Question for holzbt?

[Dennis Marshall]

holzbt, in a post from about a year ago, you mention that you have sailed in 3 sharpies designed by Chapelle. Do you remember the design names and any other info? Thanks.

Dennis

[holzbt]

The three boats are chesapeake crabbing skiffs. The first is an 18 1/2' flat bottom from pg.74 in Chapelle's "Boatbuilding". This one is a double ended sharpie and can sail in about 5" of water. I only sailed that one a few times but it sailed very well. Definately for protected waters as it is a very small 18 1/2', you will get wet in this boat, but just the thing for sailing through all the tiny leads in the marsh. The second boat is a Chapelle design based on the boat in figure 3 in his booklet "Chesapeake Bay Crabbing Skiffs" which I believe is available from the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. This boat is a shallow V-bottom with a transom stern, a bowsprit and jib. I've sailed this boat quite a bit and have never seen a boat that was better for extremely shoal water. Most of these skiffs have a fore gripe or bow skeg which allows them to sail to windward with the board all the way up. Sailing to windward in 12" of water is a blast.This boat is also pretty fast as we consistantly pass much larger boats. This boat has even planed off on a reach several times. The third boat is the two- sail bateau pictured in figure 4 of the crabbing skiffs booklet. This boat was built with a cold molded bottom so that it could be trailered. The two sail rig has smaller spars which makes storing and setting up the rig a breeze. I've not sailed this boat nearly as much as the second one but it seems to sail very well and is perhaps a little easier to single hand when it is really blowing. Other than the cold molded bottom on the third boat these are all very traditionaly built. If you can make a trip to Long Island next summer I'll arrange a sail for you if you're interested.

[Dennis Marshall]

Thanks for the both the reply and the offer of a sail. I will probably not get out to NY this year, but would love to take you up on the offer of a sail.

The CBMM does have Chapelle's book on crabbing skiffs, I will have to get a copy. I have Chapelle's "Boatbuilding" and his double ended Sharpie looks like a shorter version of Parker's 20ft Maryland crabbing skiff.

I have been eyeing Chapelle's 14'1" x 5' Chesapeake skiff on p. 26 of WBs "100 Boat Designs Reviewed". I like the lines of this boat, and since I am looking to build a smaller skiff, this looks like one possibility. According to the book, the plans are scimpy on particulars, and was perhaps thinking of using Parker's plans for his 14ft oystering skiff (p. 103 of the Sharpie Book) as a jumping off point for filling in the details lacking in Chapelle's plans.

Dennis

[yorgie]

Found it!Thank's Dennis.I thought I'd seen that design in Chapelles's "Boatbuilding".

Chris