Thread: Solo "Expedition" Sailboat

I can set up a poll ... but first ... I want to think about the idea of any sort of class norm.

While I definitely and strongly have limited the sailmaking options for the OZ PDRacer because it is strongly aimed at introductory sailing and club racing and the polytarp sail keeps the price down like no other factor. Very worthwhile.

A large part of this reason is I expect the PDRacers to cluster strongly together Geographically and there will be bunches of them racing together ... so I wanted to prevent the usual "arms race" from the start.

However, what do you guys think about the PRINCIPLE of class rules. The ones I was envisaging ... if any were along the lines of maxlength, minbeam, square hull (almost), ketch or yawl, minweight, ply thickness specification, maxmastheight.

I think breaking into groups of sailmaking materials and methods is a lot tricky. My feeling is not to go above a certain level of sailcloth ... woven dacron ... and that builders may downgrade from there if they want.

We do have the rule in the OZ subclass that while boats and components can be built professionally that they cannot have any features that cannot be duplicated by an amateur builder. I administer those rules and won't be handing them over to a commitee any time soon.
http://www.pdracer.info/PDRdesign/ausrule.html

And the international rules for the whole class
http://www.pdracer.info/PDRdesign/allrules.html

Not suggesting we follow anything but the functional style of such rules ...

Wouldn't it be fun to find an ACTUAL handicap figure for dacron vs polytarp sails .. I would love to find out that the polytarp sails are on average 3.6% slower ... wouldn't that freak out the sailmakers ... or maybe they would rejoice? Dunno.

So...

Over to you ...

Note that I did not specify max sail area. hehe

I would be planning to block that loophole later ... but it took a long time to find out that the PDRs can handle 82 or 89 square feet in most conditions with the boat sailed by experienced sailors and in average conditions by just about everyone.

MIK

For any UK sailors, I have just received a quote from Sanders Sails, who make all the lug rig sails around here, for a set of RAID41 sails. The costs were £320 for the main and £150 for the mizzen. There are many good sailmakers in the UK, but I can certainly recommend Sanders Sails very highly.

Brian

Thanks very much for getting the quote Brian. That is quite a bit cheaper than I would have thought to be honest! Judging by your magnificent looking scow sail there doesn't seem much point going anywhere else (at least for option 'A' in the UK).

Is your builder raring to go? It sounds like MIK is burning the midnight oil finalising the drawings!

Chris

Hi Chris

I thought the quote was good as well. Perhaps if we do order we could help Pete by ordering together to make it more efficient for him.

Chris is having to cope with very cold weather very early in the winter and it has slowed him down a bit waiting for epoxy to cure. Wood Duck 12 well on its way though, hull completed and final finishing well started


http://strathkanchris.wordpress.com/...lt/candyfloss/

Sounds like MIK is also getting close, how exciting when a plan comes together!!!

Brian

Sounds like a good idea, I just need to sell a Westerly 25 first or my wife will kill me!

Chris

Originally Posted by keyhavenpotter

Hi Chris

Sounds like MIK is also getting close, how exciting when a plan comes together!!!

Brian

Multiply that by ten for me!

The dreaming up the boat is great ... I even enjoy the basic drafting and so on.

Making everything fit together in terms of process is hugely rewarding ... but I would not start to suggest it is fun!!!

And when it is finished!!! YES!

MIK

Michael,

I've been following this thread with a great deal of interest. The first boat I ever considered building was a Bolger "Jinni," might even be sailing now if I'd stuck with it . What put me off was the lack of detail in the plans, something that can't be said about your plans . The RAID41 strikes me as a highly developed Jinni and has an awful lot going for it.. I particularly like the fact that it uses some of the bits from the PDRacer. I'll definitly buy a set of plans to admire while I build the PDR and look forward to the day when the RAID can be my retirement project.

One question, I know it's been designed as a single hander but does it have enough displacement to be day-sailed with two?

I have a feeling that most people racing this boat would be in open classes unlike the PDRs which hopefully will race against each other. Perhaps any class rules should be fairly open to give owners the opportunity to be competitive against other boats but still race against each other if the opportunity arises. Just a thought. I know mine will be built as cheaply as possible and have homemade polytarp sails .

cheers,
clay

I have finished the drawings and am compiling the plan Up to page 8. Worked out that because the explanation text will be much less (as this is a supplement to the PDRacer plans) .. that it makes sense to go to a landscape format. Quite a few long thing drawings and not much text.



Michael

Good news! I was holding back from asking about developments - better to let you get on with it in peace!

I take it that you are happy with the way it has turned out?

Chris

I am pretty happy with it Clarkey,

I think it has the makings of a nice and interesting boat. The rowing position continues to be the biggest struggle .. to balance that with the recovery from capsize scenario. One asks for a high self draining floor, the other one asks for a low one.

I am drawing it with some camber (curve) in the deck ... but I think some people will go for flat PDRacer type decks to save time. Maybe I would go that way too. With flat decks and painted a single colour (maybe with the varnished "cabin") - it would look like a real machine.

But on the other hand ... varnished with the curved decks would be pretty cool.

Can't you see ... I don't have a clue!!!

Put the sail area up a bit too - just a little.

Yes, I was thinking about the rowing position the other day.

The problem may not be so much getting the seat high, than to get the feet down low enough to be comfortable. If a small footwell was let into the floor it could be filled with a matching waterproof box while sailing. This box could be lifted out for rowing and form the seat. Stick a couple of access hatches in it and it would still be useful for stowage.

Chris

Geez .. I think you could patent that one Chris.

It's ok, I'll let that one go for the benefit of all humankind! http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...lies/smile.gif