Thread: Oughtred Shearwater or Guillemot?

Have you looked at http://www.jordanboats.co.uk/JB/iain_oughtred.htm
Much of the comparison info you are after is in Iain's pdf notes for each design.
Would suggest Guillemot will row better than Shearwater.
Shearwater will sail faster than Guillemot.

Never buit anything in lapstrake so can't offer experience. At a guess, Shearwater's stern lines will likely be easier to plank than Guillemot's wineglass.

cheers
AJ

Howdy,

AJ hits the points in the right place. You have to decide what you want to do.

While a sailboat can make an acceptable rowboat even for medium length journeys a good rowboat generally is a tricky boat to sail (because of reduced stability) and there is some problem getting enough lateral plane (a centreboard, whether swinging or dagger, is the best solution) to make a rowboat go well to windward.

So if you really dig rowing ... get a purpose designed rowboat.

But if you view sailing with any degree of seriousness then go for the sailboat.

As far as ease of construction .... all Oughtred boats are excellent. Get his book on clinker boatbuilding too.

As far as kits ... there is only one licenced precut kit supplier in Australia ... So only one manufacturer ... they use the same cutting information as they use in the UK kits. So everyone gets kits in the same place - so you can choose anyone with good customer service. Ducks is fine.

Best wishes
Michael

Thanks for your advice its been helpful, I think I'll go with the Shearwater.
...MIK, you mentioned there are other sellers of the Oughtred Kits, what other sellers of kits are there in Aus?

Thanks
Sean

I don't know Sean. The manufacturer has only recently started up after getting the official rights from the UK chap that digitised the plan and worked out the 3d plank shapes laid out on the flat.

MIK

Sean, don't know if this helps but here goes,

I have recently owned a Gannet, the larger version of Shearwater. Super sailing boat, great family boat, not really for rowing. Sail's really well, great balance. The Shearwater is my favourite small dinghy design - planing ability with classic looks. The man who built my Gannet is now building the Shearwater, so hope to have a sail in her one day.

My son owns a 13'6" Tammie Norrie, very much a sail and oar design. She is a real sweetie. Lovely to sail and lovely to row. My son is stopped all the time by admirers. Quite how Iain managed to make her sail so well and row so well I do not know. I thought she might be tender but she is not at all, just a delight to sail.

Water Craft came to test them both in August, with an Acorn 15, and the report is due I think in the Jan/Feb 2009 issue. The idea was that Gannet was "sail with oar", TN was "sail and oar", and Acorn was "oar and sail". All similar lengths but very different beams.

Brian

G'Day Brian,
It's been a while since I first requested advice and in the intervening time I have come to the same conclusion and have committed to the Tammie Norrie. I really like the lines after visiting a new-friend's TN he built several years ago. We are intending to go for a sail when the appropriate time comes along but I am encouraged by your description of sail AND oar. I was mostly concerned about launching/sailing/recovering the boat on my own but after seeing Richard's I am comfortable that with a good trailer I can accomplish an easy day out on my own.

Sean
For anyone interested I am getting DuckFlat to supply materials enough to complete the TN to the 'turnover' stage inclu Red Cedar thwarts/transom/knees/stem etc. They will also precision cut the molds for me. I get the pack delivered to Canberra in the next few weeks.

Sean, that's great, you have chosen well. She really is a very nice design, and keep a look out for the Water Craft issue with the article about TN.

Brian