Wooden Boats FOR SALE
We would love to post your boat. Abernethy & Gaudin is pleased to list some of the most beautiful boats built by hand. We have selected good quality wooden boats to feature for sale. Our listings are mostly west coast from Alaska to California.
Want to list your wooden boat with us? It’s a free service. All you have to do is email us with your contact information and description of your boat, several photos and, most importantly, a price in Canadian dollars. After we decide if the listing is a good fit for us, we will post it and the buyer will inquire with you directly.
Once the boat sell you can let us know and we will modify the listing as sold.
Our goal is to keep our treasured wooden boats well cared for in and constant use.
We offer a builders survey service. Visit our Surveys page for information.
12' Herreshoff
12' Herreshoff
Classic 12' Herreshoff cedar lapstrake over white oak, lightweight construction with sail rig. Built by shipwright Bob Lally and has been well maintained. The spars are wood with Dacron sail. Custom-made lightweight spoon oars by Gregory Brown with bronze oarlocks. Ready for the boating season, she is reluctantly offered for sale at a fraction of her replacement value at $7,500 CAN. Easily viewed in Victoria B.C.
Additional historical information:
Design pedigree: The boat follows the lines of Nathanael Herreshoff’s iconic small craft designs from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Herreshoff’s work emphasized seaworthiness, graceful proportions and efficient hull forms; his influence made these small lapstrake daysailers and dinghies highly sought after for both performance and beauty.
Construction tradition: The hull’s cedar lapstrake planking over white oak frames reflects a long-standing New England wooden-boatbuilding tradition. Lapstrake (clinker) construction was favored for small working and pleasure craft for its stiffness, light weight and distinctive stepped plank appearance—techniques passed down through generations of shipwrights.
Builder background: Bob Lally is a respected shipwright whose work blends traditional methods with careful modern detailing. Boats built by Lally are known locally for their sound structural work, fair hulls and attention to finish—qualities that contribute to both longevity and value.
Period-appropriate rigging and fittings: The wooden spars and Dacron sail combine classic appearance with practical durability. The custom spoon oars by noted craftsman Gregory Brown and bronze oarlocks complement the boat’s historic aesthetic while providing modern reliability.
Use and provenance: This type of Herreshoff-derived dinghy was commonly used as a daysailer, tender and training boat for learning classic seamanship. Owners over the decades have prized them for ease of handling, responsive sailing and attractive lines. This particular hull has been owned and maintained with care, preserving its traditional character while remaining fully serviceable.
Rarity and value: True cedar lapstrake small Herreshoff-style boats, built by skilled craftsmen and maintained in good condition, are increasingly uncommon. The asking price of $7,500 CAN represents a significant saving compared with the cost of a new custom cedar lapstrake boat or a well-restored period original.
Care and maintenance history: The combination of durable white oak framing and rot-resistant cedar planking—together with attentive maintenance—explains the boat’ssound condition. Traditional wooden boats require regular care; this boat has benefited from that upkeep, making her ready for immediate use.
For collectors and classic-boat enthusiasts this boat offers authentic construction, a respected builder’s touch, period-appropriate fittings and the graceful Herreshoff lines that make these small craft both practical and collectible. Viewing in Victoria B.C. by appointment.
Contact
Rosemary Andrews