Goreham Woodcraft

Rolland's introduction to motorboating, came with a boat he purchased locally that was built in 1959.  The boat was constructed of marine plywood and mahogany, and was designed and built by the SkipperCraft company near Seattle.  The boat was originally powered by two 35 hp Evinrude Larks.  both of which were beyond repair or restoration.

Those engines were replaced by a 70 hp Evinrude.  The boat has gone through a couple steps of customization throughout the years.  After purchasing the Skippercraft Rocket 17, Rolland has become a member of the Antique and Classic Boat Society and has shown the boat several times...winning best wooden outboard in one of the Heartland Classics shows.

After having built his first boat , a cardboard and paper boat model inspired by his father's having built several boats, and patterned after a boat designed by Glen L. Witt, Rolland was hooked on boats and all that goes with them.  Rolland was 8 years of age at the time.

His father built and restored, repaired or improved several boats while Rolland was young.

The boats were run for for a season or two and sold, only to be replaced by another.  Most of the boats were Custom Craft boats, but Rolland remembers Lad building an 18 ft. molded plywood Yellow Jacket.  In those years, molded hulls were usually fiberglass, and it was interesting that Lad's boat was mistaken for the "best looking fiberglass boat" seen by several boaters at the time. 

Rolland built a 14 ft Trailcraft canoe in his bedroom while in college.  He modified the design (lines) somewhat, and as a result, named the canoe "Tyler".  Use your imagination to understand the reason why.

 Rolland's next step into the world of boating, was the restoration of a wood and canvas canoe.  The canoe was an Old Town Freighter that was built prior to the fire in the early 1900s.  Rolland had considerable fun working on the canoe, float trips, family outings and finally, the canoe was donated to the local Boy Scout troupe. 

Rolland built and raced a couple of boats that were devoted to racing while carrying an antique bathtub and was propelled by 2-man power.  Both boats, the "Clipper" and "Clipper II" were fun and rewarding to build, but several months were spent building and modifying the boats for a mere 2 or 3 minute race that was held as part of the annual Wichita River Festival.

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