Penobscot 14/Sand Dollar

[bosnrick]

Since the original topic "Penobscot 14" seemed to have died out, I thought I would resurrect it in order to ask a little more about the "Sand Dollar." I've just about settled on one of Arch Davis' designs for my first boat building project; however, I'm still unsure of whether to go with the Sand Dollar or the Penobscot 14.

As a rank beginner, read as, I can just about drive a nail straight, I'm leaning a little more toward the Sand Dollar. However, how does she stack up operationally? Does she sail well enough to spend an enjoyable afternoon afloat? Would one be better off taking a lot more time to build the Penobscot 14, keeping in mind my absolute beginning builder status and the challenges I would need to overcome? Despite my absolute novice status as a builder, my operational experience is rather extensive and thus, I would like to build a boat that can provide some good sailing as well as the building experience.

Thanks for any opinions you might wish to share...Bosnrick

[Charles Neuman]

I have had it as a dream to build the Penobscot 14. Instead, my first boat (still under construction) is a cradle boat for a new baby coming up. I am a beginner and started out with some moderate woodworking skills. I found that everything can be learned once you have to do it, especially if you have good tools. However, I did find that everything took longer than I expected, and of course cost more. smile.gif

I am enjoying the journey and along the way I am contemplating my next boat. I am now leaning towards a simpler boat such as a sailing skiff. I am impatient and don't want a project that will take more than a year before I have a real boat. Still, the Penobscot is a beautiful boat, so it's a tough call. If you are patient and have the time to spare, go for it. Otherwise, a simpler boat will still give you a good challenge, as it has for me.

[hbrochs]

I was the one who posted about the Penobscot 14. While I can't make any comment about the sand dollar, I would encourage you to build the 14 (for selfish reasons). This is my first boat, but I can tell you Arch's materials are very thorough. I also bought the video, which I find helpfull as a novice.

Also, if you both build Penobscots, then I'll have someone to race :)

[Charles Neuman]

Make sure you visit this site on the Sand Dollar. I don't know who the people are. I just ran across it a while ago.

http://bellsouthpwp.net/d/n/dnewnham/VarunaFrameHome.htm

[ 08-26-2003, 02:57 PM: Message edited by: Charles Neuman ]

[Venchka]

Make an honest assesment of the number of people and amount of gear you want to have aboard. The Penobscot 14 isn't very big and the Sand Dollar is smaller.

[Shalfleet]

The Varuna site is ours and we had a lot of fun building her. She sails well and I think looks lovely, but I sometimes wish we had a bigger boat with room for more/larger crew. If you want to sail with two adults, then go with the 14. If you will sail by yourself and perhaps a small child or two, and have less time to build, then Sand Dollar is a great option.

I do strongly recommend an Arch Davis design, especially for a first timer....we might have failed without his excellent plans, video and phone support...an all-round wonderful bloke!!

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

Go to Arch's site and click on "News". Scroll down to the Sanddollar I made listed under "A Happy Accident".

I can assure you that Arch has terrific plans for a novice. There are blue prints, building video ( really helps to visualize what you are to do) and a thorough building manual. Additionally he always makes himself available on the phone. I am one happy customer I can assure you.

To a person, anybody that knew me burst out laughing at the news last November that I would be building a boat. Candidly, I laughed along with them. It was preposterous that Scott would build a boat. It might as well have been a rocket ship to Mars! I assured them that the worst case scenario was that we would have a very expensive pile of firewood.

I too was a first time builder and I have pondered your question since yesterday as to whether to go with a "14" or the Sanddollar. Go with the Sanddollar. It took me six months and boy did I make mistakes - but you can always buy more wood and epoxy has great hole filling abilities. No one step was too much for me and that is the key. You are not going to "build a boat" - you are just going to enjoy this project one step at a time and after a while before you will sit the most beautiful creation you have ever laid your eyes on.

The Sanddollar is big enough for my wife and I on a nice day but that is the most you would put in there (and she weighs... well, um... ah, forget it - she looks good to me!) More commonly I take out our children one at a time. We pack a lunch and off we go. It is a great memory maker to have a sailboat in the family. Honestly, the seats look great but I find myself sitting down in the bottom of the boat in order to give it better balance. Specifically, it moves my rump just a bit more forward than it would be sitting up on the seat. I sit on one of those square boat cushions that you throw to someone in the water and lean back against the rear bulkhead/seat with another square cushion for padding behind my back.

I also took a 50 pound bag of sand and put it into one of those water tight rubberized boating bags. When I go solo I toss that on the floor in front of the centerboard case. It makes a big difference in keeping the bow down in the water. Before you think, "Gosh, the guy must be a Sumo wrestler..." I can assure you that I only weigh 180 pounds.

The point is to build a boat that you know will be a positive experience (i.e. you will finish it!). The Sanddollar fits the bill. Truly if I can do it then anyone can. Besides, keep your powder dry - the "14" can be (wife shreeks at this point) your next boat!

[ 08-29-2003, 09:49 PM: Message edited by: Captain Pre-Capsize ]

[sseay]

What about the Penobscot 17?
(Would someone please encourage me to build this boat right away :D )

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

Another thought here too is on the type of sail rig you choose. Arch did his low-key best to steer me toward the gunter rig. I got stuck on the sprit rig early on though and couldn't be disuaded. Why, you may ask? For simply the way it looks on the boat. Just seems to be the right rig for that hull.

I'm just grateful that I went beyond looks (gorgeous as they are) when I chose my bride! :D

[thomas cashman]

I built the sand dollar with absolutely no building skills. Arch's plans, video and manual were so complete that the project was such a great sucess that I actually sold the boat for the cost of my materials. arch was very helpful on phone also. With the money, skills and confidence I got from sand dollar i went on to built a Catspaw dingy in lapstrake and that was a great sucess.

[almeyer]

I'm building a Penobscot 14 now, and my boatbuilding experience is very limited, if you can call building a 6-hour canoe as boatbuilding experience. I'll also vouch for Arch's plans and instructions - they are great for the amateur, as he explains everything in great detail. He's also a great person to talk to on the phone, if you need help or have questions that aren't answered in the plans or instructions. I was considering building either a Swampscott dory from Iain Oughtred plans or the Penobscot. The dory looked simpler to build, but the Penobscot was a prettier boat (my humble opinion - still like the dory though - may build one as a model). On the down side, the Penobscot has 12 strakes compared to the Sand Dollar's 6, so you've got that many more planks to spile, scarf, and cut gains, but again the results are worth it. For what it's worth, I also considered building a Penobscot 17, but I was attracted to the two rig options with an unstayed mast - quicker and easier to rig.
Al