Antonio Dias Catboat.

[Ruud]

In a backissue from Watercraft I read something about Antonio Dias Buck Catboat.I have tried to find some more information on this design but was unable to find anything. The Website mentioned is not accesible.Does anyone have some information on this design??

Ruud

[Venchka]

Here's the reason. Mr. Dias seems to have abandoned the amateur builder market.

http://antoniodiasdesign.com/images/index_07.gif

Buck is probably the design you mention. He had a nice 20' strip plank camp cruiser too. Shame to loose them.

He seems to have dropped into a Black Hole.

http://antoniodiasdesign.com/images/index_12.gif

Antonio Dias Design (http://antoniodiasdesign.com/)

Wayne
In the Swamp. :D

[ 05-17-2005, 05:23 PM: Message edited by: Venchka ]

[rbgarr]

More power to him!

[JimConlin]

He's a very talented and clever designer. His boats are not necessarily simple and i suspect that their design fees don't begin to cover the effort of supporting amateurs in building such boats.
I wish him well.

[michigangeorge]

he just lost my business!

[Billy Bones]

Originally posted by michigangeorge:
he just lost my business!Mine a long time ago.

In his catalog he's so unsure of himself that he almost apologizes for his work.

He charges a lot, his catalog is lean on the details of his designs, his catalog of study plans is not only incomplete, it's positively sparse. Not exactly good self-promotion.

He does have a good eye for beauty in boats...so much so that in the recent article on his 'Small' design, he was photographed staring at Jenny Bennett's boobs from several angles.

:rolleyes:

I hope he finds his niche.

I liked the boat in his ads, 'Truth' I think, but the ads featuring this boat directed you to his website, on which appeared not a whisper about the design.

Doesn't lend confidence in his ability to design a boat, where loose ends cannot be tolerated.

[Lion]

As a bit of fan of Catboats I had looked at 'Buck' with some interest but stumbled upon a FCW 18' 'project' that has truly diverted me!

Prior to that I had tried to get some communication going with him on Buck but other than one brief email to no avail. This formed a view in me, justified or otherwise, that if I took the project on a lot of help would not be forthcoming, so I cooled rapidly.

This is contrast to other designers/plan sellers that I have had communication with who have invariably been very helpful and prompt in response. They have seemed to enjoy the interaction.

Its odd to me that Mr Dias has not retained his original web address, even if only to advise his policy change; its almost like he wants out of here.

His designs, in my humble and informal opinion, have nice lines but tend to the fussy. Hard to put your finger on but a little contrived looking. Compared to a lot of the other mass rubish out there in tinnie/F-#@&*% land still not too bad.

Good luck to him and his new paradigm.

Lion

[JimConlin]

One man's "fussy" is another's "refined".

Is Ben Fuller in the House? His Harrier is Tony's design.

[preston]

Perhaps he's just not as facile with computers as he is with his pencil.

Preston

[Ruud]

Thanks for the replays.

It is the buck design I was looking for.The drawing in watercraft is quite unclear about the interior and the keel construction and the width mentioned (2.60 Metres)is a bit too wide for trailering round here.Althoug I like the catboat hullshap I am not very fond of the catrig so this combination looked interesting to me.

Ruud

[garland reese]

I had a keen interest in Buck at one time. I thought it was a well done boat, and I liked the idea of a cat yawl rig, and the little removeable house. Interior was very simple. I had a brief email correspondence with Tony, and like the above mentioned posts, I was left with a none too great impression. I suspect he will do better doing what he's doing now. It takes a lot of time and personal interaction to work with builders of their own boats, I suspect, but for some, that is part of the joy of the process.

I had a look at the beginnings of a 29 foot daysailor of his design, that was being built in TX. Beautiful boat. He does know how to draw a handsome hull.

Too bad about Buck.......it was still on my list of possibles. There's one down. ;)

[Stu Fyfe]

I've had a few discussions with him at both the Newport and Mystic WB Shows. Seems like a nice guy. Our boat Redwing was an exhibit in Mystic and he had a boat on display on the same dock as us. I think it was an 18-20ft sloop that he had built for a customer. Anyway, we were sleeping aboard and he was too in a small cramped cabin. Didn't talk much to other exhibiters, but he was all over potential customers. I agree his web-site needs direction. I really like his Tautog.

[Tom Lathrop]

I think he designs really pretty boats. When I look closer at some that cover my own interest, I find that I am less impresesed. Two many concessions to pretty over practicality. No boat should be ugly but it should also be able to do the stated purpose as well as the ugly ones.

Stu, the Tautog is a perfect example.

I attended one of his talks and picked up a brochure. A hand quickly appeared requesting $5 for the brochure. I never got it.

[peb]

I am the proud owner of the 29' sloop that Garland Reese mentions above.

It is a great boat and working with Tony was a pleasure.

He draws very pretty boats and my experience is that he is very good at understanding a clients desires and his boats end up very functional based on those desires.

As for smaller boats, I think Small and the Arey's Pond sloop are beautiful. I have plans to Small and after studying them in detail (haven't gotten around to building it)I would describe it as very practical. I don't think he sacrifices practicality for looks at all.

As for his new web site being limited, the last time I talked to Tony he was busy with a couple of other pursuits. I think he may be spending more time on those than his boat design business.

[Stu Fyfe]

I agree Tom. I think it's very easy to fall in love with the way a boat looks. And that may not mean that it's best built to withstand the long haul or serve a function. Kind of like marrying for beauty........ Maybe I shouldn't go there!

[Tom Lathrop]

Peb, That is good to hear. It helps to balance Tony's work. Although I stick by my acessment of the Tautog, I'm glad that he has done good work in other designs and that you are pleased with your boat.

I often crave a new Porsche 911 although I know it is a completely invalid option for me.

I hear that the Honda Element and the Toyota Scion are great little people movers but, to me they are butt ugly and that's the other side of the coin. I hear that they are selling like hot cakes so what do I know. At least the Pontiac Aztec doesn't own the title now. :confused: