Shell Boats

Shell Boats Shell Boats designs and produces economical sailboat kits for those who appreciate the beauty and practicality of modern wood construction.

Shell Boats are built using unique and very effective methods which are the result of years of research and development. Roots go back to the early American skiffs, Dutch vlets and the Norwegian holmsbupram of centuries ago. The synthesis of time tested, simple construction methods with modern materials - epoxy, stainless steel fastenings, and marine plywood - produces a handsome craft which is st

rong and durable as well as economical to build and maintain. Shell Boats are designed by first building a prototype - by eye, as the Norwegians have built the holmsbupram for centuries. No detailed plans, offsets or molds are used. The prototype is meticulously hand crafted and temporarily assembled without glue. If anything doesn't look right it is taken apart and redone. The hull is built right-side up, allowing the builder (and designer) to see exactly what is going on. When it is completed, the boat is disassembled and patterns are made of all the pieces. Our kits and finished boats are cut using these patterns. Whether you choose to purchase a kit and build your own boat, or have us do it, the benefits are great: light weight, great strength and extreme durability - all at an amazingly low cost.

Ahoy there, mateys! Fred Shell, founder of Shell Boats, recently celebrated 84 years on this earth, and is now fully ret...
08/20/2025

Ahoy there, mateys! Fred Shell, founder of Shell Boats, recently celebrated 84 years on this earth, and is now fully retired from making kits and finished boats for sale. Plans to build designs from the Shell Boats fleet, perfected during 40+ years as an independent boatbuilder, are now available free at shellboats.com.

This page now serves as a way for folks like yourself to connect with each other to sell or trade their Shell Boats kits and finished boats. All transactions must be done privately because Shell Boats takes no responsibility for transactions or outcomes.

A big shout-out to the many wonderful Shell Boats customers worldwide who, collectively, built more than 1,000 boats from our kits and plans. Many of these folks built boats with younger family members, passing the legacy of boating on from one generation to another. It warms our hearts to know how universal is the love of sailing!

Bon Voyage!

08/08/2018

Hello folks! You've probably noticed we haven't posted anything here in a long while. Fred Shell and his boats are still going strong on Lake Champlain, but our page won't be active anymore. Please visit shellboats.com instead. Bon Voyage!

Imagine this in summer!
02/17/2015

Imagine this in summer!

Fred Shell gives a tour of the new Shell Boats catamaran design. Plans for this model coming soon!

11/02/2014

Reminder: Daylight Savings ends Sunday, November 2nd, 2014 at 2:00am. Before you go to bed tonight, set your clocks back an hour. What will you do with the extra hour of sunlight?

Fred Shell with a Sea Shell 10', 1986. St. Albans Bay, Vermont.
10/16/2014

Fred Shell with a Sea Shell 10', 1986. St. Albans Bay, Vermont.

With the official calendar start to autumn, what are you doing to squeeze the last few drops out of summer?
09/24/2014

With the official calendar start to autumn, what are you doing to squeeze the last few drops out of summer?

For , here's a photo of Fred Shell, wife Deb and their children rowing a Sea Shell 10 in Mallets Bay, Vermont, circa ...
09/18/2014

For , here's a photo of Fred Shell, wife Deb and their children rowing a Sea Shell 10 in Mallets Bay, Vermont, circa 1985.

09/15/2014
For , here's a story from Swifty owner Greg Stone, originally published in Small Boat Journal #64 (1989): “With a 12...
09/11/2014

For , here's a story from Swifty owner Greg Stone, originally published in Small Boat Journal #64 (1989): “With a 12-knot breeze behind her, Swifty was kicking up her heels and fairly roaring up the shallow Westport River. Ahead and to starboard was a man with his family putt-putting along in a small outboard runabout. ‘Build her yourself?’ he shouted, as we whistled past. ‘Yep,’ I said. ‘First time out.’ ‘Beautiful,’ he said, giving me a thumbs up. Now that’s the kind of unsolicited comment that can make your day.”

This week scientists solved the mystery of moving stones in Death Valley (link below from , with image from Shell Boats)...
09/04/2014

This week scientists solved the mystery of moving stones in Death Valley (link below from , with image from Shell Boats), and it turns out the answer is its own form of ice-sailing. Not to be confused with actual ice-sailing, shown here. (Fred Shell, 2009, with the Wind Sled II on Lake Champlain.)

At last, researchers have figured out the phenomenon known as the “sailing stones,” and the trails they leave, in the desert.

Our most popular boat, very fine for sailing, also great for rowing and motoring. Docile and easily handled, the Swifty ...
09/01/2014

Our most popular boat, very fine for sailing, also great for rowing and motoring. Docile and easily handled, the Swifty will plane on a reach in a good breeze—while you fly, you're dry!

The Schooner s a luxurious day sailor with an interesting rig: two single-piece masts (short enough to fit in the boat),...
09/01/2014

The Schooner s a luxurious day sailor with an interesting rig: two single-piece masts (short enough to fit in the boat), with liuff-sleeve rather than usual sail ties for more efficient air flow around the mast. Very easy to set up and sail.

Address

561 Polly Hubbard Road
Saint Albans, VT
05478

Telephone

+18025249645

Website

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