John Brooks" ELLEN"

[mwybo]

Has anyone had any experience with the ELLEN design by John Brooks (12 foot glued lapstrake sailing/rowing dinghy). I understand that John teaches a weeklong course at Wooden Boat School and that the ELLEN is what the class builds. I am looking for a tender that I can sail around the anchorages.

Thanks

[imported_Steven Bauer]

She sure is a pretty boat. I'm enjoying his new book. www.brooksboats.net

Steven

[wyhjr]

I bought one from John after seeing his display at a Wooden Boat show.
Have enjoyed it ever since, both rowing and sailing. We got the sprit rig, just like the look of it.
It gets admiring comments wherever I take it.

[mwybo]

I've ordered the book and look forward to reading it before starting the project. Apparently it is written around ELLEN so I hope to get some insights on the building process.

Mike

[mwybo]

WHYJR - I intend to use the boat in part as a tender. This usually means ferrying visitors and their gear back and forth to the mooring or anchorage. Do you find it a stable rowing platform with three or four adults aboard ?

Mike

[Jon R]

My wife and I are the owners of the original Ellen (Built for my mother, Ellen). We find her to be a stable rowing and sailing platform. She seems to get more stable as she is loaded.

She sails well and fast. We garnered a second place in our class at MASCF last year beating out purpose built racing craft!

I am not a builder, but John's book makes it seem within reach of most of us to build if we felt like it.

In short, a good, solid, light weight well thought out boat that we intend to enjoy for a very long time!

Jon

[mwybo]

Jon,
Thanks for your post. I will start a thread once construction begins, more to get others' insight than anything else.

What rig do you have? The plans describe both a sprit and a sliding gunter rig.

Mike

[wyhjr]

Mike,
I usually have just two adults aboard when either sailing or rowing, but did recently have three on a sail outing. It worked out fine.
I find the boat somewhat tender when climbing aboard from a dock or when gettin her rigged, but when seated she stiffens up just fine! I sailed her once on a bay off of Lake Michigan in fairly strong winds and she handled the conditions quite well.
[img]smile.gif[/img]
Bill

[Jon R]

Mike,

We haave the sliding gunter rig. It all stows neatly within the boat for transport and storage.

We often sail with three people aboard, no problems. In fact I have only sailed her solo once. I found her to be somowhat more tender, but it was a blustery day, so up on the rail I went.

Jon

[mwybo]

Jon, Bill, and Steven,

Thanks for your comments. My next step is to review the articles in WoodenBoat 156 - 158 and John Brooks' book. If things still look doable at that point its time for the plans, making room in the garage, and getting started. I will keep this post open in case I have other questions while studying the plans.

Thanks again

Mike