Joel White's "Shearwater"

[b.o.a.t.]

"Shearwater" is on page 28 of my copy of Woodenboats' "50 Wooden Boats". Every time I leaf through it, the turning of pages just kind of ceases at that point. My head says it isn't really practical, not compared with MIK's GIS or Welsford's Houdini, etc, etc, but the style & simplicity is delightful to my eye.

Does anyone know of any that have been built in Oz? Does anyone know of any owner/builder performance reports ?

cheers
AJ

[tunahound]

There's a pretty nice skin on frame version built by Brian Schulz in August 2006 WoodenBoat magazine. Weighs in less than 200 pounds.

Cheers

[malcolm]

the latest wooden boat is a "small boats" issue that reviews several designs. Shearwater is one of them.

http://www.woodenboat.com/wbmag/small-boats.html

[Bleedin Thumb]

:worthless:

[b.o.a.t.]

For Bleedin Thumb's benefit:

sketches
http://www.woodenboatstore.com/prodinfo.asp?number=400-058&variation=&aitem=5&mitem=15

photos
http://www.sailoar.co.uk/Biography.cfm


Thanks Malcom & Tunahound.

Have also found a couple of old discussion threads.
Suspect that the lines which make Shearwater so appealing also militate against it. A pulling boat with sailing ability, rather than a sailing boat which can be rowed. Seems that even Joel White did an improved 18' version. Would be a good one to row down the Murray (if it ever rains again), but then what ?... Adelaide lacks the plethora of scenic sheltered waterways that litter the east coast.

cheers
AJ

[Bleedin Thumb]

Thankyou.....now for my uninformed opinion.... as you say - sexy lines, but the free-board would worry me.

[malcolm]

Gert who hangs about here

http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/

has built one. At one stage there were pics up but no more?