Wooden Boat AtlasDesigners, builders & classes · v3.0

Atlas / Designers

dates unverified · Norway

Erling Kristofersen

Naval architect — Norway

Drew the Knarr in occupied Norway in 1943 as a more refined answer to the Folkboat. Ten years later a Norwegian student at Stanford brought one to San Francisco, and the Bay has raced them ever since.

Commission
From Willy H. Johannesen and Lars Walløe, who wanted a handsomer alternative to the Folkboat
Builder
First boats by Einar Iversen; first production delivery 1946
Bay arrival
Bjørn Iversen, son of the prototype's builder and a Stanford student, brought a Knarr to San Francisco in 1953
  • 1943Knarr — 30-ft one-design keelboat
Sourcing notes & unresolved questions
  • An alternative designer name sometimes seen in casual sources ('Odd Borg') was checked and is a misidentification — that person is a Norwegian actor.

Wooden Boat Atlas v3.0 · built 30 July 2026 · a project of the Golden Gate Wooden Boat Foundation · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · open data · corrections