Thread: A serious question

Hey dopey
try http://www.cheoyleeassociation.com/vertue.htm

or
http://www.vertueowners.org.uk/

mostly in the England


Thanks Bloggs it's got me looking

Originally Posted by Ramps

I'm seriously looking at the NIS (Norwalk Island Sharpies) for my next vessel

At the last meeting of the WBAQ we had an illustrated presentation by Ian Phillips (owner of Boatcraft Pacific), of a voyage he made with Robert Ayliffe (of NIS fame) from Victoria to Hobart on Robert's NIS (Charlie Fisher if I remember aright).

It's a great story and If you wanted to hear it first-hand I'm sure either of these gentlemen would love to tell you about it.

I'm actually on the NIS site , we have heard bits of the adventure down to Hobart , and are waiting for the full account.
I've also listened to first hand accounts of the men who took open 'couta boats down there and back in the past.
They knew the waters and coasts well , but still its a lot different in a little open couta boat , than a great big steel fishing boat !.
They enjoyed the experience they say , but I haven't seen them put their hand up to do it again !.
Rob J.

NIS are great inshore boats but are better sailed with very little heel meaning upright
And what his name Robert Ayliffe who last year sailed Charlie Fisher from Outer Harbour to Vincent in a record breaking in 16 hrs arriving at 2230, trip that should take 6 or so in good conditions he had 4 people onboard for the trip over 2 were smart enough to come back by other means
So he claims they do wonderful things but he takes risks most people are smart enough not to

Sorry to diverge somewhat DD (but at least it keeps the thread alive) but I'd be keen on other suggestions.

OK NIS have there drawbacks ... what's the alternative recommendations?

After posting the vertue sites the other day I realised that no one is selling plans for a Vertue ... the best you can get is a GRP hull (I think) and that's for the UK.

come on more suggestions for a cruiser w/e-der or more (I think that's what DD was requesting at the outset of this thread ... at least that's what I read it as)

Ok DD Ive been thinkin on this wee problemo of yours since I posted my last reply

Now... Ive heard tell from some reasonably reliable people that more circumnavigations are done in boats under 30ft than over... the need or perceived need for a big boat to do such journeys is a tad over rated and over stated by the magazines sales brokers and others.. while it is a good thing to have "more room" its not absolutely necessary for a successful trip to wherever as it will add up to a) more work in handling b) more difficulty for solo sailing c) higher costs in marinas d) higher maintenance levels etc etc

Also... given than many an explorer set out in boats under 40ft Id say your chances of getting well out there is a good one

Okay so for me I wouldnt go further offshore than say the 5 mile reef in anything less than {in a mono} a Murray Petersons Susan
A building log is being setup on Woodenboat.com forum by RodB well worth purusing for all the info and photos as the boat goes together
Number 1
number 2
number 3
number 4

at 29ft she would do the journey to anywhere and back safely

So you want to do what the yanks call gunkholing in and around sallow waters... you need as little ballast under her bum as you can get... my advice here is either a catamaran under 20ft Id be looking at either Mike Waller who has a quite a good choice and selection of both mono and cats young Scottyk is building one of his designs or Ross Turner from both the plans are reasonably priced

Or go for the flat bottom type... so we can look at say Stevensons Weekender, Vacationer or Pocket Cruiser designs... the plans are great well laid out clear and no dramas takes about 3 weeks apter payment of the $50AUD for plans to arrive so as far as cost goes cheep as chups as the kiwis say
Ken Hankinsons designs are now available through GlenL both of whom have some designs that would fit your perameters
Reuel Parker Marine could also have something of interest along with Bruce Roberts

Id suggest you go to THE MOTHER and prepare to be mesmerized for days weeks months years even

When you get there simply scroll down the page and you will notice a huge selection of links look down till you see "Designers, Plans & Kits A to M", "Designers, Plans & Kits N to Z" then "Free Plans" but you will see what I mean when you get there.. just click whatever interests you and it will take you to another page with a bloody long list of links to designers pages just wander around the different sites till you see what you want Some may well be out of date but persevere its worth it

I can get Phil Bolgers address fax and phone numbers if you want.. hes sorta old fashioned as far as Im aware he still doesnt have email but if you contact Dynamite Payson through his site Im pretty sure he is in pretty regular contact but then again ol dynamite may also have something for you?

Okay so there you go for now Anyways without more info from you I could go on all night so will leave it for now

Note to those interested GlenL finally after months of trying discussions and twisting of Kens now retired arm managed to convince him that his designs were in demand and have come to some sort of arrangement so that they're again available... bloody good stuff in my book!!

Seeing we're going to confuse the lad with options, how about another Australian - Murray Isles boat designs. There were concerns about the plans years ago but I understand that these have been been well and truly sorted and the designs make good use of space and draft.

Richard

Originally Posted by Daddles

Seeing we're going to confuse the lad with options, how about another Australian - Murray Isles boat designs. There were concerns about the plans years ago but I understand that these have been been well and truly sorted and the designs make good use of space and draft.

Richard

Richard the only issue I have with his designs is his site!! you cant get a thumbnail pic of them without having to download the bloody pdf file and some of them dont bloody well work Ive always appreciated the small effort it takes to load a thumbnail onto the page that one can click to open a larger general arrangement pic or a pic of one built from that then you can then download the study plan... if your interested... with Murrays page {and its the reason I didnt post a link to it} you have a scant few words on which to make a choice if you want to download the study plans... NOT everyone is on adsl or broadband... and I do think the linked SPs should open up once downloaded but Ive just checked a few and some dont so you want to look at them? tuff bad bad bad

but okay DD could email phone or fax and get them sent to him... me I wont bother to many other choices out there to worry about one site that doesnt want to work and the designer or web master doesnt or cant be bothered making thumbnails for... just move on

Jeez Dingo , that a heap of material , thank you !.
I've now subscribed to the English "Watercraft" magazine , and I've got a heap of back issues , and I've got about 30 years of "Wooden Boat" magazine too.
Without pouring back over the magazines and coming up with actual boats and builders , or going in to your posted sites mate , it seems to me that more of the old fishing boat style would suit me , and may well do the job.
One article written by Paul Gartside has stuck in my mind . He was talking about the underwater profile of boats.
Not only for the way it affects their sailing ability , but also their vulnerability. He sited just how vulnerable the more "racey" keel is to damage.
A boat I'm looking forward to sailing on is the 28 ft 'couta' boat "Rosebud" . Apparently it is well ballasted , as well as having a big centreboard , and carries the most sail of any 'couta' boat .It is apparently an extremely powerful boat , and I'm really looking forward to sailing in her.
But something around 30 ft , a full keel , well ballasted , with a centreboard , gaff rigged and set up to keep you relatively dry , is that too much to ask , or appropriate ?.
Anyway Dingo , I'll get through all of that stuff , I promise.
Regards Rob J.

Rob mate seems your about as up on it all as can be already Paul Gartsides is a bloody good designer although Ive lost track of his website and cant get anything to come up no matter how I go after it And mate I dont think you'd go terribly wrong choosing one of his designs

Rosebud? {huff huff fume spit} have fun yer wombat an think of yer old mate over here when yer flittin along

Dingo , Paul Gartside is http://www.gartsideboats.com .
I've been in contact with him , he seems a good bloke to deal with too.
It seems to me he is coming at the industry from the fishing boat side , and thats the way I like it too.
In regard to the 28 ft Rosebud , well that belongs to the brother in law of the bloke I go sailing with , who used to own the Arial , a 26 ft "couta" classic.
But the Rosebud is 2 foot longer than the Arial ,and 2 foot wider , both were built in the early '30's.
It also carries a lot more ballast , and sail , and the both boats sail quite differently , even side by side.
Last time I went down there there were a pod of "couta" boats all moored together , I knew the Arial , elegant , if a "couta" boat could be that , but my eyes kept going back to that bigger , mean looking bugger .
That was the Rosebud.
I've been filled in on her history , how she is set up , how she sails , now its just time to get out there and experience her !.
I can hardly wait !.
I'm told though , she is a "shorts" boat , wear shorts 'cos its gonna be a wet trip !.
I went through all of the sites you put up , gee there was some good boats , but that "Susan" ! , what an effort !.
I reckon if I ever built something like that , you would never get me off the bloody thing !.
Rob J.

Well , I don't know what happened to Paul Gartsides site !.
It seems to have just gone !.
Rob J.

Hi Rob,

Just checked and still there.


http://www.gartsideboats.com/

regards,

AD

Yes , the site is still there , but what about the content ???.
I get nothing at all about Gartside boats.
Rob J.