Welcome to BischoffBoatworks.
As you can see in the pictures at the end of “BISH: The Build” section, she has LAUNCHED!!
Feel free to leave a comment (compliments appreciated, criticisms deleted).
Shoot me an email at BischoffBoatworks (bischoffboatworks@gmail.com) .
Bischoff Boatworks 
Great site. Would you hurry up and finish the Bish…….it’d look awfully nice moored in front of our new digs!
I’m assuming you are referring to the Mexican beach house, not the Colorado mountain house!
One of the “Producers” of Bischoff Boatworks and HUGE supporter of the Chief Cook and Bottle Washer (a certain Captain Karl Bischoff) is Ms. Leslie Jean Phinney:)
Of course Mexico…….now hurry up and get it done!
Karl, just stumbled upon your site research Peterson’s Susan. I’m not sure by the dates where you are with Bish though I’m anxious to see her. Also, have you followed the building od another “Susan” in Woodenboat’s forum by a gentleman in Texas? Excellent photos of his beautiful craftsmanship.
Hello Paul. The site is currently up-to-date. I’m finishing up the planking in September (hopefully). Yes, Bob Albers is building in Texas (he came to my shop for a visit about a month ago) but his build is TOTALLY different from mine. He is an accomplished engineer so he knew how to output mylar lofting sheets to size, used tons of epoxy for doing a strip plank, etc. His end product will look somewhat similar to mine, but the route to getting there is very different. I’m fascinated by traditional tools and methods, so am sticking to that fairly closely. I hope you can come to the Wooden Boat Festival in Port Townsend in 10 days. I will be exhibiting my Whitehall “Leslie Jean” on the hard out on the point. Bob will be attending as well. Maybe we can have a SUSAN lunch/dinner/drink/whatever. I will be monitoring email karlb@pbdh.com.
Hi Karl, thanks so much for getting back to me. I’m just so in love with this design. I’ll be following your build just as I’ve followed Bob’s from the beginning. Can’t wait to see your photos and commentary. Yes, I understand those differences and that alone makes it so fascinating. Wish I could make it, I’ve been to every one of the WBS out here (Newport, RI and Mystic, CT) and have always wanted to attend out there. Used to travel to Seattle quite frequently and just love the area. Thanks so much again, Paul
How can I get a set of “Susan” plans?
You need to contact the owner of the design. The original architect was Murray Peterson. His business is now owned and operated by his son, Bill Peterson. He is at 48 Jones Point Rd.
South Bristol ME 04568-4310
United States
peterson@lincoln.midcoast.com
(207) 644-8100
Hi Karl – I have a Susan named “Annie” that I keep here in Maine. Built at Greenport, Long Island NY in the late 1980’s. I have owned her since 2015, and am finishing up a new interior project.
If you are ever in Maine – get in touch. Tom Whitehead
207 838-9715, paparoux2@gmail.com
Hello Tom. Nice to hear from you! When I visited with Bill Peterson to buy a set of SUSAN plans, we were going to visit Annie but couldn’t make it happen. One of my dreams was to build a wood schooner and attend the Wooden Boat Festival in Port Townsend. I attended with my 15′ Whitehall “Leslie Jean” for 10 years, but wanted to be with the “big boys” with my schooner. Twelve years later, I attended with BISH for a few years and really enjoyed interacting with the public to discuss the process of building a boat by yourself. Then, the last couple years they placed me between two boats with a big electrical panel covering my stern…. so no one could even see I was there. So this year I am going to attend in my motorhome parked next to the show on the beach. I can still attend talks and visit with people, just not on BISH. At 74, single-handing is getting harder and it’s not worth the effort if I am hidden anyway. So be it. I hope to visit Maine sometime soon and will contact you beforehand. KB
Hello Tom. Nice to hear from you! When I visited with Bill Peterson to buy a set of SUSAN plans, we were going to visit Annie but couldn’t make it happen. One of my dreams was to build a wood schooner and attend the Wooden Boat Festival in Port Townsend. I attended with my 15′ Whitehall “Leslie Jean” for 10 years, but wanted to be with the “big boys” with my schooner. Twelve years later, I attended with BISH for a few years and really enjoyed interacting with the public to discuss the process of building a boat by yourself. Then, the last couple years they placed me between two boats with a big electrical panel covering my stern…. so no one could even see I was there. So this year I am going to attend in my motorhome parked next to the show on the beach. I can still attend talks and visit with people, just not on BISH. At 74, single-handing is getting harder and it’s not worth the effort if I am hidden anyway. So be it. I hope to visit Maine sometime soon and will contact you beforehand. KB