Del Todd was one of the most prolific troutboat builders of his era. Over a 25 year period beginning around 1909, he constructed approximately 500 boats in the small shopattached to his Court Street home in Penn Yan.

The Todd troutboat was usually built in 12 ft and 14 ft lengths, although one 16 ft boat is known to exist. These boats were carvel planked with red cedar strakes clinch nailed to steam-bent white oak ribs. The rib ends are sandwiched between an inwale and an outwale. The boats were decked fore and aft, and outfitted with three stationary seats. A transom in the shape of a wineglass was installed slightly out of plumb (raked), which enabled the boat to back through the water with ease.

Mr. Todd was an accomplished musician. Later in life when he was no longer able to build boats, he turned to the construction of fine stringed instruments (violins and violas). He died in 1960, at the age of 100 years.