Some people are boat builders. Some are designers. Some are entrepreneurs. And then there's Sam Devlin of DevlinBoat . After decades of designing and building hundreds of boats, his philosophy can be summed up in four simple words: "I like boats" It sounds almost too simple, but after spending an hour talking with Sam on the NanoCruising Podcast, it becomes clear that those four words explain nearly everything about his career. Sam didn't set out to chase trends or build the biggest boats. He built the boats that interested him—boats that solved problems, inspired adventure, and made people want to get out on the water. That genuine curiosity has produced an astonishing variety of designs, from tiny cruisers to capable expedition boats. One of the things I enjoyed most about our conversation was hearing how his designs evolved over time. Every boat has a story, and many of those stories begin with a sailor asking, "What if...?" We also talked about how the b...
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...