The Pocket Yacht

2025

Build a Boat,

Learn New Seamanship Skills

 

Do You Have A Small Boat Dream?

Perhaps we can help! In 2024 we are offering two group boat builds. SCAMP Camp and John Welsford’s newest design SCALLYWAG Camp.

Both builds will be taught by designer John Welsford and lead instructor Howard Rice. The two builds will take place in the Great Lakes at a fantastic boat shop on an 80 acre estate with housing for builders just a stones throw away.

SCAMP- The successful SCAMP Camp program is now in its 12th year and has been the fastest way we know of to help you get on the water in this now legendary classic of a small boat.

SCAMP CAMP- 2025

February 24th- March 7th, Florida, USA
April 21st- May 2nd, Southern France
May 12th- 23rd, Michigan, USA
June 2nd-13th, Washington, USA
August 18th-29th, Nakanoshima, Japan


Small Craft Skills Seminar- 2025

March 8th-11th, Florida
May 5th-9th, Southern France
May 26th- 30th, Michigan, USA
June 16th-20th, Washington, USA
July 25th-29th, Nakanoshima, Japan


North American Canoe Sailing Rendezvous
February 19th-23rd, Florida, USA

SCAMP CAMP 2025

We specialize in building the John Welsford SCAMP through the SCAMP Camp group build program. For home builders unable to attend SCAMP Camp we have pioneered internet assist SCAMP builds utilizing the simplicity of the cell phone for coaching and problem-solving as you build in your shop space.


February 24th- March 7th, Florida, USA
April 21st- May 2nd, Southern France
May 12th- 23rd, Michigan, USA
June 2nd-13th, Washington, USA

SCALLYWAG CAMP 2025
June 24th- July 5th
Eaton Rapids, Michigan

SCALLYWAG- John Welsfords newest creation will be the second group build and again perhaps the fastest way to get on the water regardless of your boat building skill level. Be one of the first to build SCALLYWAG with the assistance of the designer and Howard Rice. Both gents are highly skilled and you will not only have their undivided attention as you build together but you will also have the chance to drive away with a highly accurate hull to finish. Thenhelp from these two doesn't stop there, online support, phone video discussions are part of our commitment to help you get on the water!

Small Craft Skills Seminar
July 23-July 26th,
Mackinac City, Michigan

The Small Craft Skills Seminar offers you the chance to improve existing skills and acquire new ones with other sailors including hands on sailing with experienced instructors. The 2024 Seminar will be facilitated by Howard Rice and John Welsford. You are encouraged to bring your own boat but can also join us if you don’t have a boat.

To date we have worked with close to 500 sailors and their boats helping to improve sailing skills, optimize sail rigs and general set up. Our seminars are interactive and above all fun. Time is split between presentations, group discussions and on water time to practice what we have learned.


 

Contact

➤ LOCATION

Conway, Michigan
and
Nakanoshima, Oki Islands, Japan

☎ CONTACT
thepocketyacht@gmail.com

 

Specifics


Boat Building

SCAMP Camp- To date we have instructed all SCAMP Camp’s featuring the amazing John Welsford micro cruiser/day sailor design. We offer SCAMP Camp group build, fully built custom SCAMP’s and assistance to builders who are creating their dreams at home.

How The Camps Work

Register through this web site specific details will be sent to you regarding ordering a kit from Duckworks. In addition logistical information and a short tool list will be sent to you along with information on lodging options.

**NEW
SCALLYWAG Camp-
Here is your opportunity to build your own SCALLYWAG with the designer and an experienced sailor at your side.

SCALLYWAG Camp is a group build structured exactly like the successful SCAMP Camp program with one major difference. There is not a SCALLYWAG kit set that can be purchased and assembled. This means the build instructors will loft and cut out needed parts for the build before the Camp begins. The higher tuition cost reflects this in labor and materials cost, which otherwise would have been the cost of a kit. The parts for the completed hull and internal structure will be ready for assembly for the build and the patterns for the parts needed to finish the build will be included along with the required number of sheets of 9mm and 6mm plywood enabling builders to take their highly accurate hulls home and finish them.

Small Craft Skill Seminars (SCSS)

To date we have assisted over 400 sailors improve their existing skills through interactive facilitated skills seminars. The SCSS programs are unique in the boating and sailing world and have been developed by Howard Rice a former college professor with years of teaching experience.

SCSS Format

Participants will have the opportunity to bring their boat or attend without a boat. Either way the Seminar format is designed around both knowledge sharing and experiential (on water) learning with others. The instructor/facilitators are Howard Rice and John Welsford who will assess your boat with you, facilitate classroom presentations and sail aboard with you to impart skills and coach.

Each participant will be sent a topic list with 50 options. We suggest choosing a topic you would like to make a 15 minute presentation about with two other choices in the event your topic selection has already been made by someone else. Each presentation is scheduled for 15 minutes with 15 minutes more for Q/A. If the topic warrants further time or discussion it will be extended.

Mornings will be spent on presentations and knowledge sharing. Afternoons and evenings will be out on the water, sailing, anchoring etc, practicing some of what has been learned and with technique/skill coaching by Howard and John.

Optional SCSS Fleet Cruise

One of the most popular elements of the SCSS program has been the follow on Fleet Cruise where participants set sail together for a short cruise to put new skills to work. The leader of this cruise will be Howard Rice and John Welsford. The planned itinerary will be from Mackinac City, Michigan across the Straits of Mackinac to Mackinac Island, onto Bois Blanc Island and concluding in Cheboygan Michigan. There is an additional daily charge for the fleet cruise.

The dates are:
July 23rd-26th, 2024 with the fleet cruise to follow starting July 27th depending on weather and wind conditions.


SCAMP Camp

Tuition- $ 2,500
Materials Fee- $ 1,300
Optional Birdsmouth mast build $ 1,200

**Some builders attend SCAMP Camp to learn in order to build their boat at a later date. The fee for this is tuition only. $2,500

If team building as in a couple the second builder fee is $500

Kit Fee- Each builder orders from Duckworks for shipment to the build site.

Registration Deposit To Secure Your Place-
$500
Non-refundable

Deposit and full payment can be made through Zelle Pay using this email and phone number

prof_rice@yahoo.com
360-593-5225
Payment in full is due one month before the build.

SCALLYWAG Camp

Tuition- $5,800
Materials Fee- $1,300
Optional two-mast build. $1,800

**Some builders attend our build Camps to learn in order to build their boat at a later date. The fee for this is tuition only. $2,500

If team building a SCALLYWAG, as in a couple the second builder fee is $500


Note: The tuition fee reflects the labor and materials cost the build instructor will expend producing SCALLYWAG Camp parts before the build as kits are not yet available.

Note: It is estimated that a full SCALLYWAG kit if available would cost in the neighborhood of $5,000.

The plan is to provide the parts needed for the Camp, which will produce a highly accurate hull and cabin structure.

Registration Deposit To Secure Your Place- $500
Non-refundable

Deposit and full payment can be made through Zelle Pay using this email and phone number

prof_rice@yahoo.com
360-593-5225

Payment in full is due one month before the build

SMALL CRAFT SKILLS SEMINAR

Tuition- $450
Optional Fleet Cruise $300

Registration Deposit To Secure Your Place- $200
Non-refundable

Deposit and full payment can be made through Zelle Pay using this email and phone number

prof_rice@yahoo.com
360-593-5225

Payment in full is due one month before the seminar


SMALL BOAT SERVICES

Listed below are to brief mentions of additional services we offer. Please inquire for details!

Dinghy Cruising

Join us for a dinghy group cruise in the Great Lakes, Canadian North Channel, Georgian Bay and the Chesapeake.

custom small cruising boats

Looking for a used small boat? We can help. One of our specialties is the acquisition and modification of small commercially built fiberglass boats. There are literally thousands of small boats available ranging from day sailors to small cruisers. We carefully select specific designs boats and then transform each into a beach cruiser or micro yacht. Check our listings of current project boats underway and boats ready to go.

 
 

 
 
There is no dream so large that it can’t fit into a tiny boat
— Robert Manry
 
 

 
 
 

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