16' Barto Melonseed (2001) - PASSION

We have built five Melonseeds. Passion, our 16 ft Barto Melonseed,
Jazz/Sheila Ann a 13 ft 6 in Chapelle documented Melonseed ,
Babs, a 13 ft 6 in Chapelle documented Melonseed, Allure, a 13 ft 6 in Chapelle documented Melonseed,
Allure Too, a 16 ft Barto Melonseed
Originally used as duck gunning skiff, very curvy beautiful little boats. The 13′ 6″ was documented by Chapelle in American Small Sailing Craft with an 1888 New Jersey “Melon Seed” gunning Skiff. They are fine sailors and very seaworthy with their side decks designed to keep you dry. The smaller boats have used dagger boards and center boards usually sporting a sprit sail. Barto uses a Gaff on his 16 foot version. There have been other Melonseed designs besides these two: Roger Allen’s, 14’9″ Cortez Melonseed, Roger Crawford’s 13’6″ fiberglass version and several others.
For more information see Woodenboat magazine Sep/Oct 2004 issue 180, page 50 to 58.
These are our interpretations.