Building a Wooden Lobster Boat

John’s Bay Boat Company, Part IV

Peter Kass has had a life-long interest in wooden boats. Kass still builds one boat at a time. The building methods might be called improved traditional. Some of his crew have been with him for decades. Much of the stainless steel hardware is custom made at the John’s Bay boat shop.
The Outer Fall was built by the John’s Bay Boat Company for James R. Tripp from Spruce Head, Maine. The boat is a 47-footer. Work began in July 2014. The launch took place on May 16, 2015.

This photo essay has highlighted some of the steps in an ages-old building process. The work requires high level skills in engineering, intuition, architecture, materials, tools, and a lot of practice. Part IV covers some of the final details and the May launch.

Special thanks to Walt Barrows, a photographer and admirer of Kass’s work, for granting the use of his photographs for this story.

Parts I, II and III can be seen in the March, April and May issues in the archives at fishermensvoice.com.

Early May. Many details large and small to complete.

A lot of engine for a lot of boat. Engine access down forward.

Finish down forward from drawers to navigation table, bunks and chain locker.

Most of the stainless hardware is custom made at the shop. Sam Jones does the final tightening down.

Peter Kass surveying completion details from a deck hatch. Surrounded by the 1-1/2" thick clear vertical grain Doulas Fir decking. Traditionally laid with bronze screws to white oak deck beams. Deck seams are caulked with cotton and sealed with seam compound.High finish traditional and custom layout of the controls.

High finish traditional and custom layout of the controls.

Wheelhouse electronics which are opposite a six foot long bench over bright finish mahogany lockers.

Rolling the cradle out on steel pipes over planks down to the rails above the bay.

A tradition at John’s Bay Boat launches. Seventeen Peter Kass boat owners came to celebrate the launch of Jim Tripp’s 47' Outer Fall. Peter Kass 5th from right, Jim Tripp 7th from right.