Oughtred - which boat?!

[DavePulaski]

I'm taking someone's suggestion and starting a new thread on the subject of Iain's small boats, would like to solicit input from anyone who has first-hand experience with any of these models.

Background: Experienced sailor, want to build my first boat. Moderate woodworking skills & workable basement shop.

Criteria: Light, easily cartopable. Stable - to be used to teach wife & kids to sail. Fun, reasonable sailing performance (sloop rig). Classic, traditional looks. Can be towed behind my 28' keelboat. Can be sailed with two adults, or 1 adult and a couple of kids. Rowing performance not important.

I have finally settled on three Oughtred designs as the top contenders: Puffin (10'2"), Guillemot (11'6"), and Shearwater (11'10").

I'm leaning towards the smallest of the three, the Puffin, because I want the smallest boat that will fit my criteria. The main question is this: is it big enough for two average-size adults to sail?

I definitely want the folding gunter rig, but thinking of moving it forward a bit and setting the jib on a short bowsprit, which will move both the mast and the CB forward some and give a bigger cockpit.

Iain's book also says the Puffin can be built to a length of 10"10", which may be ideal.

Any thoughts from the Oughtred fans out there?

[gert]

No. I built Joel Whites 16' Shearwater and it just holds 2 adults when sailing. all the room in front of the mast and behind the skipper is useless for anything but gear.

[Meerkat]

...thinking of moving it forward a bit and setting the jib on a short bowsprit, which will move both the mast and the CB forward some and give a bigger cockpit. Uuuh... this is something you do NOT want to do without consulting the designer!!! You risk making the boat unstable (excessive lee or weather helm) and/or a poor performer.

I would also suggest that a gaff rig is a better choice then a gunter based on conversations with knowledgable people. I thought hard about gunter since one designer I like, Paul Fisher, offers a gunter rig on a lot of his boats. I asked another boat designer I know his thoughts on gunter vs. gaff, and his most interesting comment was that a gunter is "a swine to reef". That was enough for me!.

My favorite Oughtred open boat is the Whilly Boat. After having seen a Wee Seal modified with a keel recently, that's a really nice (but much larger) boat too!

You can see some nice pics and specs of some of Ian's boats at Duckflat Wooden Boats (http://www.duckflatwoodenboats.com/dfwbphp/designINDEX.php?ID=1)

[ 09-13-2002, 04:39 PM: Message edited by: meerkat ]

[Jim M]

I know a guy who built a mini-crane onto the bed of his mini-pickup so he could lift his boat, sort of like the Acorn 15, onto the rack. No way without the crane.

There's car-topping and then there's car-topping.

[Meerkat]

Dave, I think the Puffin is the same as one of the WB Acorn models and folks might (almost certainly) have more experience of it then of the Puffin, at least on this side of the pond.

Hope this helps...

[Keith Wilson]

With all respect, I think that building a boat that meets ALL of your criteria might be difficult:

"- Light, easily cartopable.
- Stable - to be used to teach wife & kids to sail. . .
- Can be sailed with two adults, or 1 adult and a couple of kids. Rowing performance not important."

The problem is cartopping - a short sailboat that carries two adults or an adult and several kids in relative comfort, and is relatively stable (wide) will be unpleasant to cartop unless built so lightly that I'd worry about durability. You also have to figure out how to carry the spars.

I'd suggest getting a very small trailer. This will allow you to consider slightly larger boats which will accomodate the crew better, and you won't have to worry about odd ounces while building. I can say from experience that the hassle of a light trailer is nothing compared to that of cartopping a boat that's a little too large and heavy.

I don't have any experience with the designs you mentioned so I can't help there, but you also might want to consider Joel White's Shellback Dinghy and (slightly larger) Pooduck skiff. Both plywood lapstrake, very pretty

[Shalfleet]

I agree with Keith's points on cartopping. We have just completed an Arch Davis Sand Dollar (11ft Skiff) and I planned to cartop but this is just not practical with any boat that nears 100lbs (in my view). I purchased a small boat trailer from Northern Tool and Equipment for $300 which is a great deal so that might be the way to go if you want a "family" boat.

I am toying with a sailing canoe, perhaps Wee Rob which will be a real cartopper.

You may want to look at Little Auk from Swallow boats which is 65lbs and they claim will sail with two. Link is on WB.com, but plans may not be available.

[Meerkat]

Swallowboats will sell you a kit, but not plans. They say they ship some number to the US too.