Ross Lillistone

Ross Lillistone (1953–2022) was an acclaimed Australian naval architect, boatbuilder, and small-craft designer based in Queensland, celebrated for creating efficient, lightweight, and user-friendly stitch-and-glue and glued-lapstrake plywood sailboats that prioritize simplicity, performance, and adventure for amateur builders and coastal sailors. Trained as a marine engineer and self-taught in design, Lillistone began building boats in the 1970s and gained prominence in the 2000s through his association with Duckworks Boat Builders Supply and contributions to Small Boats Monthly and Australian Amateur Boat Builder magazine. His signature designs—characterized by sharp entries, low wetted surface, built-in buoyancy, and multi-mode versatility (sailing, rowing, motoring, camping)—include the iconic Phoenix III (a 15-foot beach cruiser), First Mate (its stitch-and-glue sibling), Fleet (high-performance 12-foot lugger), Periwinkle (8-foot pram dinghy), and Flint (16-foot expedition cruiser), all optimized for trailerability, quick construction (often under 200 hours), and real-world seaworthiness in choppy bays and rivers. A passionate advocate for human-powered and small-sail exploration, Lillistone tested his boats extensively on Moreton Bay, documented builds and voyages on his blog Bayside Wooden Boats, and mentored thousands via forums like Wooden Boat and Duckworks. His plans remain widely available through Duckworks and Storer Boat Plans, ensuring his legacy in accessible, joyful small-boat sailing.