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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Flagstaff Hill, South Australia
    Posts
    18

    Default Looking for the ideal design for a 16' trailer-sailer.

    Hi all. After my success at building two boats now, my attention is turning to my ultimate (do we ever have an ultimate??) boat build.

    I am looking to build a trailer sailer of around 16' which sails well and can be rigged/sailed solo, but which can accommodate 2 to 3 for sail camping trips. 16' is about the biggest I can build in my carport so that dictates the size pretty much.

    Any suggestions on designs are welcome.

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Newcastle
    Age
    69
    Posts
    1,071

    Default

    Have you looked at the Herreshoff 12&1/2? brilliant little boat. about twelve and a half on the waterline but sixteen overall. Absolute classic, lead keel and all.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Flagstaff Hill, South Australia
    Posts
    18

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Toymaker Len View Post
    Have you looked at the Herreshoff 12&1/2? brilliant little boat. about twelve and a half on the waterline but sixteen overall. Absolute classic, lead keel and all.
    Thanks Toymaker Len, I was more thinking of a cabin style. I am looking with interest at the AF3 by Jim Mikalak. It's a very economic build but with the skiff hull will be nice for the shallow beaches and mud flats I sometimes sail into. Acommodation for 2 as well which is good in a fairly narrow boat.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    48

    Default

    A Hartley16 would be a possibility.You would have the ssupport of a keen class which would assist in sourcing material that you might not be able to fabricate yourself, perhaps the centreboard.

    John Welsford's Sweet Pea might also appeal, in either its cruising or racing form.

    Good luck.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Flagstaff Hill, South Australia
    Posts
    18

    Default

    Thanks RossV. I haven't looked at the Sweet Pea but I'll do so. As this time my budget is severely restricted I am going to have to look far and wide for budget materials. My first build was blessed by being able to acquire almost all of the materials I needed pretty cheap from a bloke who didn't get around to building his. I'll be posting a wanted ad on Gumtree to see what I can get. The cost of materials will influence what am able to build. (My wife isn't as in love with my hobby as I am, so fitting the cost into my non-existent budget is a bit of a challenge).

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    48

    Default Finance Committees

    Quote Originally Posted by goanywhere View Post
    Thanks RossV. I haven't looked at the Sweet Pea but I'll do so. As this time my budget is severely restricted I am going to have to look far and wide for budget materials. My first build was blessed by being able to acquire almost all of the materials I needed pretty cheap from a bloke who didn't get around to building his. I'll be posting a wanted ad on Gumtree to see what I can get. The cost of materials will influence what am able to build. (My wife isn't as in love with my hobby as I am, so fitting the cost into my non-existent budget is a bit of a challenge).
    You have my sympathy, GoAnyWhere. My finance committee would rather go to work, than come sailing.

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Eustis, FL, USA
    Posts
    2,270

    Default

    There are a number of designs for a small pocket cruiser in this size range, though at 16' it's tough to get much of anything. Simply put, a working cabin needs enough room to sit up and lie down, leaving precious room left for a cockpit and foredeck. Of course with clever design you can overlap these areas a bit, but because the boat is relatively small, footwells under cockpit seats or foredecks tend to be cave like. Look at "Nancy's China" from Sam Devlin, for a boat that sails well and offers the accommodations you want. Alternatively, the Glen-L "Minuet" is another option, both of these will fit your building space.

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Flagstaff Hill, South Australia
    Posts
    18

    Default

    Thanks everyone. I have ordered plans for a Jim Michalak design, the Blobster. A bit of a quirky design but for the kinds of boating I do it has most of the features I want. For example, I have been kayaking the Murray River for the last few years, mostly by Kayak, but I would love to sail/motor down much of it in years to come. Being a pram hull, I expect I will be able to nose up on a shallow sand or mud flat and walk straight out the front onto dry land, or via a gang plank onto a steep bank has some real appeal. For a small cruiser it also has quite a generous living area. By all accounts it sails pretty well and with water ballast tanks I should be able to manage some of the gusty spring winds here in South Australia. Anyway the plans are pretty cheap so if I end up changing my mind I haven't wasted much money.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Adelaide - outer south
    Age
    67
    Posts
    935

    Default

    Well, it's been a month since your last post Steve, so going by the speed of your previous builds I just have to ask......

    .......has this thing gone 3D yet?
    Cheers, Bob the labrat

    Measure once and.... the phone rings!

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Flagstaff Hill, South Australia
    Posts
    18

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by labr@ View Post
    Well, it's been a month since your last post Steve, so going by the speed of your previous builds I just have to ask......

    .......has this thing gone 3D yet?
    G'day Bob, I was wondering when you would make your presence known! Actually I have 3D'd it already. Well partially at least, in Sketchup . It's a great and no-cost way to build a model and get an intimate idea of how the plans translate into the building side. Just as well, as JM's plans are not as complete and full of photos as some others.

    Cheers, Steve.

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Flagstaff Hill, South Australia
    Posts
    18

    Default Blobster partial build images

    This is the "skeleton" of the Blobster. 7 frames which seem reasonably simple to make. I haven't quite learned yet how to make conforming surfaces in Sketchup. I've been learning it as I've been drawing it.

    What is already clear to see is that the bow is well swept so that there should be a good capacity to ride over waves, making the open bow seem to be less silly. The water ballast tank is the raised section between frame 3 and 4 from the bow end. I'm surprised that this will hold 600lb of water.

    When I've worked out how to draw the rest as per the stock plans I will start playing with some ideas around customising the cabin and storage etc.

    I'll post more pictures when I have progressed a bit more.
    Blobster1.jpg

    Blobster2.jpg

    Blobster5.jpg

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Adelaide - outer south
    Age
    67
    Posts
    935

    Default

    I've looked at some photos of the Blobster a few times now and just can't bring myself to like it. At least we know you appreciate her for her practical qualities because you sure as hell can't have fallen for her looks.

    Anyhow, I'm looking forward to seeing real world progress and some on-water adventures.

    By the way, what will you do with your Spindrift now? Does it have to go or do you have room for both?
    Cheers, Bob the labrat

    Measure once and.... the phone rings!

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Flagstaff Hill, South Australia
    Posts
    18

    Default

    I'm not surprised that you don't find the Blobster attractive. Yes it's purely the functionality that attracts me. The only issue might be that should I ever want to sell it there might be a lack of interest over the looks then too. I do have a couple of other designs I'm considering but without the functionality. I have time still to thnk and consider though. Yes the Spindrift will have to go to make room, and to contribute funds for this build. Judging from the many shoreside comments I've received I don't think that will be a problem.

    Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Mandurah, Western Australia
    Posts
    11

    Default

    Name of the blobster says it all - just plain ugly. Look at Ross Lillestone's designs; around the right size, handsome craft with excellent performance. Ross Lillistone - A Passion for Wooden Boats

    Regarding camping/sailing, see the write ups of one cruising the waters of the Pacific NorthWest.
    Good luck with your build.

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    back in Alberta for a while
    Age
    68
    Posts
    12,006

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by goanywhere View Post
    16' is about the biggest I can build in my carport so that dictates the size pretty much.

    Any suggestions on designs are welcome.
    build an extension on the car port?
    regards from Alberta, Canada

    ian

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