Troller yacht or "Motorsailing"

[Marc]

Has anyone come across this page?
I find the idea very appealing. I always "hated" sailboats, (sorry) yet love to be at sea. This hybrid is just up my alley!.

http://dieselducks.com/Concept.html
http://dieselducks.com/sail-backup.html

Have a look at this one, why didn't they built it upside down?
Too big to turn around?
GlenL's Klondike is well over 50' and is built upside down. Doesn't have such a massive keel though.
http://dieselducks.com/Wood-constructionphotos.html
http://www.glen-l.com/designs/cruiser/dsn-kldd.html
http://dieselducks.com/Jerrys%2038Duck-2.html (http://dieselducks.com/Jerrys%2038Duck-2.html)

[mcarthur]

Personally I'd be looking at a kite (http://www.kiteship.com/) for "backup". I suppose my dream would be a electric powered catamaran with kite for cross+downwind/emergency use.

Rob

[TK1]

Hi Marc,

I've always been a fan of the Diesel Ducks and similar trawler/troller yachts - more appealing to my eye than 'sleek' cruisers. I could certainly stand doing a lap of Oz in one :D But no chance I'd fit one in my backyard to build it (not without disturbing my grave where SWMBO would hide my body before the keel was finished :(( ).

I guess they built it right-way-up as that's how the steel ducks are built...I've seen bigger boats turned over. Laminated 2x4's for the keel? That's a lot of trips to Bunnings :o . No doubt easier in a shed to build it right way up, then just slide it out.

Do a search for trawler yacht or troller yacht plans on the web - there's a few others out there with similar designs.

Are you thinking of building a duck or something similar?

Regards,
Darren

[Marc]

I'll start building a Symon Skiff just to get the hang of it, then may be a Noyo Tralwer or Jolly Roger.
However the idea of taking the diesel duck plans to China and gettin one built over there in steel is permanently stuck in the back of my mind.

[dopeydriver]

What about a Pilothouse ketch Marc !. A nice huon pine ketch .
Rob J.













rtchyy

[Wild Dingo]

Gidday Marc
I'm guessing youve been to George Beuhlers home page (http://www.georgebuehler.com/photothumbs.html) and his deisel ducks page? (http://dieselducks.com/stock%20plans.html)

He does have some amazing designs doesnt he? I also like his design philosophy :2tsup:

Note: links provided for those interested :;

[TK1]

Hi MArc,

Check out Bruce Roberts' designs too... http://www.bruceroberts.com/

He does similar ones to George B, and some mighty nice boats on offer. If you do a search there's another set of Bruce Roberts plans/sites - some family split that happened had Bruce went one way and his son/son-in-law/someone else (can't recall) went another way with some of the older plans.

I like his 'Spray' boats and could handle building one (or having one built in China :rolleyes:).

Dingo - Marc mentioned the Noyo and you didn't go all misty-eyed and sing it's praises...are you OK? :p

Nice to build any of these...for now I'll keep looking at the websites and frowning at my workshop that's about 90% too small to get one into!

Regards,
Darren

[Marc]

When it comes to build anything over 20' I don't think the ordinary backyard shed, perhaps with the exception of some blessed people, can fit the boat and keep some room for working around it, let alone 30 or more feet.
I think it is either rent a workshop in some remote corner or a temporary building/tent of the appropriate dimensions.

Yes, the Noyo was the first to catch my eye, and still has the singular advantage to be trailerable. the Jolly Roger or the Jack Tar, are a marina proposition. Not cheap but oh so nice...parking spot, shower and change room...did I mention $700 a month?:U
THe Diesel Ducks, well, they are there. One day, not too distant.

[Wild Dingo]

:doh: :doh: :doh: Damn my eyes he bloody well did mutter about the Noyo!!!:doh: :doh:

must be an age thing eh? :B been an ol fart for all of one day an see what happens?!! :C somebody shoot me!!! :o :o :U :U

[TK1]

Marc,

When you grow out of the Diesel Duck, you can get one of these....

I saw it in Sydney harbour in Dec 2005...the "Lone Ranger" - owned by a rich guy from the US (inherited an insurance company or something), a 255 foot ex-sea salvage tug, converted to a private tug/motor yacht. :oo:

Spoke to one of the crew (but couldn't get on board), they sail it around the world, equipped for 6 months at sea at a time, he flies out to wherever they go and cruises around. Rear deck has large outdoor bbq / entertaining area, holds a few boats and toys, superstructure spaces converted to dining room, lounge, study, etc.

Ahh, the simple life of sailing a little boat around the world :U

Just what you need...may be a little hard to get it down the boat ramp at Bobbin Head though.

Regards,
Darren

[Marc]

Gorgeous little thing.
One downside though. The number of people you need on it :no:
I stick with this...without the crew.
http://dieselducks.com/55buildng/55Sea%20trial%201.jpg

[Marc]

Personally I'd be looking at a kite (http://www.kiteship.com/) for "backup". I suppose my dream would be a electric powered catamaran with kite for cross+downwind/emergency use.

Rob

That kite is something ! Good fuel saver on a trawler...not with crosswind though.

[bitingmidge]

Enjoy your dreams kiddies!

Then, BEFORE you fork out the big bucks, check out resale values on some of the boats discussed above, I mean resale values right here in OZ. Value means the price actually achieved, not the ask.

See if it's worth it. Ask yourself why some of these designs are almost given away.

After that, wangle a trip on a similar boat, and see if the dream matches the reality.

For me, the boats featured on my calendar can stay there, I know what will work for me, (not when I can afford it though! :rolleyes: ) and I know that with the missus getting on a bit too, it won't be fair on her getting a boat with all that maintenance required!

cheers,

P
:D

[Fugley]

Well said Midge..
Never a truer word spoken..
Jim P

[TK1]

Ditto, Well said Midge.

What is it 'they' say? "The happiest 2 days in a boat-owner's life is the day he buys it, and the day he sells it."

I know a few people who have owned larger boats - and the above is true. Most sit on the docks too...I read recently that at least one Melbourne marina was going to charge extra (or possibly evict) for boats that didn't leave the docks a certain number of times a year...with waiting lists for berths, they're sick of people mooring a boat, and never using it!

Anything I build - dream boat or otherwise - will be trailerable, and something the whole family can use (except for the kayak...need a bit of peace and quiet:D ).

But we can all dream, don't let reality stand in the way of that!

Darren

[Wild Dingo]

mmm but then... I have many mates here and overseas that spend any spare time they can get aboard their 40ft and larger boats and believ mme the happiest days of their lives are those theyre enjoying between buying amd selling!! :2tsup:

[Marc]

Yes Dingo you are 100% correct

Boats, just like motor homes cars, weekenders or family homes are a liability.
We accept to have a liability to live in and even get brainwashed into believing it is an asset. But it is not.

It is intersting to think that most home owners in Australia have a 200 to 800 thousand dollars LIABILITY on a budget.

As with any liability, (that is something that takes money out of your pocket) we must assess our capability to support the losses and balance it against what it gives us back, i.e. Living in it, or having a good time on it.

What happens is that we sometimes overestimate the gains and underestimate the losses. Not different from buying a waterfront property or a cabin in Thredbo on a budget and struggle to pay the council fees.

I think anyone on a modest income or even no income can have a liability and manage. It is just a matter of balance. It is not "boats" that are some form of evil, it is rather our perception of what is good, and what is bad that can sometimes be a handicap.

We all have a blueprint in our mind of what we consider to be "OK" and what is not "OK". If we step outside that blueprint for some temporary madness, we pay with pain.
So if we wanted to expand our horizon (big boat) we must first change the blueprint, and that takes some rework.

Oops sorry for the rant.:B

[Wild Dingo]

Oops sorry for the rant.:B

No worries were into "rant" :2tsup:

Personally a stinkpot isnt my cuppa... cept maybe a fishing boat of the Noyo type otherwise I prefer the wind and not havin to pay the fuel companies or the federal govt to be able to use my lifestyle choice... but Marc mate your future your choice :; ...there are some stunning stinkers out there I can appreciate that and in a masochistic way understand your sadistic tendencies toward a stinker... no woories :2tsup:

[Marc]

Ha ha, that is one way to put it!
I think people who want to live on sailboats are masochist, or under 5 foot and less than 80 pounds in weight. or....masters at yoga hi hi. :U

Noyo Trawler.... chug, chug.
Can I have one of those fog horns or may be a bell? :p

[bitingmidge]

Actually Ding, some food for thought:

When I last did the sums (before fuel became expensive) the cost of rigging and sails on a 35 ft catamaran was enough to buy enough fuel to get the same boat at least once round the world. Of course in the time that would take, said rigging and sails would need replacement or a big slab of maintenance at least.

Talk to most cruising yachties about the percentage of time spent sailing vs motoring, and I think you'll be surprised.

(Don't talk to any of the stalwarts who are circumnavigating without any auxiliary!)

cheers.

P:D

[Walnutty]

Greetings,

New here to this great forum, and saw your question on the other addiction I have, boats. This may be nothing but preaching to the choir, but I did not see these referred to.

This site may interest you, and the boat itself might be a bit short for your needs, (seeing the entry from George's Duck site), but, this particular displacement hull (TW28), is about to become the little brother to a TW34.

http://gallery.bateau2.com/thumbnails.php?album=403&page=1

http://boatplans-online.com/proddetail.php?prod=TW28

Interestingly, a fellow Aussie has recently completed the TW28, and to a very high level of finish. These are also made plan ready for a stay sail provision, just as Georges ducks are, and utilize a now very robust and mature construction method, termed "stitch and glue". Don't let that fool you, these are as far away from thread and paste as is a fire-cracker to a 30mm bear tamer.

A monocoqe and easy sandwich, these vessels go together very, very quick, with being very sound of construction (yours).

Anyhow, hope this might interest you a bit

Helge Entries (http://homepage.mac.com/wendellgallagher/Helge/helge_entries.html) Another George builder

Cheers,

WN-