19 ft sailboat design evaluation

[donald branscom]

This is the boat i am building. I am almost finished with it.
http://i10.tinypic.com/4lsgrqd.jpg
This design is sold by publisher D. N. Goodchild
Particulars are this: 19 feet LOA 7 ft. beam,LWL 17'1", Draft 3'4"board down. Centerboard design.

The main thing I changed was the size of the frames and it really paid off.
The frames were supposed to be 2 and1/2 X3/4 but I made them 3and1/2 X3/4 Basically 1X4's.
The main reason it paid off was because when you have to add furniture or limber holes etc., the frames could really be weakened.

I designed a fixed keel instead of a centerboard to have some usable space in the cabin. Draft 2' 4", Keel 127 lbs instead of 77lbs. I did not raise the cabin or change it.
When i got around to building the cockpit seats I discovered that there was very little space between the port and starboard seat. only about 20 inches. The plans show an option of an inboard engine as well as an outboard engine, I drilled the skeg for the inboard but now I see that the cockpit is too small and an engine will be in the way of the feet. If i had the centerboard in the boat it would be really crowded. centerboard- engine- and propeller shaft all in a row and all in the middle of the cockpit. If i use an outboard I will have to reach across a 20 inch space and down17 inches to reach the ouboard. It would HAVE TO HAVE electric start.

I have deciced to go with an electric trolling motor to get away from the dock. The reason is; if i put any kind of inboard in the boat it would be right in the way of the companion way or the feet when sitting.
I would rather be unincumbered when moving around.

Other than the engine problem I like the design

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[donald branscom]

This is a drawing of the sailboat with a fixed keel.
It is shown witha rectangle window and you can see on the above post it has an rctangle/oval window.
http://i19.tinypic.com/6csdws4.jpg
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[Woxbox]

If i use an outboard I will have to reach across a 20 inch space and down17 inches to reach the ouboard. It would HAVE TO HAVE electric start.


Putting a 4-horse outboard on the transom with a long shaft should work out just fine. And there shouldn't be any problem starting it up, tilting it up when not in use, etc. There's a zillion boats of these general dimensions set up that way, and it works just fine. At most you might need one of these dealies if the transom is too high for a long-shaft motor.
http://img.shopping.com/cctool/PrdImg/images/pr/177X150/00/02/3d/ae/81/37596801.JPG
OK, they don't look great, but they do work. The electric option will prove very limited and frustrating unless you go to a complicated and very bulky and expensive system.

[donald branscom]

Putting a 4-horse outboard on the transom with a long shaft should work out just fine. And there shouldn't be any problem starting it up, tilting it up when not in use, etc. There's a zillion boats of these general dimensions set up that way, and it works just fine. At most you might need one of these dealies if the transom is too high for a long-shaft motor.
http://img.shopping.com/cctool/PrdImg/images/pr/177X150/00/02/3d/ae/81/37596801.JPG
OK, they don't look great, but they do work. The electric option will prove very limited and frustrating unless you go to a complicated and very bulky and expensive system.

Have you ever used an electric trolling motor?
what did you think about it?

[Woxbox]

I've used them, and on very light boats for limited periods they are fine. Which is to say, if you want a trolling motor, buy one. But for pushing a heavier sailboat around you will forever be worried about how much time you have left, unless you have several batteries on board, hooked up in parallel, at which point it gets expensive and triggers all sorts of recharging issues.
A light outboard gives you lots of reliable power and hours of running time for the investment. Plus way more push than you'll get with an electric trolling motor. And for your boat, 4 horsepower is plenty. You could get by with less.

[Thorne]

Donald -

There have been numerous discussions on this topic, well worth searching the Forum.

Best statement on the issue in my mind? "Trolling motors are for trolling, not travelling."

As above, you get more bang for your buck with an outboard. Electric boats that are not trailered are a different beast, as you don't have to break your back and get holes burned in your clothes shifting batteries in and out of the boat every time you go boating....

[JimD]

Donald, I gather you've ruled out the motorwell concept. Looks like you have a perfect spot to drop a two or five hp motor between the skeg and the rudder. The skeg looks deep enough to protect the motor so it wouldn't have to kick up, therefore it could sit in the optimal position directly in front of the rudder. I wish I could have done that on my boat but the skeg is so shallow I needed the motor to be able to kick up in the event of hitting something. Ergo, my well had to be placed off center with a big notch in the transom so it can kick up. Mine ended up like this:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pde6bc90b18fa521f878f2888927c3ce1/ea6fdde1.jpg (javascript:viewExifData())

Its almost finished now so I'll post some new pics soon.

[donald branscom]

Donald, I gather you've ruled out the motorwell concept. Looks like you have a perfect spot to drop a two or five hp motor between the skeg and the rudder. The skeg looks deep enough to protect the motor so it wouldn't have to kick up, therefore it could sit in the optimal position directly in front of the rudder. I wish I could have done that on my boat but the skeg is so shallow I needed the motor to be able to kick up in the event of hitting something. Ergo, my well had to be placed off center with a big notch in the transom so it can kick up. Mine ended up like this:
Its almost finished now so I'll post some new pics soon.
(photo removed)

I have been contemplating putting in an inboard engine, a 6 hp Honda with a 2:1 reduction gearbox with wet clutch. It would fit in the rear of the cockpit between the benches. It would be chain drive so it could be turned around. I liked the way you have built yours, It looks handy and accessable.

I will try to post a drawing/
Here is a quick sketch. Engine is 17" x 17" x 17"
http://i14.tinypic.com/4zymu68.jpg

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[JimD]

Is that a gas engine? Got a link to a Honda website with more info?

I hope mine will work as well as I want it to. It will have a lid and the front panel tha the tiller is sticking out through the slot of is hinged and drops down for access to the motor for starting.

[donald branscom]

Is that a gas engine? Got a link to a Honda website with more info?

I hope mine will work as well as I want it to. It will have a lid and the front panel tha the tiller is sticking out through the slot of is hinged and drops down for access to the motor for starting.

The engine is gas Jim.
The link would not have much info. But the engine was designed for a go kart. I have read about this type conversion in ather articles.
I like the idea that it has a wet clutch, so it is not direct drive. I will not need a gearbox or seperate clutch.

[donald branscom]

Donald -

There have been numerous discussions on this topic, well worth searching the Forum.

Best statement on the issue in my mind? "Trolling motors are for trolling, not travelling."

As above, you get more bang for your buck with an outboard. Electric boats that are not trailered are a different beast, as you don't have to break your back and get holes burned in your clothes shifting batteries in and out of the boat every time you go boating....

Thanks Thorne. I appreciate your advice.

[Keith Wilson]

A trolling motor might be OK depending on what you want it for. For maneuvering in places that are too tight to use sails, getting to and from the dock, going relatively short distances when the wind dies, that kind of thing, it would be fine. My sailboat of about the same size (19'-6", about 1500# empty) came with a 65# thrust Minnkota trolling motor and one fairly large battery. I was initially skeptical, but it's never failed me yet. It will push the boat against a pretty stiff headwind with the sails down, and lasts an hour or two at full power. I don't rely on it to get me home from very far away if the wind dies, but for pulling out of a marina or maneuvering in tight spaces it works great. I leave the battery in the boat when trailering; no problem. It doesn't have a very long range, and it won't push the boat very fast - OTOH, it's almost completely silent, it can be lifted easily with one hand, it doesn't smell like gasoline, and it won't leak nasty smelly fluids in the bilge. There are advantages and disadvantages. I kind of like the electric, just for the aesthetics.

[Thorne]

Don't get me wrong, I'm no fan of outboard fluids in the bilge either -- and I have a used 45# Minn Kota and new deep-cycle battery waiting in the garage for a proper use. On my small boat oars are better for auxiliary power and take up a LOT less space.

Much depends on where Donald will sail -- Lake Sonoma might work with a small electric motor, SF Bay is right out.

;0 )