Whisp Builder's Page

Welcome to the Whisp builder's page.

Whisp is a very popular fine-lined ultralight sharpie skiff designed for sailing rowing and electric power. Whisp can perform the functions of four boat types: a canoe, a fishing boat, a rowing boat, and a sailboat.

 
Fish or tour all day with silent electric power

Whisp is simply constructed from three sheets of plywood using our own easy epoxy-glued plywood lapstrake flat-panel method. No lofting or building jig is required. Scaled planking cutting patterns, and full-sized transom, stem, and rudder patterns are included on the plans. Whisp was featured in the September 1988 issue of  Small Boat Journal and has made regular appearances in WoodenBoat's magazine's "Launchings" section. Designed in 1984, over 5000 builders have ordered plans.

Performance:

Rowing: We've received many letters from builders who have won rowing races in their boats. Whisp is delightfully fast under oars, carries way well, rows easily, and has good crosswind abilities.

Sailing: Whisp is close-winded and fast, with weight, sail area, and performance on par with a Class C racing canoe.

Fishing, powering, touring:  With an economical electric trolling motor, Whisp will cruise all day for bass fishing or sightseeing on a single battery charge, with two people, a large cooler, tackle, and plenty of gear. The boat is very quiet with an electric motor. Whisp's low profile allows close approach to fish and wildlife, without disturbing them.

If attention is paid during construction Whisp will weigh about what a canoe does. Whisp can be portaged on the shoulder by one person using the center thwart. She is easily car-topped on even the smallest vehicle. (While she carries, stores, and transports like a canoe, unlike a canoe, Whisp won't turn in a headwind on flatwater, and will punch well to windward onder oars. She's a much better, safer, and faster boat on a lake, particularly for solo work.)

Whisp is constructed with a pre-fabricated plywood/epoxy lapped panel method. Construction proceeds very quickly, rivaling stitch and glue ( stitch-n-glue )construction, while producing a better, longer-lived boat.

Three plywood planks are cut out and glued together, lapstrake style flat on a garage floor or other flat surface. This panel forms one side of the boat. Two of these finished sides are bent around two scrap lumber "stretchers" or "mould frames" and attached to a stem and a transom. The stem and transom cutout patterns are provided full size on the plans. The plywood panels are quite flexible and no steam bending is required in the boat. Conventional lofting is also eliminated through the use of full size and scale patterns. Unlike other high performance boats, Whisp does not require the construction of a building jig

Whisp uses a minimum of materials -- three sheets of 4 by 8 plywood and about 15 board feet of softwood lumber go into the basic hull. Building costs will vary. depending on sources of supply, degree of finish, and whether a rowing, sailing or powered version is produced. Material sources are listed on the plans. We recommend epoxy/fiberglass coating the bottom and epoxy coating the side planks. Prefabricated cane seats are available from a source listed on the plans.

Note: We often receive requests to modifying Whisp into a sliding seat boat. Whisp's fixed thwarts are structural and would interfere with a sliding seat's range of motion. A sliding seat would add weight to the boat and much additional cost. It would also interfere with the ability to portage the boat. For these reasons, a sliding seat configuration is not offered on the plans. Though technically possible, we cannot offer advice on modifications. Whisp is a fast fixed seat boat, with foot braces, and in that configuration can provide full body aerobic exercise, as well as a track record of race wins.