A special Auk. Oughtred.

[John B]

Not Mine.
This boat will be the subject of a series of articles in Classic Boat Magazine.
What it is , is an Auk design modified with the permission of Iain Oughtred by being extended from just shy of 8ft ,out to close to 9’ on the same moulds. I think its 7’10 to 8’10.
What’s special about it apart from the general workmanship( exceptional) is that its the new tender cum life raft for SIANDRA ,the Robb Lion Class owned by Niki and Jamie. As Niki said to me, they have paid a lot of attention to the buoyancy compartments by splitting them and carefully filleting them out inside for maximum strength. Another really clever feature of this boat is the way the transom and upper stern section detaches and stows inside the boat so that it can live upside down on the cabin when at sea. All this while ensuring that the aft buoyancy is not compromised.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid148/p898d2617273542d54fa89eeba0103304/f61b7f2b.jpg
My wife and I rowed it with Jamie and Niki in it as well, the first “foreigners” to do so ( meaning non-SIANDRAS ,LOL) and it went like a bird. Easy, carried its way, slipped along beautifully.

Transom off and stowed
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid148/pbc021eddb5860cd73e58c035cab67166/f61b7ebf.jpg

Transom going back on
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid148/pd1c013831a5a37e3872397773eb9308e/f61b7e25.jpg

[ 12-06-2004, 03:26 PM: Message edited by: John B ]

[Venchka]

Clever, these south of the Line folks. Thanks, John! Makes me think...about tenders. :D

Wayne
In the Swamp. :D

[John B]

Jamie is AUS and Niki is English Wayne. We just caught them 2 weekends ago before clearing out of the country for Tasmania. They were held up by gales. They'll be half way there by now I'd imagine.
The other thing they do is reconfigure the dinghy into liferaft mode for sea passages by lashing the boats fenders along the gunwhale. It gives it extra buoyancy up at the rail.

[ 12-06-2004, 03:52 PM: Message edited by: John B ]

[Venchka]

The fenders along the gunwale had crossed my mind as well. At least one of the clever folks was from Down Under. I got it half right! :D

Bon Voyage to them both!

Wayne
In the Swamp. :D

[ 12-06-2004, 03:49 PM: Message edited by: Venchka ]

[John B]

Its interesting logic isn't it. When someone with the sort of sea miles those guys have speaks, its worth listening. They weren't comfortable with the whole inflatable liferaft idea. How do you hold onto a balloon at sea in 50 or 60 knots?

[Venchka]

I see the daggerboard case & I think a hole for the mast. What rig does she carry? Stock according to the plans? The idea of tender/lifeboat makes a lot of sense when space is limited also. An idea that has been rattling around in my brain. Rattling hard enough to make my head hurt!

Thanks again! What issues will she be in, do you know?

Wayne
In the Swamp. :D

[John B]

I presume all of them in a series until she's finished. I've seen one ..Sept or Nov where its just been started.

[MAGIC's Craig]

This idea really does appeal to us as well. We currently have configured our Joel White-designed Shellback dinghy to serve as our lifeboat, with fenders on the side when offshore. However, this link, by Lin and Larry Pardey, shows some thinking by Steve Callahan on the same subject.

Here on the US West coast, the Walker Boat company is making plastic dinghies with such an inflatable collar. Better yet, they will sell just the inflatable collar (not cheap, but not that bad when you are bobbing around offshore in it!) to permit us wacko woodies to do up our (naturally, better) wooden dinghies.

When combined with built-in bouyancy tanks and a sailing rig, such as your friends show, John, this would make a possibly safer option when things go wrong.

Lin and Larry's tips on offshore dinghies (http://www.landlpardey.com/Tips/Tips_2003_January.html)

[John B]

Yes, the idea is that it will end up fully kitted out but there is no rig as yet.

Thats an interesting boat on the L and L link Craig. Have you seen their new boat ?

Walkers are sold here now too incidentally.

I met Charlie with Lark last season and I commented on the lexan window in the bottom of his pram...... handy for looking at the fish I said.
Nah, he said, lets light in the skylight when its upside down on deck. :D

[ 12-06-2004, 08:46 PM: Message edited by: John B ]

[Venchka]

SWMBO made a special trip to the News Stand and the current issue of Classic Boat is waiting for me at home. Isn't she a dear?

:confused: Classic Boat, Dec 2004. No AUK. I must have missed it. No worries. I'll just ask Mrs. Santa to bring the plans for Christmas.

Wayne
In the Swamp. :D

[ 12-07-2004, 07:20 PM: Message edited by: Venchka ]

[John B]

redface.gif sorry.

anything else worth looking at ? :D

[Venchka]

Oh yes! :cool:

Wayne
In the Swamp. :D