SCAMP Camp- A life changing experience.
2025 SCAMP CAMP
Build Your Dream With Expert Instruction
Logistics
Welcome, and congratulations on joining SCAMP Camp 2025. I hope the build we do together as a team will be a milestone in your life as it has been for so many others. If you haven’t built a boat before you are in for a treat. There is nothing quite like building and sailing your capable small boat. By building it yourself you can incorporate features that suit your likes and needs. As a team builder, you will have the opportunity to work with others in a satisfying creative process. After SCAMP Camp you will be able to drive home with a highly accurate hull, remaining components, and the skills needed to finish your boat.
The nature of SCAMP Camp is unique. It is in one sense a boat-building class but a class that aims to impart knowledge and develop skills through the hands-on process of building your boat as opposed to lecture and modular topic skill development. SCAMP Camp is a fast-paced team effort designed to produce highly accurate hulls through teamwork. This means that we work together on all the boats in the build. Of course, your boat is your boat and you will be in charge of the build with assistance and instruction. For the major assemblies and planking we team up.
Your Instructor
The instructor for the build is me, Howard Rice. I have instructed all SCAMP Camp builds to date and have also built several custom SCAMP’s for owners in North America, Europe, and Japan. John Welsford has teamed up with me for several SCAMP Camp builds. I built SCAMP #2 for my own use and voyaged aboard it down the Strait of Magellan into the Southern Ocean.
To date, I have had a hand in the build of over 90 SCAMP’s and will continue to support you as you proceed after the initial build of the hull. As a former college professor with a lifelong love of boats and boat building, I have created a fun creative learning atmosphere. I have taught boat building at the Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building, Chesapeake Light Craft, and at various maritime centers across North America. John Welsford is a highly accomplished designer and boat builder and is viewed by many as the best of the current worldwide small boat designers. Howard currently resides in Japan where he founded and manages a maritime center and boat-building school located in the Oki Island UNESCO Global Geopark.
Where Will SCAMP CAMP’s 2025 Be Located?
The 2025 SCAMP Camp’s are being held in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, Lake Lotela, Florida, Port Townsend, Washington and southern France.
SCAMP Camp Sites and Lodging
The build sites vary from an 80-acre private home estate to a professional boat-building shop in southern France.
In Eaton Rapids, there are three bedrooms available and on-site camping options.
In Lake Lotela there is open camping and nearby hotel lodging available.
In Port Townsend, there is on-site camping available and a variety of nearby lodging options.
In southern France there are a wide variety of nearby l;odging options.
Work Days
The build begins on day one with a short orientation session to help familiarize each builder with the build process and management of the shop space. Each work day will begin at 8 am and end at 5 pm unless we are having too much fun and decide to push on into the evening. Lunch is an hour at noon. Each lunch break will be an opportunity for the group to engage in a small boat chalk talk by the build instructor about the boats being built, small boat use, or other related topics, that builders request.
** Birds Mouth Mast Option **
One of the elements of the SCAMP build that seems a bit daunting to builders is the construction of a hollow, tapered birds mouth mast. Last year before the 2023 Camp the option was offered to produce masts during the Camp by working some evenings. As it turned out everyone enrolled selected the option and beautiful masts were built during the build. This option is being offered again in 2025 at a cost of $1,200. This cost covers the cost of materials including Sitka Spruce, epoxy, fillers, and the instructor’s time. By any measure, it is a bargain. Please select this option if interested as materials need to be sourced before the build.
Boat Trailer
You will need to bring a trailer for your new boat. It is suggested that a jet ski trailer is the most economical and perfectly suited for carrying your new boat. Any trailer with adjustable fore and aft bunks as depicted in the photos above will work. A trailer with a long tongue makes it easy to back up while launching and retrieving. You can also bring a small 4X8 utility trailer to move your new boat home and then purchase an actual boat trailer later. Galvanized is the choice over painted steel.
Order Your SCAMP Kit
You will need to order your SCAMP kit from Duckworks or Newyd Marine. Mention that it is for a 2025 SCAMP Camp and it will automatically be shipped to the build site.
Please order the kit as soon as possible so there is ample time to CNC cut, package, and ship it with the other kits for the build as this will reduce shipping costs. The instructors will receive the kits at the site and for the three days before the build prepare each including building the strong back. You are welcome to arrive on July 6th or 7th to drop off tools and this is an opportunity to observe the build of the strong backs or lend a hand if you wish. It is a fun step to be involved in.
Duckworks and Newyd Marine will be waiting to hear from each of you.
Volunteers and Visitors
Volunteers and visitors to the build are always welcome. Typically we have a few folks who want to stop by as volunteers for a few hours or days. Please let us know by email so we can plan. Visitors are of course welcome at any time.
Duckworks- https://duckworks.com
Newyd marine- https://www.newyd-marine.com
SCAMP Camp Tuition and Materials Fee
$2,500 per builder.
This covers three days of kit preparation and twelve days of instruction.
Additional Builder and Builder Attending But Not Building Their Own Boat During The Camp
Some builders come as a pair or a team and this means they also benefit from boat building instruction. There is a $500 fee for an additional builder.
Some participants wish to attend SCAMP Camp to learn and then build their own boat at a later date. The tuition for this type of builder is $2,500.
There is a $1,300 Materials fee.
Materials include epoxy, sitka spruce, fasteners and consumable build supplies.
My email
thepocketyacht@gmail.com
Payment and Deposit to Hold Your Place
A $500 deposit will secure your place in the build. There are only four build slots open per build so securing your place is important. Please do so as soon as possible.
The balance for the build is due before May 1st, 2025 and can be paid in full at any time up to that date.
Thank you for your deposit or payment in full.
Please send payment via PayPal by May 1st, 2025
My Paypal email is:
Tuition- $2,500
Materials- $1,300
Birdsmouth Mast Build- $1,200
Additional Builder- $500
Deposit For Each Additional Builder- $500
2025 SCAMP Camp Tool List
Here is a suggested tool list, which will enable you as a builder to make excellent progress. These are tools you will continue to use as you finish your boat. The items marked ** are tools you will need for SCAMP Camp, although it doesn't hurt to bring all the items on the list.
*If you are flying in to the build we will have tools on site for your use.
**Tape measure
Bevel (for determining angles)
Trim Router with a 1/4 round over bit (if you have one)
**Small Bubble Level
**Japanese hand pull saw
**Small block plane
**Chisels (3/4 and 1”)
**Hammer
**Cordless drill with square and Phillips head bits
**Set of drill bits
**20 or more- F-clamps, and 6 to 10 small spring-clamps
**Vibrating sander- Model of your choice, random orbit is the best choice,
a 4”X4” pad sander is also handy.
Counter set bit set
**Pliers
**Ruler, Steel – 12” to 18” is ideal
**Small wood rasp or Japanese rasp.
Diagonal Wire cutter (Bull nose cutters best)
***Ten straight edge utility knife razor blades
**Tyvek type paper suit and/or multiple pairs of old pants and old shirts
(clothing you do not mind being ruined by epoxy)
**Ear plugs or ear Protectors
**Mask (Dust) - NIOSH/MSHA approved or mask (Respirator) - Filter, organic fumes rated.
Large box of rags or clean cotton rags
**3 Plastic squeegees spreader for epoxy work (these should be new).
We are very pleased to be doing this as we as your instructors know the joy the little boat has created in so many lives.
Feel free to contact Howard at any time with questions. thepocketyacht@gmail.com
SCALLYWAG CAMP 2024