her lines, but also in her construction. No material makes this possible like wood. My aim is to take advantage of wood’s unique strengths, in a structure that captivates the eye. I want you to feel that you are always doing good work in building one of these boats.

       You’ll see that I have a small collection of designs. That is because I understand your need for clear, comprehensible, detailed plans and instructions. I put a lot of time into my drawings, building manuals and DVDs. I also spend a lot of time helping people through their projects, on the phone or by e-mail. I really am here to help!

       You won’t see promises here that building a boat is quick and easy. What I do promise is that building one of my boats will be an extremely rewarding and satisfying experience, and that you will be enormously proud of the finished result. Can you build one of these boats? Certainly – some of them, the Sand Dollar, or Laughing Gull, for example, are entry-level designs. Others – the Penobscot 14 or Penobscot 17, or one of the bigger boats – are more challenging. Many have been built by people with no prior woodworking experience at all. Others have found stitch and glue a little unsatisfying, and want to try their hand at something that makes better use of their woodworking skills. All my plans include clear, detailed building manuals, and my personal back up, when you need it. Just don’t build one of my boats unless you are willing to show her off, wherever you take her!

      If you see something that you like in my collection, please feel free to contact me with any questions. I am available on the phone at 207-930-9873, or contact me by e-mail. I hope you will also visit my blog, which I keep as a journal, with boatbuilding tips, comments on tools and materials, thoughts about design, and a lot more.

      I believe that one of life’s great moments is landing on an island in a boat of one’s own building. I hope you will share the experience!

Wooden Boat Plans and Boat Kits by Arch Davis

• Grace's Tender - More than just a tender, this little dinghy is a fine vessel in her own right. She is a pleasure to row, and sprightly under her simple sailing rig - a great boat for youngsters to mess about in.
• Bay Pilot 18 - an 18 ft pilothouse cruiser for outboard power.
• Laughing Gull - 16 ft self-bailing sailing/rowing skiff.
• Ace 14 - 14 ft performance daysailer
• Penobscot 14 - 14 ft glued lapstrake sailing/rowing skiff.
• Penobscot 17 - big sister to the Penobscot 14
• Sand Dollar - 11 ft sailing/rowing skiff.
• Jack Tar - 26 ft plywood lobster boat design
• Jiffy 9-7 - suitable for rowing or a small outboard motor
• Jiffy 22 - outboard powered cabin skiff
• Jiffv V-22 - vee-bottom sister of the Jiffy 22

About My Boat Kits

       I have kits for a number of my designs, ranging from frame kits for the Sand Dollar, Penobscot 14 and Penobscot 17, to a complete kit for the Grace's Tender. The pre-cut kit for the Laughing Gull provides all the plywood parts and hull framing, cut to shape.

       I also have epoxy kits and plywood packages for all my designs, plus sails, rigging, and numerous other items. Here's my daughter, Grace, setting up the frames for a Grace's Tender kit.