🎧 Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube
Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from June, 2025

🎙️ Finding the Current: Trapper Haskins on Building a Boat, Paddling South, and Rediscovering Himself ⛵

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...
Post a Comment
Read more

🚣‍♂️ Voyaging Far in a Tiny Boat: A Conversation with Stephen Ladd

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...
Post a Comment
Read more

Popular posts from this blog

Designing for Adventure: Michael Storer’s Path to Small Boat Innovation

A Passion for Small Boats and Smart Design Michael Storer has made a name for himself in the world of small boat design. His creations, such as the Oz Goose and Oz Racer, have gained a strong following among DIY boatbuilders and NanoCruisers. But how did he get started? In the latest episode of the NanoCruising podcast, we dive into Michael’s journey—his early sailing experiences, how he developed his design philosophy, and the first boat he ever designed. Learning from the Best at DuckFlat Wooden Boats (Australia)  One of the most fascinating parts of Michael’s story is how he learned boat design—not through formal training, but by working as a technical consultant for DuckFlat Wooden Boats (Australia) , where he had access to hundreds of different designs. This hands-on exposure gave him a deep understanding of what works and what doesn’t when it comes to small, efficient boats. Michael’s background in engineering and problem-solving helped him refine his approach, leading t...
1 comment
Read more

Roger Barnes: Exploring Dinghy Cruising’s Future and Breaking Barriers (Part 2)

Roger Barnes has long been regarded as a cornerstone of the dinghy cruising community. As president of the Dinghy Cruising Association (DCA), a celebrated author, and the creator of a thriving YouTube channel, he has inspired countless adventurers to embrace the joys of small boat sailing. In the second part of our interview, Roger shares more about his journey and the invaluable lessons he's learned along the way. Exploring Favorite Cruising Grounds Roger’s passion for exploring unique cruising grounds shines through in this episode. From serene coastal waters to challenging open seas, his experiences provide a window into the diverse beauty of dinghy cruising.  The Role of the Dinghy Cruising Association Under Roger’s leadership, the DCA has become a hub for dinghy sailors worldwide. He discusses how the association fosters a sense of community, provides resources, and encourages members to take on new challenges. Dinghies vs. Yachts: The Unique Appeal What makes dinghy cruising ...
Post a Comment
Read more

⛵ John Welsford on New Designs, Ocean Dreams, and the Future of Small Boats 🌊

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...
Post a Comment
Read more