Half-decked Oughtred Fulmar?

[Wayne Jeffers]

I've heard a rumor that such a modification/addition to the plans was due from Mr. Oughtred's board. Can anyone verify that this option is currently included in the plans? Anyone bought Fulmar plans recently? Or is a snail mail inquiry to the designer in order?

Half-decked with the (fast to rig and unrig, easy to reef) balanced lug yawl rig would make this boat very interesting to me.

Wayne

[TerryLL]

Wayne,
I've been eyeballing the Fulmar as a possible next boat. Half-decked she appeals even more. I have not yet seen anything from Iain about a plans mod, but will be watching.

[John How]

A note on my plan set says a half decked version would be out soon, don't have a guess about what that means or if the set has been upgraded. I have had my plan set for about a year now. I would say a letter or call would be in order? It's rumored that Iain has email these days but I don't know if it is true or what it would be anyway. I suspect that a letter is still the most positive way and I know he does answer them.

[potomac]

Iain is on Facebook, but I've had no success contacting him that way.

[John How]

I suspect that someone else is assisting him on Facebook and that Iain does not go there often. Just a guess.

[Wayne Jeffers]

I thought I would give an update for anyone who may be interested.

I finally got around to writing to Mr. Oughtred and he responded promptly. The half-decked Fulmar does not yet exist. However, . . .

He says he has plans for both a half-decked option and a Bermuda rig option, for both the Fulmar and the Shearwater. He said drawings for these options have been completed for the Gannett, and he is pleased with the result.

He gave no specific timeframe for completion, but he did indicate that they should be ready before I "get up as far as the gunwale!"

Since we’re on the verge of moving from Ohio to our house in WV, and I have yet to add the finishing touches to my new workshop in WV, it seems to make sense for me to wait a few months before ordering the plans. But I’ve decided that with this option Fulmar is as close to my vision of my ideal open sailboat as I’m ever likely to find in stock plans.

Wayne

[Wayne Jeffers]

I suspect that someone else is assisting him on Facebook and that Iain does not go there often. Just a guess.

I've seen Iain's FB page. It seems to be for his private use. It is not business-oriented. In fact, one would not necessarily know without a careful reading that he is engaged in boat design.

Iain has chosen not to have a personal business presence on the internet. If he chooses to receive correspondence by postal service, or telephone, I will respect that. And I think everyone else should, too.

Wayne

[Kaa]

Iain Oughtred clearly prefers old-fashined letters to email and other electronic forms of communication. He is prompt in replying to physical, Royal Mail-delivered letters and might even send you sketches or bits of plans relevant to things you're discussing with him :-)

Kaa

[Yeadon]

If you want to half-deck a Fulmar, then just do it. No need to wait around for new plans from the grandmaster himself. Lots of great examples out there for inspiration.

But it is nice to receive correspondence from Oughtred, though. I get that.

[Wayne Jeffers]

I’m not seeking to correspond with Mr. O – I figure he has better things to do. In fact, I’ve done my best to find information without bothering him.

I understand what you’re saying about adding my own half deck. I’ve made such changes myself to a simple sheet-ply boat that I knocked together, and it turned out okay. But I’ve also seen a picture of at least one Oughtred-based boat that had its looks spoiled, IMO, by a half deck designed by the builder.

This time I’m determined to build a first-rate boat using the best materials. At my age, I may not get many more chances. The last thing I want to do is risk ruining the aesthetics – maybe making a change that is functional enough, but just doesn’t fit the character of the boat.

Besides, it’s going to be several months before I have enough free time to build the boat. He seemed willing to follow-up with the drawings for the half deck when they’re done, but I figure I can save him the postage by waiting a couple of months to order the plans.

Wayne

[WCM]

I had an occasion to write to Mr. Oughtred concerning a daggerboard case question regarding the ELFYN. He responded quickly and his response was very convivial in tone.
I didn't have the impression at all that he might regard inquiries from those who have purchased his plans as a bother. He writes in a beautiful script which makes just reading his response enjoyable apart from its substantive content.

[Yeadon]

McMullen recently showed me a few letters that he traded with Oughtred when they were hashing out Rowan. Oughtred was very friendly and helpful.

[Wayne Jeffers]

It's good to know that he is helpful after the sale. Still, I'm likely to interrupt his musings only after I have thoroughly searched for an answer. I cannot imagine trying to modify his plans as James McMullen did, so I don't expect to have that reason to contact him.

I did include my email address in my letter, and he chose to respond by email. I also inquired about methods of payment, whether he could accept Paypal or a check in US$ drawn on a US bank, etc., and he gave me an address to send a Paypal payment (as well as indicating willingness to accept my check in US$.) So, he does do computers -- he simply seems to have chosen not to personally market his own plans through that medium. Probably a sensible choice.

Wayne

[James McMullen]

Uhhhh. . . I didn't modify his plans, we did. I asked Iain for help in achieving the goals I was after with Rowan, and he graciously and thoroughly provided first rate assistance with sketches and measurements and caculations and even follow-up letters when he'd thought up some new twist. And he didn't ask for any more money, even, despite all this extra stuff. (But I sent him some more dough anyways, because I think he woefully undercharges for the magnitude of his artistry)

[Wayne Jeffers]

Uhhhh. . . I didn't modify his plans, we did. . .

Understood. I never meant to imply otherwise. Let me try again: "I cannot imagine wishing to modify his plans as James McMullen did . . . "

I will be the first to admit that both you and he have far more knowledge of sailboat design and construction than I ever hope to achieve. My own comfort level dictates that I build the boat exactly as drawn and rely on Oughtred's expertise, and especially his artistry. I may arrange rigging to suit myself, but nothing more.

My only point was that others have had legitimate reasons to contact him, such as regarding potential changes, but I do not expect to do so.

Wayne

[John How]

I just fired off a letter to Iain asking about the decked version plus a couple of questions I had about my own build. I'll pass on any info that may apply when I hear back from him.

[John How]

Heard back from Iain today via email so he does compute. He hasn't gotten round to the fulmar deck yet though but still plans to and apppearantly now has an assistant at the drafting table. If you write him just include your email and he will probably respond to that.