CampionSail and Design/Tom Dunderdale

[earlethomas]

I'm contemplating a build of Tom's Pearl, a larger, beamier version of his flagship Apple design. Can anyone reply with experience of building/sailing any of Tom's boats?

http://www.campionboats.co.uk/index.html

[T. Traddles]

I am currently building Tom's Iota 12 fter. My experience has been good thus far. Tom has been very helpful whenever I have had questions. The plans are pretty comprehensive. I've found only one mistake in the measurements thus far, and thankfully caught it before things got a wee bit hairy.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fattylumpkin/4549158349/in/set-72157623757945560/

[Tom Dunderdale]

Please forgive what some may term a commercial intrusion into this forum, but I feel a little clarification is in order here to avert any possible mis-understanding and to add a little perspective. I refer to T. Traddles reference to a mistake in the measurements of the IO, implying a mistake in the offsets, and I wish to rebut the suggestion firmly.
There is no mistake in the given offsets, or the frame measurements, or the strake expansions, or on the mould set- up sheet for the clinker version.
Where T. Traddles did have a problem - where indeed there was an error on my part, though not in the offsets - was in the Keyed Notes to the construction sheet where I stated that the inner keel on the clinker version was of a certain length instead of from a certain length: I inadvertently omitted the word 'from'. That was the error at the root of T. Traddles' problem, and to which I plead guilty. But not to any inaccuracy in the design offsets, or the frame measurements, or the station set up.
I have of course corrected this and added the word 'from' to the keyed notes sheet, which I hope will avert any future problems or misunderstandings.

[JimD]

Tom, those are some very lovely designs. Thanks for sharing.

[botebum]

A little help for Mr. Traddles-
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4001/4549158349_91786b4f39.jpg

Doug

[T. Traddles]

What Mr. Dunderdale said. I apologize if I gave the impression that I was "dissing" the designer and his plans. On the contrary. My boat is almost fully planked and looking quite nice, too. It is my first clinker style boat and it has taught me much about plank lines and such. Not that I have mastered the art, yet, but it will be a respectable job when it is done. I've got my eye on his Electra Canoe yawl for a future build -- I need the practice. ;-)

[earlethomas]

Please understand, I started this thread to get feedback from those building or who have built any of Tom's boat designs. I have found him very amenable, to the point of sending me drawings of requested design alterations before ordering plans. I find all of his boats quite beautiful and after much correspondence have settled on Pearl, which I think best fits my parameters. I am writing an article about Campion Sail and will have it up soon on 70.8% ( http://70point8percent.blogspot.com/ ).Look for it in a day or two. Thanks to all who responded, and I'll likely be calling on you once I start the build.