Thread: Trailer sailor

An interesting new boat, same length and beam as RAID41 but with a 60kg bulb is the K1



from the same designer as the RS K6

K1 Design

Brian

While the K1 doesn't come close to fitting the requirement, I quite like this boat. Though with its small non-overlapping boomed jib, I'm surprised the designer has missed the opportunity for a self-tacker.

Howdy,

Maybe one day I will do a trailer sailer if I can work out a formula that hasn't been exploited already and looks interesting.

The problem is that small boat plans sell quite well but bigger boats ... you only sell a few plans.

It don't mean NO ... but it does mean it will be some time before I do something unless I see a really interesting niche that is worth exploring.

MIK

Fleshing out the details on larger craft follow the same laws of mechanical similitude and relativity, that cause designers to curse loudly at resizing requests too.

Haha ... when I hear the word resize ... I reach for my pistol.

MIK

Originally Posted by keyhavenpotter

An interesting new boat, same length and beam as RAID41 but with a 60kg bulb is the K1



from the same designer as the RS K6

K1 Design

Brian

Thanks for showing this Brian - I am catching up with Bryan tonight and if tomorrow is good sailing weather .. it is a test sail in the RAID41.

MIK

Originally Posted by Boatmik

I am catching up with Bryan tonight and if tomorrow is good sailing weather .. it is a test sail in the RAID41.

I'm really interresting in it!

It is here
https://www.woodworkforums.com/f169/m...4/index10.html

Originally Posted by woodeneye

MIK, I'd love for you to design a decent weekend trailer sailor with a cabin and lug rig. With the usual Storer flair, it will be easy to build, lighter than what they call "lightweight" elsewhere, and much simpler and cheaper to rig.

I've looked at the offerings around at the moment and if I had to choose a design to build, it would be a case of "well, it's not quite what I'm after, but it'll have to do".

Well, I can dream can't I?

I'm hopeless at drawing, but this is the sort of Trailer Sailor I was thinking of. Of course it's not to scale. Length about 18-19'.

Ahhhhhhh, "Pooh" paper . . .

Originally Posted by PAR

Ahhhhhhh, "Pooh" paper . . .

What can I say?

Originally Posted by Boatmik

Howdy,

Maybe one day I will do a trailer sailer if I can work out a formula that hasn't been exploited already and looks interesting.

The problem is that small boat plans sell quite well but bigger boats ... you only sell a few plans.

It don't mean NO ... but it does mean it will be some time before I do something unless I see a really interesting niche that is worth exploring.

MIK

I totally agree with this. I have spend some time exploring DIY trailersailers and there is hardly anything that has not been designed yet.

I would think there is probably a market for a slightly bigger GIS style design, 18 foot with similar looks, great performance and simplicity. For family day-sailing, campcruising or raids. Joost and I discussed that you even could think about using the standard GIS rig, rudder and centerboard in this design and make it a yawl. This means existing GIS owners could easily " upgrade " themselves to a bigger boat. They only need to invest in a hull and mizzen and could sell their standard GIS hull......... or keep that one to build their small "fleet" as many boatbuilders tend to do
Food for a thought?

Originally Posted by Watermaat

I totally agree with this. I have spend some time exploring DIY trailersailers and there is hardly anything that has not been designed yet.

I would think there is probably a market for a slightly bigger GIS style design, 18 foot with similar looks, great performance and simplicity. For family day-sailing, campcruising or raids. Joost and I discussed that you even could think about using the standard GIS rig, rudder and centerboard in this design and make it a yawl. This means existing GIS owners could easily " upgrade " themselves to a bigger boat. They only need to invest in a hull and mizzen and could sell their standard GIS hull......... or keep that one to build their small "fleet" as many boatbuilders tend to do
Food for a thought?

I think I've found what I've been looking for, the Norwalk Islands Sharpie. The NIS comes in a whole range of sizes from 18' up and also have quite a simple construction method, flat bottom and a simple, unstayed rig. (Designed by Bruce Kirby who designed the Laser) They seem to be becoming very popular here is Australia & kits are also available, so this is the closest yet to what I'm after, post GIS. Quite seaworthy little boats too it seems, with one of them having crossed Bass Strait.



http://www.nisboats.com/pdfs/nis18%20ketch.pdf.
nisboats.com - Your Norwalk Islands Sharpies One Stop Shop

Originally Posted by PAR

Much over 18' and solo launching starts becoming difficult. There are literally thousands of designs to choose from in this size range (the 17' to 18' trailer boat is the most popular size worldwide).

At 17' a well designed, half decked, open boat should be in the 300 to 350 pound range, using a fairly light plywood such as Okoume. You can go lighter, but you'll have to forgo air boxes, lockers, etc.. Beam would be around 6' on this type of boat, much over this and you're dragging around more then you need. 120 to 130 sq. ft. of sail area and you've got some potential.

Add a small cuddy cabin to this, maybe just enough to sit in and avoid a passing rain squall. This might add 50 pounds. All for about 15% of the full up boat weight and not much of a burden.

Boats this size are easily over burdened and this is a pit fall that many drop into. Once you try to install a regular cabin, bridge deck, raised cockpit sole, etc., suddenly the design is 2/3's to twice as much more then it needs to be and sailing performance pays dearly for this. The Pocketship is a classic example of this problem. I call it the Dolly Parton syndrome (you might not get this if you're not an American). Maybe it's better to call it 10 pounds of boob in a 5 pound bra. Don't anyone try to fool you into thinking it's fast, because it's not and it's heavy as 15' boats go too (800 pounds hull weight).


I guess my point is, be careful what you wish for. In small boats, you can't have your cake and eat it too.

Good points, but as I search for something that would be suitable for camp cruising, the weights are all comparable:

Pocketship: 800#
Great Pelican: 950#
Montgomery 15: 750# (plastic)
Compac 16: 1,100# (plastic)

etc. etc.

Do you have any examples of a 350 pound hull weight boat that'll provide a berth for at least two in relative comfort, and will be stable enough to sail around coastal Maine and the rest of New England for several days at a time? Or is this the point of the thread?

Really curious as I continue to hunt for something perfect for me.

Thanks.