NanoCruising : the small boat cruising podcast (dinghy cruising & trailer sailing)

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In Part 2 of my conversation with John Harris of Chesapeake Light Craft, we wander off the beaten path — and that’s very much the point.
We talk about some of CLC’s more fringe and less-discussed designs, including Autumn Leaves, and why certain boats exist more as ideas, experiments, or personal projects than as polished kits. John shares the designers who shaped his thinking — Philip Bolger among them — and how those influences still echo through his work today.
We also dive into the fascinating outrigger sailing canoe built for Tula’s Endless, what it means to design something truly one-off, and why not every great boat should have plans. Listener questions lead us into a broader discussion about the current small-boat landscape, why we may be living in a golden age of boat designs and accessible plans, and what the future looks like for people who want to build and sail small.
It’s a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation about curiosity, restraint, and why small boats continue to invite big ideas.
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More at: www.nanocruising.com

Seas Your Own Adventure 🌊⛵

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Chesapeake Light Craft (CLC) has been shaping the world of small boats and home boatbuilding for more than three decades. In this first of two episodes, I sit down with John Harris, founder of CLC Boats, to explore how a passion for small craft turned into one of the most influential boatbuilding companies in the world.
We talk about the early days of CLC, the challenges of building a niche business, and why small boats have always been at the heart of John’s work. John shares insights into the different kinds of boatbuilders he designs for, how CLC supports first-time builders, and what truly makes a good small-boat design — beyond just performance or looks.
Of course, we also dive into one of CLC’s most iconic designs, the PocketShip, and why it continues to resonate so strongly with sailors drawn to capable, human-scale cruising boats.
This episode is part business story, part design philosophy, and part celebration of small boats — and it sets the stage perfectly for Part 2.
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More at: www.nanocruising.com

Seas Your Own Adventure 🌊⛵

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What happens when a bold small-boat idea finally leaves the dock?
In this follow-up conversation, Perry returns to NanoCruising to share the results of real-world sea trials of his Ocean-Capable Small Sailboat. After months of building and planning, the boat has now logged serious miles offshore, offering honest feedback that no design software or dockside discussion can replace.
We talk about how the boat handled in open water, what stood out once conditions became real, and how sea trials shape the next round of decisions. Perry reflects on the balance between ambition and practicality, why testing matters more than opinions, and how incremental refinement is part of designing a capable small cruising boat.
This episode is a thoughtful look at experimentation, learning by doing, and the mindset required to turn unconventional ideas into seaworthy reality — a conversation that will resonate with designers, builders, and anyone curious about pushing small boats beyond the expected.
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More at: www.nanocruising.com

Seas Your Own Adventure 🌊⛵

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In this episode, I sit down with Graham Byrnes of B & B Yacht Designs—the designer whose Core Sound 17 became a legend in small-boat adventuring. Graham shares his early days growing up and sailing in Australia, how meeting his wife led him to the United States, and the origins of B & B Boats.
We dive into his first WaterTribe Everglades Challenge and his second attempt—the now-famous 2006 race where he shattered the course record. Graham explains the design principles that made the Core Sound 17 such an unusually capable expedition boat, why the cuddy version differs in important ways, and what he’s learned from the many adventures his boats have taken sailors on.
He also offers practical advice for small-boat cruisers—especially his core belief: be prepared.

A great conversation with one of the most influential designers in modern small-craft sailing.
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More at: www.nanocruising.com

Seas Your Own Adventure 🌊⛵

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In this episode, I’m joined by Geoff Macqueen — sailor, adventurer, and author of Cruising Wild, his newly released account of circumnavigating Tasmania in his self-built Welsford Houdini dinghy.
Geoff takes us deep into the story behind his boat, the spark that led him to attempt a Bass Strait crossing, and the moment everything went wrong: an unexpected capsize in notorious waters, and the detailed, honest retelling of how he recovered and kept going.
We talk about:
Building a Houdini and preparing it for real-world adventure
The reality of crossing the Bass Strait in a 13-foot open dinghy
The capsize — what caused it, what he learned, and what every small-boat sailor should know
How the idea for a full circumnavigation of Tasmania took hold
Navigating the west coast — wild, exposed, often uncharted, and unforgiving
The mental game of being alone, waiting out weather, and deciding when to push on
Why Geoff now enjoys cruising in company, and what small boats offer that bigger boats can’t
It’s an honest, insightful conversation about adventure, risk, resilience, and the special joy of traveling slowly in a tiny sailboat.
If you’re drawn to dinghy cruising, expedition sailing, or stories of perseverance in the wild, you won’t want to miss this one.
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Join the conversation: Facebook group Mailing list Patreon

More at: www.nanocruising.com

Seas Your Own Adventure 🌊⛵