Thread: Which Boat To Build

Howdy Robert,

If you want to go racing the choices are a bit limited these days - almost all racing boats have gone the expensive route of moving to foam sandwich construction.

You can still build a competitive boat out of wood in some of these classes if you are careful with the timber selection and working through the class rules to optimise timber dimensions - maximum stiffness for minimum weight.

There is a bit of a contradiction in your requirements - generally as soon as there is a spinnaker of any size it becomes a really good reason to fit a trapeze and get more performance - this is the direction of the 125 and 145 and National E (originally called the Lazy E)

The Puffin Pacer which fits your criteria has become quite an important sail training boat for schools - but usually they sail them without the spinnakers and you would have to find a school that was participating in regular club racing at a time and place to suit yourself.

One of the major criteria is to find a class that is sailed in your area.

Other classes that might part fit your criteria are
Heron - no spinnaker
Sabre - single hander
Arrow - single handed cat
Taipan - high performance cat
Cobra - medium performance cat.
Fireball - high performance spinnaker trapeze

You can find more information on each of these by using the search here
http://www.yachting.org.au/db/class_list.asp

Many people have dropped out of the conventional club racing scene and moved to sailing wooden boats that don't fit in any class scheme. State Wooden Boat Associations have many events - cruises (ie informal races), racing (formal races) picnics (informal races) and visits to see people who are also building boats (see who the opposition is going to be next year).

Other people might have more suggestions

I'd agree with the 125 dinghy, theres a number around Melbourne, they are good for the family and would good to build. I started on one with my dad and then progressed to a mate and I. We hardly used the trapeze when we started, but it was there to use as our confidence grew.

I actually have a set of plans here somewhere, but I never got around to it. Maybe one day when my kids are old enough.

You can join the association, which is also handy for buying masts and things.

On a similair note, if you were to look at catamarans, the mosquito is quite a good starter for an father or mother/son or daughter, mum and dad, etc... Also easy to build with a good support network. The Taipan is also good with a bit higher performance, but things like the mast, beams are a lot more expensive than the Mosquito.

Food for thought

Matt

Originally Posted by bassic

Then started looking at a Puffin Pacer, but am having a lot of trouble getting any information about them.

Would appreciate any ideas, suggestions, designs etc.

Thanks

Robert

G'day Robert
Have the Pacer Association been any help ?
http://www.pacersailing.org.au/index.php
One would think they'd at least know where to get plans. Or (likely cheaper) a second-hand boat & do it up. Likely to be easier too. 1-design boats are exacting when measuring up for class acceptance.
cheers
AJ

Thanks for the replies guys.

No the Pacer Association has been no help, sent 2 e-mails and left one phone message, no reply.

I've been having a close look at the 125, thats a real possibility, bit more expensive, mainly due to rigging but not bad.

The others mentioned don't really fit the bill, I could even add a few more to the list, Paper Tiger, A Class, Tornado, Taser etc.

One that has popped up is the Lazy E or now called E Class, single trapeze but no cross tree on the mast so a lot cheaper to rig.
Anyone had any experience with them ??

Anyway thanks for the help and I'll keep you posted as things progress.

Robert

Hi Robert

Shouldn't be any real diffrence in rigging costs for the 125/National E. The National E, I'm sorry to say 'does' have spreaders, almost identical in fact (I have a mate thats owns one and have crewed for him). Both still have spinnakers and trapeze to.

The only real difference I suppose it that the 'E' is a bit longer, and I'll have to have look to make sure I'm right in saying that it is multi chined as opposed to the 125 which is single chined.

Regards

Matt

The "Lazy E" "National E Skiff" "National E" is quite a big boat for a couple of people to manage on the shore - the 125 is much lighter to lug around.

Both are reasonable sailing boats.

The 125 has a bit more sail for its weight so can be a little frisky in a stronger wind.

Paper Tiger is a good suggestion - a single handed cat.

Tornado and A class are big bikkies - huge biccies really - an A would be over $20,000 and a Tornado probably getting close to cracking $30K. Both are well beyond an average home builder to come up with something competitive as they have moved over to sophisticated foam/glass structures.

Taser is not home buildable.

MIK

Build a Goat Island Skif - easy to build, simple and fast which is important in a father and son project (kids may not hang in for a long project), easy to sail and once it's finished, you'll be able to embarress all those nancy boys with their class racers

Richard

Thanks for all the help guys, much appreciated.

Looks like the selection has been narrowed to Mirror, Pacer, 125.

All I have to do now is get in contact with someone from the Pacer Association then make I final choice. Finally I have a phone number to call.
I have already been in contact with people for the Mirror and 125.

I'll keep you posted

Thanks

Robert

Robert,

One of Mik's suggestions, the Paper Tiger catamaran would be the way I'd go.

They are pretty active down your way & re-building an older wooden one would be an affordable & interesting project if you can track down an unwanted old boat that was basically sound.

The end result is a lightweight easily sailed simple little perfomrnce catamaran that looks good too!

Al.

Robert
What about a Flying Ant.
I grew up with one and had a ball in it sailing it off the beach at Edithvale.
Although it is supposed to have a trapeze I never had mine fitted.
It was fast fun class
The are still clubs that saile them in Vic
Albert Park Yacht Clubwww.apyc.org.auVICAlbury-Wodonga Yacht Clubwww.awyc.org.auVICBlack Rock Yacht Clubwww.bryc.yachting.org.au

Howdy BVDL,

The Flying Ant is a great little boat - for a couple of kids and it is also a great boat for a single adult - but it doesn't answer the problem of a "Father and Son/Daughter" type boat.

Also the have gone high tech crazy - here is the current price for a full carbon fibre mast, boom spinnaker pole.
http://www.cstcomposites.com/flying_ant.htm

Just those bits come to $2200!!!!!!! Just to get a couple of 13 year olds on the water.

Another class that has lost its way. You can build around 7 PD Racers and get 7 to 14 kids and adults on the water for the same bucks for the Flying Ant Sticks.

But if someone picks up an older boat for cruis'n round - I'm so jealous!!!

MIK

I'd go the Pacer, definitely. It's resale value is better for starters. 125's are almost extinct. Sabres are single handed.

I sailed Pacers with my kids (came 3rd in the Vic championships 1993) and Sabres - won the Vics (twice)


Sailed PT's as well. Bloody fantastic boats but not for beginners and not 2 handed.

Have another go at calling the Pacer mob or got through the VYC.

They are absolutely perfect for what you want to do.

What part of Melb are you in?>

I could suggest a club contact if it helps.

Hey guys ... this feed back is great

It looks like the Pacer is getting the vote so far.
Paper Tiger I would love, but only single handed ... maybe later for Dad

Gumby, I live in Carrum Downs, I know the Carrum Yacht Club have a fleet of Pacers and they are only 15 min drive, did you have another club in mind ??
I am going to try the contact number I have for the Pacer Association next, see what I can come up with.

Again thanks for the feed back

Robert

Originally Posted by bassic

Hey guys ... this feed back is great

It looks like the Pacer is getting the vote so far.
Paper Tiger I would love, but only single handed ... maybe later for Dad

Gumby, I live in Carrum Downs, I know the Carrum Yacht Club have a fleet of Pacers and they are only 15 min drive, did you have another club in mind ??
I am going to try the contact number I have for the Pacer Association next, see what I can come up with.

Again thanks for the feed back

Robert

I sailed at Carrum for about 20 years. Mention the name Gumby down there and you'll get a reaction. I was Rear Commodore there, and also did the club magazine for many years. I left about 3 years ago.

However, the club is just about kaput. They'd be lucky to have 6 boats on the water each week. I remember the days when fleets of 100 were not uncommon. We would get 20-30 Sabres and almost as many Pacers and 125's. Ah, those were the days.

They do have a keen Committee and are looking for new members. They run a training school most Sunday mornings.

If a laid back approach with friendly, helpful people and not big fleet racing is what you want, then give them a go.

http://www.carrumsailingclub.com.au/

Otherwise, check out Frankston, Mordialloc Sailing Club or Beaumaris who would have more Pacers in their fleets.