cutter rigg on catboat hull?

[helmuth]

Dear members,

I would like to know, whether it's a good idea fitting a Catboat hull with a gaff cutter rigg.

Originally, I'm in love with the golant gaffer, but having not enough time (and money!), the project could not start yet. Now a boatbuilder, that I'd contacted for building the GG, wants to start a new series of slightly larger boats, about 22 ft, and he needs somebody to buy the first one, that will be built in strip planking to take the moulds from for the later GRP produktion. The price just for the bare hull is quite attractive, and I like the idea of having more interior than the GG would provide, but the boat will have a catboat hull (2,50 m beam) and a sloop or cutter rigg, and I do not know, whether that's a good combination. Can anybody help?

BTW, does anybody know something about a new, small and light diesel engine from bukh marine?

Best regards

Helmuth

[JimD]

Just my guess but the inherent problems with cat boats are usually considered to be a result of the hull shape. Probably the more sails you put on her the more opportunity to adjust the sail plan to compensate for problems associated with such wide, shallow hulls. I have study plans for a big catboat that comes with a very sensible sloop option. A cutter might even be better. The original reason for the single sail was to keep the boat simple for the one or two fishermen crewing it who needed to focus on fishing, not sailing.

[Doug Canada]

If you like the Golant Gaffer, as I do, you might want to check this out.
http://www.dixdesign.com/inspir19.htm
It' a Cape Cutter 19, there is a larger brother called Cape Henry 21.
Both can be built in a double car garage.
The support from Dudley Dix, via email, I think would be excellent.
He responds to email questions quite promply.
For me email support is important.
Want to build build one in the future, went I'm done building cedar strip canoes and kayaks.

Check it out, they're close to my heart.

All the best,
Doug

[helmuth]

Thanks for your replies!
Doug, I know the cape cutter and the cape henry, and I like them, too, but the GG is a different kind of boat, no centerboard, diesel engine, rather stiff. I had visited a GG this summer, unfortunately there was almost no wind, but it's a very beautyful, seakindly boat. Although, if you refer to space under deck, the GG has definitly only two berths, and the toilet compartment in the bow is rather small.
Trailer sailing might also be easier with the shallow draft cape cutter/cape henry.
regards
Helmuth

[bainbridgeisland]

Helmuth, 2.5 meters beam on a 22 foot boat is not that much. A Cape Cod catboat could have 2.7 meters beam on a 6.7 meter length. If the boat is well designed, a sloop or cutter rig should work well.

By the way, with correct design, a sloop or cutter rig would work well on a classic beamy catboat hull too.


Originally posted by helmuth:
Dear members,

I would like to know, whether it's a good idea fitting a Catboat hull with a gaff cutter rigg.

Originally, I'm in love with the golant gaffer, but having not enough time (and money!), the project could not start yet. Now a boatbuilder, that I'd contacted for building the GG, wants to start a new series of slightly larger boats, about 22 ft, and he needs somebody to buy the first one, that will be built in strip planking to take the moulds from for the later GRP produktion. The price just for the bare hull is quite attractive, and I like the idea of having more interior than the GG would provide, but the boat will have a catboat hull (2,50 m beam) and a sloop or cutter rigg, and I do not know, whether that's a good combination. Can anybody help?

BTW, does anybody know something about a new, small and light diesel engine from bukh marine?

Best regards

Helmuth

[JimD]

Also, there are quite a few catboat designs and conversions with mizzens for yawl or ketch rig, if that's any help. :D