SCAMP Camp- A life changing experience.
2024 SCAMP CAMP
July 8th-19th, 2024
Logistics
Welcome and congratulations for joining SCAMP Camp 2024. 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 own capable small boat. By building it yourself you can incorporate features that suit your likes and needs. As a team build you will have the opportunity to work with others in a satisfying creative process. At the conclusion of 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 quite 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 team work. This means that we work together on all the boats in the build.
Your Instructors
The instructor for the build is me, Howard Rice and this year John Welsford. Howard has instructed all SCAMP Camp builds to date and has also built a number of custom SCAMP’s for owners in North America, Europe and Japan. John and Howard as a team have instructed several SCAMP Camp builds. Howard built SCAMP #2 for his own use and voyaged aboard it down the Strait of Magellan into the Southern Ocean.
To date he has 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. Howard is a former college professor who has a life-long love of boats and boat building. He has 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 world wide 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 2024 Be Located?
SCAMP Camp is being held in a private shop facility in the small picturesque town of Eaton Rapids, Michigan. The shop is ideally suited to the build and is located on a beautiful 80 acre country site. Lodging is available on site in a shared private home. There is lodging space available for three participants at no charge although a small voluntary donation is suggested to the home owners Dave and Chris Mergener. During past SCAMP Camps participants shared meals together and on some days we went into town for restaurant meals. Camping is also available on site for anyone who wishes to do so.
The address is- 9792 Kinneville Rd. Eaton Rapids, Michigan 48827.
Lodging
The build site is on an 80 acre private home estate and our hosts offer their home for builders. There are three bedrooms available so please let us know if you would like one. There is also superb camping on site and both instructors plan to camp. If you wish to pitch a tent let us know. The bathroom, kitchen and shower facilities in the house are shared by everyone.
When
SCAMP Camp is scheduled to begin at 8am on Monday morning July 8th, and concludes mid day on July 19th. Builders are welcome to move their tools into the shop on July 7th between 12 noon and 5pm. Lodging will be available starting July 7th.
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 8am and end at 5pm unless we are having too much fun and decide 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 pertaining to the boats being built, small boat use or other related topics, which 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 2024 at a cost of $950. This cost covers the cost of materials including Sitka Spruce, epoxy, fillers and the instructors time. By any measure it is a bargain. Please select this option if interested as materials need to be sourced prior to 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 actually 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. Mention that it is for the July 2024 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 will be waiting to hear from each of you. We suggest speaking with Scott Jones when you call. Scott manages Duckworks and is very helpful and completely familiar with the SCAMP. He was our co – instructor at SCAMP Camp #1 and was part of the team that built the prototype, SCAMP hull #1.
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 ahead. Visitors are of course welcome at any time.
Duckworks- https://duckworks.com
SCAMP Camp Tuition and Materials Fee
$2,100 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 $2,100.
There is a $900 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 so securing your place is important. Please do so as soon as possible.
The balance for the build is due before May 1st, 2024 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, 2024
My Paypal email is:
Tuition- $2,100
Materials- $900
Birdsmouth Mast Build- $950
Additional Builder- $500
Deposit For Each Additional Builder- $500
2024 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