Welcome to the Duncan Boat Barn

Purpose --

This site is about small open boats and the people who build and sail them. It takes a certain frame of mind to decide to venture forth on the open waters in a boat that depends on wind and oars as it's primary means of propulsion. This site will also cover electric boats, as I think that they are an important part of the future of boating.

On this site --

• All about the Caledonia Yawl Crazybird This is Nick Grainger's seminal site about sailing small open boats over long distances of open sea. Reading his discussion of the Voyage of the Aegre from the North of Scotland to Tahiti and beyond (12,000 miles) in a 21ft Shetland boat will give you an idea of what adventures can be had by those willing to try.
• Discuss Caledonia Yawls and The Aegre voyage This is Nick Grainger's Discussion Board about building and sailing small open boats. The topics of discussion are centered on Iain Oughtred's designs. Although originally a Caledonia Yawl site, it has grown to include all of Iain's designs. It might be really called "Discuss Caledonia Yawls, Ness Yawls and a Tirrik or two". Actually, it goes far beyond that and contains some of the best information about building and sailing small open boats that can be found on the web. The contributors are building and sailing these boats."
• Coming soon, a site about the Pepper 15, a fifteen foot gaff rigged sloop designed by William Hitchcock and manufactured by Salt Marine in the late 1970s. I have been sailing mine since 1979.
• Coming soon, a site about the building of my Caledonia Yawl, CAILIN MEIRE.
• Coming soon, a site about harvesting urban lumber for boat building.
• Small Reach Regatta A site for communication among participants and those interested in the Small Reach Regatta, an annual gathering of rowing and sailing boats in Maine. The event is sponsored by the Traditional Small Craft Association, Down East Chapter.

Links --

• coming soon

• But do try Open Boat right now!

About me --

I'm a guy with a lot of interests, one of which is small open boats. Mike Duncan