15 foot slab sided trailer sailer

Ugly boat

to me that is about as ugly as a boat can be. But then sometimes ugly is beautiful.
I don't see any future for wooden boats however. Certainly compared to how cheap a f/g old boat can be. olewill
 
Both are hideous IMHO, much better designs already out their. I wonder why also the first one has been limited to such a short length. A few feet more would have made all that effort more worthwhile - if it's weight I would have got a bigger car not that you would need to I shouldn't think.

Willow Bay Boats in Lyme Regis already make some more traditional, pretty, more practical designs out of ply. I would be designing/making something similar to those :D

http://www.willowbayboats.co.uk/shilling.htm

17' 530KG Most cars can pull that.
 
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Ugly boat

Egbod said:
Hi

What is your opinion of this design then?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261115180052?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

On E-bay now!!!
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For the price of course one could not complain especially with all the gear. But really a plywood boat is not worth buying in terms of life expectancy. The hull will rot with any neglect even out of water. Compared to f/g which can handle neglect.
A local company (Windrush) did make a 25ft trailer sailer called a Wildfire which had a centre cockpit and a lifting ballasted keel and dinky little aft cabin. I never saw the cabins but I imagine fairly small.
A friend bought a new hull off them a few years back but he built his own conventional cabin and deck and fitted a heavy fin keel. It does go really well and another friend has recently bought it. Not a cruising boat but great racer and day sailer.
Anyway I will reiterate go for f/g boat.... olewill
 
ProDave said:
What strikes me as odd about that, is there appears to be a keel slot for presumably a lifting keel, but it's offset from the centreline.

How will that work?
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I imagine it's offset so that the centreboard case can be built into one of the bunk fronts instead of encumbering the middle of the cabin. It'll still work ok, after all a boat under sail is always assymetrical unless it's a square-rigger going dead downwind.

Pete
 
The later Drascombe Drifters have two dagger boards, one either side of the companion way under the bunks so your not falling over a lifting keel casing all the time :D :D :D
 
Plenty of offset boards. The late Phil Bolger often used them

On similar lines to the OPs 'catch' is the CLC Pocket Ship. I will look for a link.
As for GRP vs Ply or other one off wood boats. If you want to DIY, then GRP is a very difficult. A stitch and tape/fillet ply hull can go together in a week or less.
DW

This is apart from the costs of DIY building compared with buying used and tidying up. Often discussed on here

http://www.clcboats.com/shop/boats/...ip/pocketship-sailing-pocket-cruiser-kit.html

It at least has a V hull, rather than flat bottom like the other two.

Those who have tried one for the Mags, usually say it sails quite well in rough conditions.
DW
 
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Sea Egg - Sjo Ag

The first one here reminds me strongly of 'Sea Egg', a tiny grp boat which a chap had various adventures with - and wrote books about them - in the 1960's-70's; he seemed to manage the Pacific for quite a while and distance but I think I remember finding from a previous mention on these forums that the ending was not happy for boat or owner...
 
Great boat Dylan; never seen that one before. I really love some of these microcruiser designs. They show how it is still possible to build a boat at home, just for the enjoyment of doing it, without breaking the bank and producing a craft that is far cheaper than a commercial alternative. (okay that only works if you accept that payment for your labour comes solely from the pleasure of the task).

The No Frills 15 quotes a prototype build cost of just $2390 and that looks to be relatively recently, 2005? Even questioning whether this can really include all new spars, fittings, rigging, sails, interior etc, it's still a low cost hull and it would be difficult for the hobbyist to build it in anything other than ply for that. The space inside offers some very generous accommodation for two in such a small boat. Okay it doesn't make any claims to be an ocean crossing craft, but it is designed for the designer's needs and sailing grounds. As a flat bottom and slab sided framed craft, the pics make the build look a relatively straightforward one for the adventurous DIYer to undertake. As for the lifespan of a ply boat, granted that if neglected it will rot away pretty sharpish. The advantage though is that like their build, if well looked after, general maintenance and repairs are simple. Personally I couldn't find the time to maintain anything more than a ply tender, but for those who can trailer and keep a boat like that under cover, again it's a successful design. Would just be interesting to know how it sails and see it dealing with a bit of a swell. Don't see why it shouldn't do it's job in sheltered waters and would be great for exploring little bays, lakes, rivers and creeks. Flat bottom, what does it draw with keel up? Less than 12" by the looks.

The design itself may not be to everyone's taste but I like it. Reminds me somewhat of bigger boats like the old GRP Vivacity 650, a bit of an unorthodox design bit giving great interior space. If a boat isn't up to its brief then it can never be beautiful; if it will protect you in the conditions and areas for which it's intended then any boat should be considered beautiful in a way. People have crossed the Atlantic in boats less than 10' that look like an oversized drum.

Having a look on Google images can throw up some amazingly creative or seemingly mad designs for small boats.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=microcruiser&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch

Never seen one in real life but came across the microcruising.com site a few years ago and the Paradox, coming in at under 14' and featuring flat bottom and chine runners. Very clever design.

http://www.microcruising.com/plans1.htm

Checking out the 'Famous Boats' section is highly recommended.
 
Paradox - a sort of hell

the paradox is a very clever design

but.....

hiding down below while sailing is my idea of hell

I do not get sea sick but I am sure that it would get to me

the ability to move around a bit is prettty essential for my knees and hips

I love sailing standing up - you can really feel the boat underneath you

although

being a duck punt sailor of course I know the shape and how effective a square hull can be

the other thing is the paradox is a really heavy boat

all round I prefer the slab sided 15 footer

and you could get a dinghy rig from almost anywhere to fit on here

an old enterprise or GP14 rig would work a treat

however, when it comes to small boats

I really like the scamp from John Welsford

this little boat really is a slice of genius

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRZNWAkdkXM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTKWlhlcXPE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wo7KfBcul4c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu5LabrNFAg

Dylan
 
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