Building Kathy Ann cover art

Building Kathy Ann

My Lake Superior Boat Project

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Building Kathy Ann

By: Robert "Buzz" Johnson
Narrated by: Rory Young
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About this listen

In Building Kathy Ann, Robert "Buzz" Johnson shares the deeply personal and technically detailed story of building his custom steel-hulled boat from scratch in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Drawing on his lifetime of construction experience, family heritage in craftsmanship, and a love of Lake Superior, Johnson walks listeners through every stage—from childhood inspiration, selecting materials, and designing the layout, to welding the hull and installing systems.

The project took several years and was guided by a commitment to quality, safety, and sharing adventure with family. The Kathy Ann was more than a boat; it was a legacy built with help from friends and lessons passed down from his father and grandfather. Blending memoir and technical manual, the book celebrates perseverance, problem-solving, and the rewards of doing something by hand and heart. It is both a tribute to Northern heritage and a practical guide for any aspiring boat builder.

From Modern History Press

©2025 Robert Johnson (P)2025 Robert Johnson Engineering
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