SCAMP envy/lust

[James McMullen]

Rowan and I are planning on being at the Pocket Yacht Palooza. We will be sailing down the straits leaving from Anacortes on the 18th unless the weather really sucks.

[MoMan]

If anyone is interested in a more detailed synopsis of the SCAMP Academy experience I can post a short and concise report of observations. Maybe this is not the place for that sort of thing. Let me know and I can get it done.

Howard--Perhaps you should start a new thread broadly based on the Academy. I'm very much looking forward to the Rockport, TX experience and would like to hear from those who just finished the inaugural event, as well as how other participants are preparing.

--Mike

OK, I just started a new thread in Misc. Boat Related.

[Howard Rice]

Thank you Mike
I just posted on the thread. I am in transit today driving to my office at Michigan State University. Once there I will post additional info on the thread. I am also inviting Cedar Key Academy folks to join in if they would like.
Best,
howard

[Howard Rice]

A few SCAMP photos
[IMG]
Heavy air jibe.
[IMG][/IMG]Classroom on the water.
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]Helming exercise, sailing facing aft.
[IMG][/IMG]
Heading out in wind
[IMG]Marty


Marty Worline at the helm in a bit of breeze. Marty is a very good sailor and planning to build a kit after sailing SCAMP at the Aacdemy.

[Howard Rice]

A few more photos.
[IMG]
Discussing helming technique.
[IMG]

I don't care much for the powerboat but think the image of SCAMP sailing is a good one.
[IMG][
Heavy air jibe practice again, big air for a small boat and small waves due to shallow water. Cedar key is a fantastic small boat sailing venue.
[IMG]
SCAMP as work boat. She was used for primary instruction sessions.

Thank you to Jeannie Mackey for the photos.

[gilberj]

terrific photo's...................................

[North Coast Viking]

Without dredging through 408 previous posts (some lengthy...) on this thread to find an answer; is there anyone who has followed this thread post-for-post that has seen or heard a mention of whether John Welsford is entertaining making a followup design to SCAMP that is just a little bigger? I love this design, and it has certainly inspired a desire to explore this for a future build; I just wish it was more on the 14'-16' range... Anyone know? Thanx! NCV

[Howard Rice]

As far as I know SCAMP is SCAMP and there is not a stretched version in the works. If there was it wouldn't be a SCAMP, it would be a wholly different design and resultant boat. I cannot speak for her designer but am quite certain there is not a SCAMP II in the works. Perhaps other Welsford designs will be coming that meet your length criteria, however these won't be a SCAMP.

SCAMP is precisely what she is because of her linked attributes, length overall, rig, beam, ballast, rig, cuddy, etc. Most important is her LOA. She has a pram bow to offer volume thus creating a small under 12ft easily handled (on both land and water) boat with lots of room plus great initial and secondary stability. I understand SCAMP to be a purpose designed attempt aimed at creating a practical small pocket cruiser, which also doubles as a good day sailer.

Without dredging through 408 previous posts (some lengthy...) on this thread to find an answer; is there anyone who has followed this thread post-for-post that has seen or heard a mention of whether John Welsford is entertaining making a followup design to SCAMP that is just a little bigger? I love this design, and it has certainly inspired a desire to explore this for a future build; I just wish it was more on the 14'-16' range... Anyone know? Thanx! NCV

[keyhavenpotterer]

NCV, have a look at say an Oughtred Ness Yawl. At 19'2" you would reckon it's quite a bit bigger. Yet look closer. Beam of SCAMP 5'4", beam of Ness Yawl 5'3". Both use a 100 sq ft lug. Place a plan view drawing of SCAMP over the NY and what you have is just a difference of 2 1/2' of pointed ends at each end, most of the time out of the water. Not sure what the waterline length comparisons are, but must be even closer.

Check out how much ply they both use- same number of sheets. So NY has pointy ends and SCAMP has, huge storage, huge buoyancy reserves, somewhere to sleep, water ballast and a shelter. SCAMP is a very big 12'er.

Brian

[cprinos]

is there anyone who has followed this thread post-for-post that has seen or heard a mention of whether John Welsford is entertaining making a followup design to SCAMP that is just a little bigger

didn't SCAMP draw from the earlier 13' Tread Lightly? Bigger than that seems like Navigator (I believe some have modded w/ cabins) comes into play

[WI-Tom]

Without dredging through 408 previous posts (some lengthy...) on this thread to find an answer; is there anyone who has followed this thread post-for-post that has seen or heard a mention of whether John Welsford is entertaining making a followup design to SCAMP that is just a little bigger? I love this design, and it has certainly inspired a desire to explore this for a future build; I just wish it was more on the 14'-16' range... Anyone know? Thanx! NCV

I'm curious--why do you think you'd be happier with a bigger boat? SCAMP is actually HUGE--don't let the 12' LOA convince you otherwise. This is a high-volume hull that happens to not be very long, but it's still a big boat with high freeboard. It's far bigger than the 18-footer I'm building now; volume is a far better measure of size than length, it seems to me.

What are you expecting the extra length would do for you?

Tom

[James McMullen]

What are you expecting the extra length would do for you?

Off the top of my head, about a full knot in speed, maybe more.

displacement hullspeed velocity in knots=1.35 x √waterline length

Also bridges short wavelength swells and chop better, has a more favorable moment of inertia to resist pitching, and has more directional stability. Every boat is a compromise, though.

[Howard Rice]

Point well taken about the knot of speed. However in my experience (racing SCAMP as there smallest boat in a fleet of 110 boats) SCAMP sails faster than she should. We sailed past the majority of the fleet in the two races I sailed with Mike Monies.

All boats as you have said are compromises. I like SCAMP allot because she is so easy to move around by hand on a trailer, easy to launch and retrieve. I believe Welsfords Tread Lightly would be a very easy boat in these regards as well only SCAMP a bit more so. Compromise is the word of the day when talking any two boats.

Off the top of my head, about a full knot in speed, maybe more.

displacement hullspeed velocity in knots=1.35 x √waterline length

Also bridges short wavelength swells and chop better, has a more favorable moment of inertia to resist pitching, and has more directional stability. Every boat is a compromise, though.

[James McMullen]

I very much look forward to sailing in company with you and SCAMP a couple of weekends from now, Howard! As Rowan is so very similar to a Ness Yawl in overall size and shape, I bet we can estimate a direct side-by-side comparison pretty easy. Plenty to like about both uses for a similar-sized stack of plywood, and the contrasts should be very educational.

I remember her from the PT show last year, but I never got to sail around at the same time with her, so I'm very curious as well. She's such a cute and roly-poly little thing, that the fact that's she's plenty fast enough for her size is such a great bonus--a stealth feature. It's always fun to beat a modern FG sailboat in an olde-timey lapstrake rowboaty thing.

[WI-Tom]

Off the top of my head, about a full knot in speed, maybe more.

displacement hullspeed velocity in knots=1.35 x √waterline length

Also bridges short wavelength swells and chop better, has a more favorable moment of inertia to resist pitching, and has more directional stability. Every boat is a compromise, though.

All true--but then you're really looking for a different boat altogether in some ways if you push too far for the advantages you mention. Maybe that's what I was trying to say?

Tom

[WI-Tom]

Point well taken about the knot of speed. However in my experience (racing SCAMP as there smallest boat in a fleet of 110 boats) SCAMP sails faster than she should. We sailed past the majority of the fleet in the two races I sailed with Mike Monies.

Yes, and sailing Mike Monies's SCAMP with John Welsford in Oklahoma, we pretty much passed everybody (10 boats, maybe, most of them longer) on a 4-mile beat--a 23-foot (I think) Sea Pearl snuck by us at the very end but I think that was due to my sloppy helming. I think SCAMP doesn't abide by the traditional hull speed formula--it'd be interesting to hear John share his thoughts on whether that's true, and if so, why?

Tom

[North Coast Viking]

Well, amongst WI-Tom, James Mc, Howard Rice, cprino, and Keyhaven; you guys all make good points. I have never even seen a SCAMP in the flesh, let alone played in one; perhaps there is more boat there than meets the eye in photos--I would, of course, love to see/sail one--she is a not a beauty, but kinda like the girl-next-door cute... My sailing experience lies only in a Capri 13 and a Catalina 14.2, and some tiller-time on a friend's Catalina 22; the Capri is kind of a one-man venture, and the 14.2 gives me enough room to share my experience with others. I have toyed with building a boat for years; I currently have a Bolger Rubens Nymph up to the taping stage as my first attempt at building a boat. She is my "bench-top classroom", and my confidence builder; she has shown me so far that I really can do this... I have learned a lot from this build, and much of what I have learned will go into subsequent builds--I love doing this stuff! Thanks for all your input; I'm not in a hurry, so I will reserve judgement until I have met a SCAMP face-to-face...

[Howard Rice]

Breaking SCAMP News.

John Welsford and I are teaming up in August.

I want to inform everyone here of an opportunity for the many sailors who have purchased SCAMP plans, a kit or are contemplating doing so. There is a phenomenon about kits and plans in particular. Many folks purchase plans for all kinds of boats and never build for any number of reasons. I have a hunch that the primary reason is intimidation, lack of skills or time. This is true across all sorts of designs and the SCAMP folks want to break this trend.

Here is an opportunity to stop dreaming about sailing and get to building your own SCAMP pocket yacht.

The Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building and the Northwest Maritime Center have teamed up to offer a "BUILD YOUR OWN SCAMP POCKET CRUISER" this coming August 6th-17th, 2012 and at a tuition cost below $1,000!

In addition if any sailor decides to purchase a kit for the build then a very affordable price is being offered. If you are a plan set owner or kit owner and are not yet ready to build here is an opportunity to assist in the group build and learn how to build a boat. You can enroll and not have to purchase a kit. With the "kick start" experience you can then easily start your own build when you are ready.

The best part of this build is that designer John Welsford will be flying in from New Zealand to lead the build. In other words you will learn from John Welsford.

I will be in Port Townsend in August for the second Port Townsend Small Craft Skills Academy and have agreed to help (my friend) John and his two assistants with the group build. I look forward to the opportunity.

My role will be as one of the build facilitators and the person who will instruct each participant in small craft handling and seamanship skills sailing aboard SCAMP #1, which will be on the water throughout the build.

What you will end up with is a SCAMP boat building experience or a semi completed kit (if you go that way) and helm/handling time aboard SCAMP learning about this unique pocket cruiser. I look forward to sailing with participants in the evenings after building during the day.

A number of SCAMP plan purchasers and kit purchasers have expressed the desire for such a course and we have worked to put it together.

I am very happy to volunteer my time for the ten days of the build because I believe SCAMP is a good fit for many different types of sailor from highly experienced to beginner. John Welsford will then team up with me to co-facilitate the Small Craft Skills Academy beginning on August 31st.

Nice package.

howard rice

[john welsford]

I am super pleased to be a part of this, for me its about making new friends, sharing a passion, passing on skills that I've learned and skills that other people have patiently taught me.
Its about building a boat which has turned out to be much more than just a 12 ft sailing dinghy, sharing and spreading the experience of what I think is the best boat I've designed.
Working with Howard will be wonderful, he's a hugely experienced sailor, a professional educator, and even laughs at my jokes. Of the other two tutors Scotts a good guy, built the first SCAMP so knows the tricks, and with four of us there to work with the students there will be time for even the smallest question to be fully addressed.
Port Townsend is a lovely place, the Maritime Center a stunning workshop, ( I had a very good coffee there as well) and this class has the potential to be something very special.
Having Howard there to take students sailing in SCAMP has to be a bonus, I'm really looking forward to being there and being involved.

John Welsford

Breaking SCAMP News.

John Welsford and I are teaming up in August.

I want to inform everyone here of an opportunity for the many sailors who have purchased SCAMP plans, a kit or are contemplating doing so. There is a phenomenon about kits and plans in particular. Many folks purchase plans for all kinds of boats and never build for any number of reasons. I have a hunch that the primary reason is intimidation, lack of skills or time. This is true across all sorts of designs and the SCAMP folks want to break this trend.

Here is an opportunity to stop dreaming about sailing and get to building your own SCAMP pocket yacht.

The Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building and the Northwest Maritime Center have teamed up to offer a "BUILD YOUR OWN SCAMP POCKET CRUISER" this coming August 6th-17th, 2012 and at a tuition cost below $1,000!

In addition if any sailor decides to purchase a kit for the build then a very affordable price is being offered. If you are a plan set owner or kit owner and are not yet ready to build here is an opportunity to assist in the group build and learn how to build a boat. You can enroll and not have to purchase a kit. With the "kick start" experience you can then easily start your own build when you are ready.

The best part of this build is that designer John Welsford will be flying on from New Zealand to lead the build. In other words you will learn from John Welsford.

I will be in Port Townsend in August for the second Port Townsend Small Craft Skills Academy and have agreed to help (my friend) John and his two assistants with the group build. I look forward to the opportunity.

My role will be as one of the build facilitators and the person who will instruct each participant in small craft handling and seamanship skills sailing aboard SCAMP #1, which will be on the water throughout the build.

What you will end up with is a SCAMP boat building experience or a semi completed kit (if you go that way) and helm/handling time aboard SCAMP learning about this unique pocket cruiser. I look forward to sailing with participants in the evenings after building during the day.

A number of SCAMP plan purchasers and kit purchasers have expressed the desire for such a course and we have worked to put it together.

I am very happy to volunteer my time for the ten days of the build because I believe SCAMP is a good fit for many different types of sailor from highly experienced to beginner. John Welsford will then team up with me to co-facilitate the Small Craft Skills Academy beginning on August 31st.

Nice package.

howard rice

[john welsford]

NCV, its very hard to get across to people who've not sailed in a SCAMP just how it feels. Its a pity that we quote the 12 ft length in a way as it sets perceptions that have been created by other 12 ft boats, and this does not feel or behave like any 12 ft boat you've ever seen.
Its extremely stable, is much faster than its length would suggest, is very maneuverable, has space to accommodate up to 4 adults plus a child or three if they dont mind sitting in the shelter under the "veranda" and can sleep one or two with the tent up.
But for me its the feel, I usually sail an 18ft gaff sloop that weighs in at over a ton, all that weight makes her punch through waves, makes her able to carry her sail in conditions that have others well reefed down, makes her stable enough for me to walk about and the boat hardly move, and SCAMP is more reminiscent of this than she is of the usual dinghy.
Think "Small ship" rather than "dinghy" and you'll be getting close.
Better still, come to PT and go sailing.
John Welsford

Well, amongst WI-Tom, James Mc, Howard Rice, cprino, and Keyhaven; you guys all make good points. I have never even seen a SCAMP in the flesh, let alone played in one; perhaps there is more boat there than meets the eye in photos--I would, of course, love to see/sail one--she is a not a beauty, but kinda like the girl-next-door cute... My sailing experience lies only in a Capri 13 and a Catalina 14.2, and some tiller-time on a friend's Catalina 22; the Capri is kind of a one-man venture, and the 14.2 gives me enough room to share my experience with others. I have toyed with building a boat for years; I currently have a Bolger Rubens Nymph up to the taping stage as my first attempt at building a boat. She is my "bench-top classroom", and my confidence builder; she has shown me so far that I really can do this... I have learned a lot from this build, and much of what I have learned will go into subsequent builds--I love doing this stuff! Thanks for all your input; I'm not in a hurry, so I will reserve judgement until I have met a SCAMP face-to-face...

[Chip-skiff]

NCV, its very hard to get across to people who've not sailed in a SCAMP just how it feels. Its a pity that we quote the 12 ft length in a way as it sets perceptions that have been created by other 12 ft boats, and this does not feel or behave like any 12 ft boat you've ever seen.- - -John Welsford

John (or anyone who knows)- What's the length and the widths (head, mid, and foot) of the berth on Scamp?

[john welsford]

The bunk space, using the footwell as intended, is 700mm wide ( 27 1/2 in) wide from the transom to the forward end of the seats then it goes out to 1300 (4 ft 3in) for the 500mm (20 in) lengthwise in under the dodger. The distance fore and aft is 2500. ( about 8ft 3in)

But note that Mike and Andrew spent close to a week on board during the 2010 Everglades challenge and slept on the seats which are just long and wide enough for an adult.

John Welsford

John (or anyone who knows)- What's the length and the widths (head, mid, and foot) of the berth on Scamp?

[wtarzia]

Seems as though one could have a fold-down dodger stowed securely under the hard-dodger and practically have a solid, instant tent once the anchor is dropped. And then back up and stowed just as quickly. -- Wade

[Dan St Gean]

Jim Brown had something like that on his SeaRunner that was pretty slick. It was not connected to a hard dodger, but it's a good idea for scamp too!

Dan

[wtarzia]

Jim Brown had something like that on his SeaRunner that was pretty slick. It was not connected to a hard dodger, but it's a good idea for scamp too!...

--- His personal SR31 has a folding windshield-dodger put up only against spray or against evening cool wind. Then there is a semi-permanent sun-top made of stiffened fabric with sides that can be put down against the sun when at anchor (forward edge can connects to the folding dodger if necessary). A mosquito net weighted at the bottom with lead-impregnated rope can zip-in to the sun-top. It is all very versatile.

Does the smaller Searunner (a 25?) have a folding dodger that covers the whole cockpit at a sweep? That is more what I was thinking about for the Scamp, although the geometry of the poles hinged udner the hard-dodger might means that the aft portion of the tent is unsupported and just stretch tight and hooked down. -- Wade

[Dan St Gean]

His personal boat is what I'm referring to. Since the scamp already had a hard dodger, it needs no dodger in soft form. However, attaching to the back edge whould be easily accomplished and the resultant *bimini* could look a lot like the multi peice unit for the Norseboat. That's what I meant to say the first go aground.

(Also a boat that did well at the EC, in fact it won class 4 I think...and available in wood--and no I have no affiliation other than liking her lapstrale look)
Dan

[Osborne Russell]

. . . stable enough for me to walk about and the boat hardly move, and SCAMP is more reminiscent of this than she is of the usual dinghy.

Sounds like the Pelican . . . not so much a small boat as a short big boat.

Still, just another foot of cockpit . . . for the hibachi . . .

[john welsford]

His personal boat is what I'm referring to. Since the scamp already had a hard dodger, it needs no dodger in soft form. However, attaching to the back edge whould be easily accomplished and the resultant *bimini* could look a lot like the multi peice unit for the Norseboat. That's what I meant to say the first go aground.

(Also a boat that did well at the EC, in fact it won class 4 I think...and available in wood--and no I have no affiliation other than liking her lapstrale look)
Dan

Part of the vision that engendered the little dodger, was that the cockpit tent be rolled up from aft forward and stowed on the after upper edge of the dodger, the springy tent bows dismantled and stowed under the side decks.
I think that a pair of bows diagonally from corner to corner, and another transverse one about 18in ahead of the transom would do it. The after end of the tent at its highest point being strapped back to the end of the boom to tension the tent lengthwise.

The idea of the bow supports is to get headroom out above the seats, something that the ridge tent doesnt do.

John Welsford

[keyhavenpotterer]

Current Wayfarer dinghy tent arrangements

http://www.canvaswindmill.co.uk/PAGE2A.htm




Forward window for anchor watch and flow through ventilation. John Welsford's Walkabout sports side windows at oar height to allow rowing under canvas in poor weather or when needing to moving anchorage a bit.

I can't quite see how those tensioning velcro? side straps work or what they're pulling on.


They might be pulling on those red and blue lines threaded forward from the handhold to aft under then gunwale secured in a few places then through the top rudder gudgeon?



Forward its tensioned onto the shrouds, but Scamp's dodger perform the same function.

http://www.canvaswindmill.co.uk/PAGE1.HTM

They make the UK Wayfarer tents. Dinghy cruising spray dodgers etc.

Ed

[JDMH]

It looks like the velcro straps are looped through the blue line that runs across in front of the cockpit and then back to the top rudder mount on the transom. Thanks for posting the images they are very useful.

[Julie]

This forum is dangerous, and this thread even more so. Plans, tools, epoxy and plywood have been purchased. Who should I send the bill too?

Anyone else building one of these in their backyard?

[James McMullen]

Welcome to the madness, Julie!

[Rik van der Vaart]

Awesome decision Julie. Did you get a kit or sheets of ply?

[Julie]

Awesome decision Julie. Did you get a kit or sheets of ply?

Sheets of ply. I had strongly considered a kit, but I have found the plans to be easy to understand and the build manual fantastic, thus lending me a bit of confidence in this process. Most of the pieces have been lofted and cut out of cheaper plywood to use as a pattern. We'll see how it goes!

[kenjamin]

Welcome aboard Julie and good luck with your build. I'm also building from plans only. The only problem I've found with the plans was that the location of the slots for the bulkheads in the seat longitudinals were not given. Don't know why that information was left off. I ended up just making the slots oversized so the longitudinals would fit down on the bulkheads but now I've got some patching to do to get the fit tight again. I'm curious to see if you'll have the same problem. It was no biggie really but still don't understand why those slot locations were not provided. Have fun with your SCAMP build and give James McMullen a ride in it when you're done!

[MoMan]

This forum is dangerous, and this thread even more so. Plans, tools, epoxy and plywood have been purchased. Who should I send the bill too?

Anyone else building one of these in their backyard?

That's great! When are you starting your build thread, Julie? This design is on my short list, along with a couple other Welsford designs.

[Julie]

The only problem I've found with the plans was that the location of the slots for the bulkheads in the seat longitudinals were not given. Don't know why that information was left off. I ended up just making the slots oversized so the longitudinals would fit down on the bulkheads but now I've got some patching to do to get the fit tight again. I'm curious to see if you'll have the same problem. It was no biggie really but still don't understand why those slot locations were not provided.

That sounds like a bit of an ordeal, hope you get everything to fit perfectly!

Have fun with your SCAMP build and give James McMullen a ride in it when you're done!

Hah, hilarious how you assume that my boat will float.

[Julie]

That's great! When are you starting your build thread, Julie? This design is on my short list, along with a couple other Welsford designs.

There's just something about his designs, isn't there? I've already have his Sundowner dancing in the back of my mind. This boat thing is a sickness, I tell you.

I'm on the fence about starting a build thread. I've got a blog up and running, but it's more waxing poetically about my boat than working on it at this point. That'll change in a week or so, as I'm nearing the end of lofting (6 pieces left!) and I have almost all the tools I need. Blog is here if you're interested.

[David G]

Julie,

Welcome aboard! If you're so inclined, we'd love to hear reports of your build as you move along. Fotos are always welcome!

[Old Dryfoot]

Julie, welcome to the WBF.

I'm also a SCAMP plans owner who is still in the planning stages, and I would also echo David's sentiment regarding pictures and updates as being very welcome and appreciated. One item I'm still debating is from kit or of from plans, as you are building from plans I will be watching closely for my own enlightenment.

[MoMan]

I'm on the fence about starting a build thread. I've got a blog up and running, but it's more waxing poetically about my boat than working on it at this point. That'll change in a week or so, as I'm nearing the end of lofting (6 pieces left!) and I have almost all the tools I need. Blog is here if you're interested.

Nice blog--I just read the whole thing thus far. Yes, I think you need to start a WBF build thread. You've already written and taken photos for the blog; now you just copy and paste here! Happy (early) birthday, BTW.

--Mike

[john welsford]

Julie, we'll be in the shop at the Maritime Center on Port Townsends harbour over the weekend ( August 11 and 12 , maybe 10 am to 4 pm) , you'd be welcome to come over and visit, ask questions and hang out . It would be very nice to meet you.
Love your blog by the way, well done.
Anyone else, come and have a look around, you're all of you welcome.
John Welsford

There's just something about his designs, isn't there? I've already have his Sundowner dancing in the back of my mind. This boat thing is a sickness, I tell you.

I'm on the fence about starting a build thread. I've got a blog up and running, but it's more waxing poetically about my boat than working on it at this point. That'll change in a week or so, as I'm nearing the end of lofting (6 pieces left!) and I have almost all the tools I need. Blog is here if you're interested.

[keyhavenpotterer]

Mike's Scamp with Chip's Pilgrim

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chipspi...in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chipspi...n/photostream/

Ed

[skaraborgcraft]

[QUOTE=keyhavenpotterer;3432737]Mike's Scamp with Chip's Pilgrim

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chipspi...in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chipspi...n/photostream/

Very nicely finished Pilgrim,but WHY such a HUGE outboard? Spacious looking boat for its size. Thought about a Pilgrim but built a Michalak Family skiff instead as a faster build project.

[Julie]

Julie, we'll be in the shop at the Maritime Center on Port Townsends harbour over the weekend ( August 11 and 12 , maybe 10 am to 4 pm) , you'd be welcome to come over and visit, ask questions and hang out . It would be very nice to meet you.
Love your blog by the way, well done.
Anyone else, come and have a look around, you're all of you welcome.
John Welsford

Sounds great, by that time I'm sure I'll have a plethora of questions to harass you with. I'll be sure to start a list.

Thanks for the birthday wishes, MoMan! I'll be turning 31. It's a happy coincidence that a large portion of my 31st year will be spent building SCAMP #131.

Thank you all for such a warm welcome and the compliments on the blog! It means a lot, especially after a rough day of not-so-pleasant life lessons regarding routers (specifically router creep, RIP beautiful Okoume centerboard blanks).

[john welsford]

Sounds great, by that time I'm sure I'll have a plethora of questions to harass you with. I'll be sure to start a list.

Thanks for the birthday wishes, MoMan! I'll be turning 31. It's a happy coincidence that a large portion of my 31st year will be spent building SCAMP #131.

Thank you all for such a warm welcome and the compliments on the blog! It means a lot, especially after a rough day of not-so-pleasant life lessons regarding routers (specifically router creep, RIP beautiful Okoume centerboard blanks).

I'm looking forward to meeting you Julie,

Watch that router, I find that several light cuts works better for me .

John Welsford

[Howard Rice]

SCAMP and the Port Townsend Small Craft Skills Academy.

Happy to report SCAMP performed in fine fashion as working sail for the Port Townsend Academy. She did her work well as primary instructional boat. I sailed with a number of Academy sailors on SCAMP. She impressed all as stable and predictable. We had wind in Port Townsend and SCAMP was up to it. It seems to many that she sails better than she should. I know that sounds odd but it is the sensation I have had at times. SCAMP is a big little boat that is unique and innovative from just about any angle. Pram bows may not be for everyone but for those who get the form/function hence beauty of the type SCAMP is worth a test sail sometime. Pram bows have been used throughout time and they make sense for some design objectives.

I have now seen SCAMP Under sail from another boat and I liked her lines through the water, quiet wake and how she powerfully shoulders oncoming seas bounding over them. I had always sailed SCAMP and had not seen her from another boat, now I have at two Academies. In my opinion a sturdy, safe, good looking boat designed with a purpose in mind.

Through Academy use SCAMP has again proven she is not a skittish 11'11" day sailing dinghy although she is a quintessential day sailing dinghy. Her riq is easy to handle on any point of sail including high wind gybes and other maneuvering. SCAMP sails in light wind. A light hand on helm and SCAMP will go where she looks even in a zephyr. In medium air she sails very nicely handling like a much larger boat. SCAMP also likes it windy. She is a big full shape, almost a small keel boat feel coupled with a few fun characteristics of a spritely speedy dinghy. To gauge this unique performance blend I offer a few grades. For an 11 ft 11 inch balanced lug rigged dinghy and all that is implied by such a description I give SCAMP A's with a couple of B+ grades for sailing and overall sail/handling performance. With a few tweaks she can be darned near perfect as a small sailing/cruising boat. Not bad for any boat. Her performance across wind strengths is very satisfactory. In prudent hands she should keep sailors safe and smiling.

Many thanks to SCAMP #1's owner for making her available for the Academy.
howard

[Julie]

SCAMP and the Port Townsend Small Craft Skills Academy.

Happy to report SCAMP performed in fine fashion as working sail for the Port Townsend Academy. She did her work well as primary instructional boat. I sailed with a number of Academy sailors on SCAMP. She impressed all as stable and predictable. We had wind in Port Townsend and SCAMP was up to it. It seems to many that she sails better than she should. I know that sounds odd but it is the sensation I have had at times. SCAMP is a big little boat that is unique and innovative from just about any angle. Pram bows may not be for everyone but for those who get the form/function hence beauty of the type SCAMP is worth a test sail sometime. Pram bows have been used throughout time and they make sense for some design objectives.

I have now seen SCAMP Under sail from another boat and I liked her lines through the water, quiet wake and how she powerfully shoulders oncoming seas bounding over them. I had always sailed SCAMP and had not seen her from another boat, now I have at two Academies. In my opinion a sturdy, safe, good looking boat designed with a purpose in mind.

Through Academy use SCAMP has again proven she is not a skittish 11'11" day sailing dinghy although she is a quintessential day sailing dinghy. Her riq is easy to handle on any point of sail including high wind gybes and other maneuvering. SCAMP sails in light wind. A light hand on helm and SCAMP will go where she looks even in a zephyr. In medium air she sails very nicely handling like a much larger boat. SCAMP also likes it windy. She is a big full shape, almost a small keel boat feel coupled with a few fun characteristics of a spritely speedy dinghy. To gauge this unique performance blend I offer a few grades. For an 11 ft 11 inch balanced lug rigged dinghy and all that is implied by such a description I give SCAMP A's with a couple of B+ grades for sailing and overall sail/handling performance. With a few tweaks she can be darned near perfect as a small sailing/cruising boat. Not bad for any boat. Her performance across wind strengths is very satisfactory. In prudent hands she should keep sailors safe and smiling.

Many thanks to SCAMP #1's owner for making her available for the Academy.
howard

I love your detailed descriptions of how SCAMP sails! It makes me even more confident that I've made the right choice in my decision. In fact, I'd say your active capsize video was what ultimately pushed me over the edge (I ordered the plans in less than 10 minutes after seeing that video) on choosing the SCAMP. I had deemed her too complicated for a beginner to build, but after seeing how well she handled it was love at first sight, and regardless of my lack of boat building knowledge I knew I had to have one.

[kenjamin]

Hi Julie,

You will probably find plywood and epoxy very forgiving materials to work with and there's also the fact that us guys on this forum and the one at SCA truly want you to succeed with your build. You are right about Howard's eloquent descriptions of sailing the SCAMP. Notice how long his posts sit on the forum because nobody wants to follow stuff that well written. Thanks for breaking the ice and good luck with your build.

[Simeoniii]

Welcome aboard Julie and good luck with your build. I'm also building from plans only. The only problem I've found with the plans was that the location of the slots for the bulkheads in the seat longitudinals were not given. Don't know why that information was left off. I ended up just making the slots oversized so the longitudinals would fit down on the bulkheads but now I've got some patching to do to get the fit tight again. I'm curious to see if you'll have the same problem. It was no biggie really but still don't understand why those slot locations were not provided. Have fun with your SCAMP build and give James McMullen a ride in it when you're done!

Kenjamin - I'm sorry to read about your issue with the seat longitudinals. I missed your post but here is a response.

I'm somewhat unclear on how you proceeded on this stage of the build. The bulkhead B-5 port side, and B-6, both sides, have the slot (notches actually) locations well referenced and can be initially established. Did you then try to cut the notches in the longitudinals concurrent with the bulkheads, rather than later when fitting them through and alongside the bulkheads?

Since plan builders may vary in their build tolerances perhaps the plans (Sheet 2) comment "Notch seat longitudinal and bulkhead to suit"... is good as it stands.

Then again, maybe the plans should be re-worded to "Notch bulkheads, then notch longitudinals to suit when fitting longitudinals"...

As you say, on the kit the slots on the longitudinals are located and pre-cut. From the cockpit side of the longitudinals, the bulkhead joints cannot be seen, except of course at the 90 degree ones at B-4 on both port & starboard sides.

See attached photo of the port seat longitudinal from Dan Phy's kit showing the notches for B-5, 6 & 7.

Once the bulkhead are in place (with their notches for the longitudinals located on the plans), then the longitudinals' notches can be fairly easily established as they are fitted. Does this make sense?

On your suggestion, a plans revision is in works to locate them with dimensions on the Seat Longitudinals detail on Sheet-2. This will help plans builders that haven't gotten to that stage yet.

I still maintain that I'd rather cut the slots in the bulkheads as drawn in the plans, and then hand fit the longitudinals and notch them in situ at the appropriate time. Even if the plans builders are accurate in their loft/layout and assembly, I'd still recommend penciling in the cut lines on the nice ply of the longitudinals, and then test fitting/cutting. Of course, you could also do that with a "doorskin" seat longitudinal template.

I hope this helps,

Simeon
Port Seat Longitudinal-IMG_4625-1.jpg