Stuart Stocker and the art of boatbuilding

Stuart Stocker’s love of boats and boating started when he was a teenager, launching his family’s 15-foot Woodard boat (with a 50 HP Mercury outboard) into the Connecticut River at Hoyt’s Landing.

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Stuart Stocker and the art of boatbuilding By Karen Engdahl The ShopperFebruary 1, 2017 kayak The frame of Stocker’s kayak. Photo by Karen Engdahl kayak Springfield boater Rachel Drinker paddles one of Stocker’s kayaks on the Connecticut River summer, 2016. Photo by Stu Stocker kayak Stuart Stocker in his workshop. Photo by Karen Engdahl SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – Stuart Stocker’s love of boats and boating started when he was a teenager, launching his family’s 15-foot Woodard boat (with a 50 HP Mercury outboard) into the Connecticut River at Hoyt’s Landing. “I loved waterskiing and I loved going fast,” said Stocker during a recent visit to the landing. Fast-forward many years: Stocker enjoyed a successful career as a builder-carpenter in the area and moved to Chester but continued to love his time motorboating on the Connecticut River. His first experience in a kayak came in his fiftieth year when he was invited to go kayaking with a friend. He loved that boating experience as well and started building his own kayaks about ten years later. “I learned how to build kayaks mostly by watching videos and studying plans,” he said. “Right from the start I had two main interests in kayak design. First, I wanted good performance. Then, I wanted to focus on the art work involved – the wood pattern designs.” Stocker has built about a dozen kayaks over the years, each of which is rich with woodworking detail, including intricate laminating and decorative wood pattern designs. “The base of the boat is made with Western cedar and basswood,” explained Stocker, “and the deck designs are made in a progression of colors with black walnut, Honduran mahogany, oak, Western cedar, Canberra wood, and hickory.” Stocker builds the kayaks in a small workshop at his home and uses wood from Vermont Furniture Hardwoods in Chester. Who buys Stocker’s kayaks? For a while a few years ago, Stocker says he had a website from which he sold boats (he has also built quite a few custom motorboats), but he closed the website when he officially retired. Now he only takes commissions for boats by word-of-mouth. “I’m working on two boats this winter,” he said, “but they’re not for sale. I’m developing them as prototypes for my own use.” “I just love being on the water,” Stocker continued. “I don’t want to spend all my time building and lose the chance to be on the river.” You may have a chance to talk him into building a boat for you if you visit Hoyt’s Landing some lazy summer afternoon. Look for the most beautiful kayak in the river and Stocker will surely be there.