NanoCruising

If you've ever sailed a Wayfarer—or even just admired one from shore—you’ll appreciate this episode’s guest: Matt Sharman . A lifelong devotee of this classic dinghy, Matt’s story begins with a family hand-me-down Wayfarer and turns into decades of cruising, teaching, and supporting the Wayfarer sailing community. Matt isn’t just a sailor—he’s also the force behind Aero Luff Spars , a company that produces one of the lightest and most compact foresail furling and reefing systems out there. It's a favorite among small boat sailors who want reliability without excess weight or complexity. We talk about how this innovation came to be and how it fits perfectly into the world of dinghy cruising. But it’s not all about gear. Matt shares: His early Wayfarer sailing experiences Memorable cruises and the joy of camping aboard How he introduces newcomers to the sport through lessons and outreach His support of the active Wayfarer Facebook community His reflections on mee...

At NanoCruising, we’re always interested in innovations that make small boat adventures more accessible, practical, and sustainable. In our latest podcast episode, we sit down with Sean Petterson , CEO and co-founder of SuperSede , to talk about a material that could reshape DIY boatbuilding: SuperSede Marine Board , a next-generation alternative to marine plywood. What is SuperSede Marine Board? SuperSede Marine Board is made from recycled plastic , designed as a waterproof, structural solution for marine projects. For small boat builders and DIY enthusiasts, this means no worries about rot, no need for epoxy sealing, and fewer tools required to shape and work with the material. It’s a fresh option for those building boats in garages, backyards, or even apartments. Why It Matters for Small Boat DIY Sean talks about his path into boating and how the idea for SuperSede came from a desire to simplify boatbuilding while reducing environmental impact. For small boat builders and cruis...

If there’s one thing that small boat cruising brings in abundance, it’s community—and Dan Roeder is right at the heart of one of the most active and passionate groups in North America: the West Coast Trailer Sailing Squadron (Florida) . In the latest episode of the podcast, Dan shares how he found his way into the group, eventually becoming a key organizer and advocate. The Squadron may have a modest website, but its heart beats loud and clear through its highly engaged Facebook group, where sailors from all over Florida (and beyond) connect, plan, and share their love of life under sail. In this episode, we cover: Dan’s journey into the world of trailer sailing The wide variety of boats within the group—from Wayfarers to SCAMPs to custom builds Regular events, group sails, and overnighters that keep the community active Favorite cruising grounds across Florida’s coasts and inland waters Why small boat sailors form such tight-knit, helpful, and adventurous communities ...

In this week’s episode of the NanoCruising podcast, we talk with writer, musician, and small-boat voyager Trapper Haskins , whose journey down the Mississippi became both an epic adventure and a deeply personal turning point. His memoir, Crooked River , chronicles the 2,000+-mile paddle and sail in a hand-built Mississippi Yawl—all the way to New Orleans. But the story goes far deeper than boatbuilding and river travel. As Trapper approached his 40th birthday, he realized that life hadn’t gone the way he’d hoped. The trip—first conceived as an adventure—evolved into something much more: a way to reclaim joy, find peace, and reconnect with his own sense of purpose. In this candid and moving conversation, Trapper talks about: Building the boat with his own hands The highs and lows of paddling to New Orleans How the journey helped him navigate a difficult life transition The writing of Crooked River and how it helped him process the experience This is an episode about m...

What happens when you take a 12-foot boat and set off on a journey that spans continents, rivers, and years of your life? This week on the podcast, I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Stephen Ladd , one of the most accomplished and quietly legendary figures in the world of minimalist voyaging. His books Three Years in a 12-Foot Boat and The Five-Year Voyage have become cult classics among small boat adventurers — not just for their incredible scope, but for the raw honesty, humor, and insight they offer into life on the margins of modern travel. In our conversation, Stephen takes us back to the beginning: designing Squeak , his 12-foot microcruiser, and setting out alone to discover how far one man can go with a tiny boat and a big idea. We talk about wild rivers, calm anchorages, violent storms, and everything in between — and how these extreme experiences forged both skill and resilience. We also discuss The Five-Year Voyage , which he undertook with his partner Ginny, c...

If you enjoyed Part 1 of our conversation with legendary boat designer John Welsford , you’re going to love what’s in store for Part 2. In this episode, John takes us further into his world of small boat innovation and adventure. We kick things off with a look at the new 7-meter ocean-going boat he’s currently designing—something he hasn’t talked much about publicly until now. It’s a boat meant to cross oceans with confidence, while still staying true to Welsford’s core design philosophy: safety, practicality, simplicity, and real-world performance. From there, we dig into the story behind his new design “Scallywag,” which was born out of a desire for a microcruiser like the SCAMP—but with accommodations for longer journeys and sleep-aboard comfort. It’s a design many have been waiting for, and it reflects the continued evolution of small cruising sailboats. John also shares some fantastic anecdotes about his designs out in the wild. We hear about a SCAMP in Tierra del Fuego , and...