Penobscot decision time

[Rum_Pirate]

I am thinking about building a dinghy for my son and myself to go sailing and was struck by the lines of this Penobscot 14 footer:

http://www.by-the-sea.com/archdavisdesign/davis_penobscot14.html

I also am looking at this :
http://www.by-the-sea.com/archdavisdesign/davis_penobscot17.html

Difference cost is small but would like to hear your pros/cons for each on length and 'buildability' etc comments any suggestions .

 

[Peterduck]

Think past the building stage to the sailing stage. What are you going to do with it when it is built? How many people are you going to have in the boat; are they adults or children? Where are you going to sail it? A protected inlet, or out to sea, perhaps island-hopping? The 17 footer will go further than the fourteen. The 14 will be OK for two, or three if two of them are small kids, but the 17 will carry 3 adults. I have seen too many people who are first-time builders build a boat which they think they can manage through the building stage. When it is completed, they find that it is too small to do what they wanted to do in the first place.
Peter.

 

[Rum_Pirate]

[ QUOTE ]
Think past the building stage to the sailing stage. What are you going to do with it when it is built? How many people are you going to have in the boat; are they adults or children? Where are you going to sail it? A protected inlet, or out to sea, perhaps island-hopping? The 17 footer will go further than the fourteen. The 14 will be OK for two, or three if two of them are small kids, but the 17 will carry 3 adults. I have seen too many people who are first-time builders build a boat which they think they can manage through the building stage. When it is completed, they find that it is too small to do what they wanted to do in the first place.
Peter.

[/ QUOTE ] Go sailing in reletively sheltered coastal waters, crossing to another island about 3 miles away. Teaching my son (currently 10) to sail plus two of his friends, most likely to be in boat (if the 17) is 5 - 2 adults and my son plus two of his friends. Then my son and friends and also just me for an afternoon sail on my own to get away from it all.

If the 14 footer then 1 adult and two lads.

I almost think I have answered my query. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif but interested to hear views.

 

[Peterduck]

It certainly sounds as though the 14 footer would be stretched to do all that you would eventually want to do. Does the wind funnel in increased strength between the islands? It is the sort of thing that I would expect. In those conditions, even a 17 footer can seem a tad undersized. It might also have a chat to Arch Davis and see what conditons he had in mind when he drew the design. A designer will often have quite firm ideas on what his design should and should not be expected to do.
Peter.

 

[Rum_Pirate]

The wind funnel does not really increase in strength between the islands. The islands are fairly low. They do give a good bit of lee shadow.

This is the channel
http://www.turtlebeach1.com/photo7.html
see also
http://www.turtlebeach1.com/indexmain.html
and
http://www.turtlebeach1.com/photomain.html

I also moor my 22'0" Mako centre console there, and 'NO' I do not have a financial or other such interest in Turtle Beach. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

In any event the wind conditions are generally quite stable (daily basis) and I would certainly always use judgement before setting out.

BTW there is a Drascombe lugger owned by a friend and he sails it across the channel regularly with no difficulty.

 

[Rum_Pirate]

See better view of channel

http://www.turtlebeach1.com/nevis01.jpg

http://www.turtlebeach1.com/indexjohn.html

 

[Rum_Pirate]

I have ordered the plans for this :
http://www.by-the-sea.com/archdavisdesign/davis_penobscot17.html

Oh my God, What have I done????