Designing and building a small boat is one thing. Taking it offshore is something else entirely. In the latest NanoCruising episode, Perry returns to the podcast to talk about what happens after the tools are put away and the lines are cast off. His Ocean-Capable Small Sailboat has now completed real sea trials, including a substantial offshore run, and those miles have provided the kind of feedback that only the ocean can deliver. This episode isn’t about defending a concept or proving critics wrong. It’s about learning — the honest, sometimes humbling process of discovering how a boat behaves once theory meets wind, waves, and fatigue. Why Sea Trials Matter in Small Boat Design For nano-cruisers and small boat builders, sea trials aren’t a formality — they’re the real beginning of the design process. No amount of dockside admiration or online commentary can replace hours spent steering, trimming, resting, and observing how a boat responds in open water. Perry explains how earl...
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...