16' Redmond Whisp Skiff (2019) - WHISP'R

Whisp’R is a 15’7″ ultralight sharpie skiff built from plans penned by the designer, Steve Redmond. The design name is ‘Whisp’. Lapstrakes made of Occume marine plywood, stern is Sapelle, ash gunwales, and other hardwoods sourced from Port Townsend’s ‘Edensaw Woods Ltd.’. The cane seats were made by ‘Shaw & Tenney’, and the club-footed sprit sail was a kit from ‘Sailrite’ on which I learned to sew using an old all-metal Kenmore sewing machine. The skiff uses a lee board when under sail.
Tom J. Hill and Steve Redmond’s all spruce build weighed in at just 68 pounds; my build using pieces of oak, purple heart, and other hardwood bits and pieces brought the dry weight up to 105 pounds. I shaped the mast and sprit boom out of a decent length of Sitka spruce.
The lettering font I chose for the name board I built was cut out on a laser NC machine programmed by a young man by the name of Tyler Fishbone; a Seattle resident. Thanks Tyler!
This is my first boat build and although I bought the plans in 1987, I did not start the build until 2017 and finished the build in 2019. I learned a lot about patience, perseverance and process! I am very proud of the work I have done and hope I get to enjoy the craft for many years to come.
As a ‘finishing touch’, I took a chunk of basswood to try my hand at woodcarving. Made a dragon for my boat’s bow and built a circuit to power 12 volt LEDs for Smok Wawel’s eyes, mouth and heart. Red for port eye, green for the starboard eye, blue for his heart and white to light the ‘Pearl of Wisdom’ laying on his tongue. I found the circuit on:

Best Electronic Circuit Projects

The circuit fades power in and out for his heart and mouth. The red and green lights are controlled by a digital dimmer pot. Smok’s job is to keep the sea serpents from harming me or my boat! lol
I also took the time to cut down three styrofoam shipping containers using a hot wire cutter, fiber glassed, and painted them white. Each one strapped beneath a cane seat to provide extra flotation in case my novice sailing ability causes a capsize; just a little extra insurance!