I hope you're doing well during these uncertain times and are healthy. We're doing well and busy as usual this time of year!

We have quite a few articles this month and if you have plans to attend our Gathering of Boatbuilders in Tennessee this year, it will be a very small group due to Covid-19. Check out the discussion on our Boatbuilder Forum.

Enjoy your newsletter and as always, let me know if you have any questions.

The following are responses to our "Thankful to be an American!" email:

Thank you Gayle for the heartfelt email. Glen-L & you have been very helpful throughout my building journey. I especially enjoyed your story about your family. That is EXACTLY what the United States of America is about.

Guy Hopkins

1LT, EN

US Army Reserves (Sep. Honorably)

Desert Shield/Storm

I admire and celebrate your wonderful commitment to an exceptional Nation. Although I never followed your heritage family on it's quest to find and invest in a new life in America, nevertheless I, in my small part, immersed myself in the opportunities that America offered to me.

I am a proud Scotsman who early in my career realized that the international business world could provide me with a solid future if I were prepared to work hard. My main joy was to be accepted into the business families of two great American companies - IBM and AT&T. Over a period of 25 years these two giants provided me with opportunities and challenges, not only in the USofA but throughout the world.

My hard work and commitment allowed me to become a senior manager but more importantly a mentor and coach for all things American which I carried into 65 other countries. To say that my life and success was American borne is an understatement. Like you I will celebrate the meaning and importance of July 4th.

Never stop believing in the great country that is America - YOUR AMERICA. David Booth

I hope you get this! Thank you for your email I almost forgot that I am not alone!

Thank you

Happy 4th of July and

God bless you and your family!

I love this. America is truly the greatest place on earth. I served her for 31 years and it is the best thing I have ever done. It was my honor. - Michael Hubbard

And more on different subjects...

I recently purchased the Malibu Travel Trailer plan to help me with a major undertaking of renovation of a similar trailer that I acquired a few years ago. She is working but needs quite a bit of work. So you can imagine being from 1973 had no manual or papers just the title.

Most of it is original and needs to be replaced. So I wanted to thank you for the amazing and thorough instructions!!!! This has helped me tremendously to understand what I need to do and how to do it. I’m not scared to take it all apart now. (Trust me she needs a complete overhaul). And can’t wait to get started.

I will definitely be a future buyer again. 😉.

Thank you,

Years ago in the cold Canadian winter of 1975 a young 12 year old boy labored through the cold of his parents garage to build his first race boat. The summer of 1975 saw the launch of the “River Rat”. An 8 foot Super Spartan hydro-plane with a 9.9 Chrysler outboard. That rat flew. For 4 summers the Algonquin area lakes watched the River Rat race across the glassy waters of teenage summers. Read more...

I was still at Berkeley High School in 1961 when I selected the Glen-L Tiny Might plans. I was broke but craved fast boats. I remember reading that the engine transmission weight limit was 300 pounds but I didn’t want to use the recommended Ford flathead V8. Buick and Oldsmobile were both touting a smaller V8 that was 100% cast Aluminum and weighed less than 300 pounds. The difference was that it pumped out about 185 horsepower in stock form. Read more...

I fondly recall the summer of 1985 on the Outer Cape of Massachusetts like it was yesterday, hot and humid, an afternoon thunderstorm and a summer of hard work on my Father’s fishing boat, scraping barnacles, painting, working on engines, and my favorite – digging soft shelled steamer clams, all of it lay in wait, and all was well in the world for a young lad. Keep reading...