SAILBOAT
I always promised myself that I would design and build a sailing boat.
A modicum of reality suggested that an open 16-foot camping day boat would fit in my workshop and stand a reasonable chance of getting finished.
Design for me is always fired by having performance expectations, which in my experience, makes for more visual interest. This is never truer than for sailing boats. Where to compromise to achieve which desired effects? Speed or stability, manoeuvrability or a relaxing time - at each stage I was on a steep learning curve.
I want to explore estuaries and coastal waters in moderate conditions but seaworthy enough for seas you would rather not be in. I wanted her to be quick, to be able to rig and sail her single-handedly or seat four or more people in comfort.
In the next phase, there will be a battened tent over the hoops and sleep two -watch this space.
Sailing boats are characterised by having a great deal of tension and very high point loads.
I wanted to have a bendy rig to yield to gusts. To be softer. She has two unstayed carbon fibre masts supported by the hoops - they rotate to improve the airflow and bend in line with the sail angles. There are no conventional booms to crack your head on, and no standing rigging.
I wanted something which was much more relaxed and forgiving but without losing performance.
So far my modest calculations and intuition have stood up in light airs but a few modifications to sails are in hand for more demanding conditions.
The marine ply hull is light, but there is a steel raisable keel giving ballast where it’s needed to aid stability. Hoops are steamed and laminated oak, oak gunwales, and other timbers are Douglas fir and spruce.
Length 4.92 M. Width 1.8 M. Draft, keel up 20 cm. Keel down 82 cm. Sail area 12 sq. M. weight including masts and sails C 250 Kg.
