Design project online?

[Roger Long]

After years, decades actually, of primarily designing aluminum powerboats for oceanographic research, I seem to have a commission to design a traditional wooden boat. My last was the Friendship sloop “Black Star” ex. “Rita” built by the Rockport Apprentishop so it’s been a long time.

During the enthusiasm that accompanied my getting back into sailing and cruising by buying an old fiberglass boat back in 2006, I posted some ideas here for a 24 foot trailer sailer I was thinking of designing for fun and enjoyed the discussions. That project quickly got taken over by the reality of getting the old boat I bought refitted and starting to cruise in her. If you are a “Points East” reader, you may have read some of my cruise accounts.

Anyway, I thought it might be fun to add a section to my web site tracking the design development of this new project. I might even get some comments that improve the boat. It’s to be an interesting boat, an open trailer boat of about the Drascomb Lugger class but intended to rely entirely on oars for power and set up for boom tent camping.

I’ve been doing all my work in CAD for almost two decades now and don’t plan to ever again to struggle with a clogged Rapidograph pen so the plans won’t look anywhere near as nice as I use to draw:

http://www.rogerlongboats.com/27Pinky.htm

However, I think the end result will be the same.

If anyone is interested, I’ll start a web site section and put up the rough concept sketch.

[paladin]

Welcome aboard, Roger....stay outta the bilge if you value your hair....;)

[Thorne]

Always good to have more sail & oar boats being designed!

We have two Drascombe Scaffies that are active in the local TSCA chapters, but neither gets rowed very far -- I think the most I've seen would be 3 miles or so. And I've seen a Lugger rowed a short distance, restored by Forumite Les Schuldt.

[kenjamin]

After years, decades actually, of primarily designing aluminum powerboats for oceanographic research, I seem to have a commission to design a traditional wooden boat. My last was the Friendship sloop “Black Star” ex. “Rita” built by the Rockport Apprentishop so it’s been a long time.

During the enthusiasm that accompanied my getting back into sailing and cruising by buying an old fiberglass boat back in 2006, I posted some ideas here for a 24 foot trailer sailer I was thinking of designing for fun and enjoyed the discussions. That project quickly got taken over by the reality of getting the old boat I bought refitted and starting to cruise in her. If you are a “Points East” reader, you may have read some of my cruise accounts.

Anyway, I thought it might be fun to add a section to my web site tracking the design development of this new project. I might even get some comments that improve the boat. It’s to be an interesting boat, an open trailer boat of about the Drascomb Lugger class but intended to rely entirely on oars for power and set up for boom tent camping.

I’ve been doing all my work in CAD for almost two decades now and don’t plan to ever again to struggle with a clogged Rapidograph pen so the plans won’t look anywhere near as nice as I use to draw:

http://www.rogerlongboats.com/27Pinky.htm

However, I think the end result will be the same.

If anyone is interested, I’ll start a web site section and put up the rough concept sketch.

Hello Roger and welcome aboard,

I'm a little confused about the wooden boat commission. Is it the same boat that you designed for fun back in 2006? Or is a take off on that design? Since the boat is to be powered by oars alone and 24' in length does that make her a double ender? I've built Iain Oughtred's Caledonia Yawl and row her some. She's not as bad to row as many think but if she were four foot longer, I think I would want her to be a double ender also so that rowing her was still an efficient possibility – slow but possible. I'm very interested in a larger open boat with pretty lines – maybe something like Mr. Oughtred's Grey Seal centerboard version only built as an open boat. I confess to murdering the beautiful sheer line (as drawn) on my Caledonia Yawl but it was an attempt to lower the freeboard somewhat for my local Gulf of Mexico waters. Had I to do it over again, I would have stuck closer to the drawn lines of the sheer. However, I'm very pleased with my birdwing mast which was built with Mr. Oughtred's written OK. What do you think of it? Would you be willing to let me try one (or two) of my birdwing masts on one of your large open trailer sailors? My oar shaped mizzen mast is in the process of being replaced by another birdwing curved mast.

It just so happens that I'm interested in building a 24' or so open sailer to take tourists for boat rides of my hometown waters, St. Augustine Florida's Matanzas Bay. The trip would include a guided tour of the city from the water. The boat I have in mind would have twin bilge offset boards so tourists would have nothing to trip over when changing tacks – open footwell where normally a centerboard would be. I'm entertaining the idea of becoming a pirate when I retire – taking the tourists money but giving them something in return – a tour of St. Augustine from the water. This is me at the tiller of my CY (I'm a pirate in training).

http://ford.physics.fsu.edu/Xena2720sm.jpg

[G. Schollmeier]

It would be great to follow your progress.
Gary :D

[Roger Long]

The 24 footer I was talking here about a few years ago is a totally separate project and idea. That was to be a cabin boat at the limit of what can be practically trailered.

The current idea is an open boat of about the length and displacement of a Drascomb Lugger Longboat, about 21 feet. Ease of trailering on a simple flat trailer that would be useful for something besides the boat is an important requirement. It will be primarily a day boat but the owner wants two people to be able to sleep in it under a boom tent occasionally and doesn't want any machinery on board. Two people should be able to row it in conditions where it can't sail but it's going to have to be too large to be considered a practical rowing boat. It will therefore need to sail better; especially in light winds, than the Drascomb Lugger.

[ShagRock]

Really enjoyed going through your website and looking at the various boats you've been involved with over your life. Thanks for sharing that. Your new design will be an interesting one to follow..especially for me as I like Drascombe types!

[rbgarr]

Hello Roger,

Nice to have you back. I've followed your writings in Points East, your involvement with SEA and your adventures in 'harbormastery'. Your 17' pinky belonged to the Bath Marine Museum decades ago and I sailed her a bit. A fun boat, but I have no idea what became of her.

Your design process would be very interesting to follow along and watch.

[NYCKiwi]

Hi Roger,
From time-to-time I've stumbled across your website and thoroughly enjoyed looking at your designs. Looking forward to following your progress with this project.

[Roger Long]

Your 17' pinky belonged to the Bath Marine Museum decades ago and I sailed her a bit. A fun boat, but I have no idea what became of her.

She

http://www.rogerlongboats.com/Boats.htm#17Pinky

is currently at the Woodenboat Factory in Philadelphia awaiting restoration.

http://www.woodenboatfactory.org/

and photos:

http://www.woodenboatfactory.org/MediaNews/photogalleries/PinkySloop.html

[Roger Long]

I started a new thread with a link to the page:

http://www.rogerlongboats.com/OpenBoat.htm

Let's see if I can get a picture to come up directly here:

http://www.rogerlongboats.com/images/OBconcept1.gif

Ah, does work.

Please address replies to the new thread since it may run on a while as the design progresses.

[michigangeorge]

Sounds like a great project Roger, but I sure miss your drawing skills. CAD just isn't the same :-(