looking for suggestions for a coastal cruiser

[Jack Loudon]

Hi Everyone,
I'm a new member here but I've been lurking around for a long time

I'm looking for suggestions for a coastal cruiser that I can build in my garage. The maximum dimensions of the boat would be 19ft with a beam of 6ft. Now here's the catch, I'd like this boat to:

- be capable of crossings up to 100 nautical miles,
- be capable of carrying 1 to 2 weeks of supplies,
- have accommodation to sleep 1 person on board,

Ideally, it would also be engineless and be able to navigate up tidal rivers (shallow draft, mast on tabernacle, ...) but those are "nice to have".

I don't have much experience in boat building yet, but I'm learning. Currently building an expedition wherry from CLC to get myself familiar with the process.

Do you think such a boat is possible ? Any suggestions ?

Thanks in advance!

I don't think anybody mentioned Bolger's Long Micro, but it checks all the OP's boxes:

19' x 6' dimensions
100-mile crossings feasible, with long ballast keel and decked-over cockpit.
Ample capacity for supplies and crew
Mast in tabernacle
Moderate (though not truly shallow) draft
Not difficult to build
With right sail plan, engineless is possible

Long Micro negatives: It's heavy, not too pretty, could be hard to trailer launch, not really suitable for rowing, flat bow transom.

[Etdbob]

Actually, I was just going to nominate the Bolger Micro!

The smaller, original version checks all the boxes just fine. It even fits through the barn door! (Probably....Might have to chisel a bit off the jamb).
12 sheets of good ply, not a terribly expensive build - You do have to pour lead for the keel though, but this can even be done in sections. More interior room than any boat this size has a right to, and way more seaworthy than an open boat with water ballast!

Plus being a cat-yawl she will steer herself much of the time, which you'll really appreciate making a long solo crossing!

• LENGTH - 15'4"
• BEAM - 6'
• EMPTY WEIGHT - 900 lbs
• DRAFT - 1'9"
• BALLAST - 420 lbs
• DISPLACEMENT - 1650 lbs
• SAIL - 153 SQ FT
• SLEEPS - 2 Adults in 6'6" Berths
• DAY SAILS - Up to 4 Adults
• BUILDING TECHNIQUE - Instant Boat Building
• POWER - 2-6 HP Motor or Sail
• MATERIAL - 12 Sheets 1/4" or 3/8" Plywood, Framing Lumber, Lead Ballast
• WHAT YOU RECEIVE (PDF)- Plans and Manual by E-Mail. Take to printer and have them printed out.
• PRICE PDF- $100.00

[Etdbob]

An even simpler boat to build that checks all the boxes is the Selway Fishers Simplicity 14, a boat I came real close to building myself.

Designed to be able to cross the channel.
Can be built with a leeboard, bilge keels, or even a centerboard. I'd probably use a Michalak style pivoting leeboard so I could easily beach it and keep the entire cabin open.
Fits through the six foot door with a few inches to spare....

Simplicity 14 Particulars
LOD	14'	4.27m
Beam	5'6"	1.68m
Hull Mid Depth	2'5"	0.74m
Draft	1'11"	0.58m
Sail Area	75 sq.ft and 100 sq.ft	6.98 sq.m and 9.3 sq.m
Approx. Dry Weight	750 lbs	340 kg
Ballast	200 lbs	90.7 kg
Maximum Headroom	4'	1.22m
Hull Shape	flat bottom single chine
Construction Methods	Ply over frame and stitch and tape
Major plywood requirements for hull	11 x 6mm sheets
Guidance Use	Inland and estuary - 2 adults
Drawing/Design Package	7 x A1 drawings + 13 x A4 instruction sheets
Additions and alterations included with the plans	Junk rig Gunter main with jib Pivoted centreboard Sliding external leeboards Panel shapes for 6'6" (1.98m) beam version Panel shapes for 12' x 5'6" (3.66x1.68m) version Panel shapes for 15' version

The boat above is fine, but the one below is kinda ugly, even by my standards....

[John Perry]

What a lot of boats for the OP to have to choose from!

Would the OP be singlehanded for the 100NM crossings? Although I dont do it any more, I used to make open sea passages (English channel and southern corner of North Sea) single handed with a 15foot by 5.5 foot open sailing dinghy once each summer for several years. The longest of these passages was about 70NM and I would not want to do longer, partly because of the effect of sleep deprivation - Although some of these passages were completed within 24 hours I was once at sea for the best part of 36 hours (too tired to time it!) and felt quite debilitated on arrival. Maybe the French professional solo racers get acclimatised for this but it is not easy leaving an office job on Friday evening then early next morning setting off accross the sea. To make long offshore passages solo in a small boat you might consider something like the boats used in the mini-Transat race which are set up to allow the boat to sail itself most of the time, but that kind of boat would not meet most of your other requirements.

I agree that it is very good to have a boat like mine without an engine, but if that means you will be rowing it in some situations bear in mind that rowing a boat solo may be difficult with beam more than about 6 feet - I made my boat 5foot six beam partly to suit rowing.

[Woxbox]

Jack, you are correct - the Long Micro is a very good fit. I'm kicking myself for not thinking of it myself. A Yuloh would be perfect to push this boat in and out of harbor when needed. I'll bet a steering vane could be rigged for the long crossings. That full keel has been reported to make the boat track solidly. (Which is to stay, she doesn't turn on a dime.) And, of course, that keelboat/yawl combo is perfect for a craft that will sail itself to windward most of the time.

This boat was on my short list at one time. It has a lot going for it. Admittedly, it's not the prettiest boat. I mentioned the Wee Seal earlier. Similar advantages, but far prettier -- but also far more expensive and complicated to build.

The long micro.

[Johan R]

I have the use of one of these West Wight Potters. The original plywood version was sailed across the North Sea to Sweden by the builder, so more than able of the 100nm passage.



They have narrow beam, so are quite easily rowed with big enough oars and the mast is easily lowered. There was never any plans. Looking around today, the Selway Fisher 16f Mystery is a bigger looking clone.



A friend came across this design, Sharpie 550 that is within your size limits. Looks are a personal matter.


Plans de voiliers, plans de deriveurs, plans de kayaks, plans de catamarans, plans de trimarans, plans de pocket cruiser pour construction amateur en contreplaque, Scow 420, Scow 450 et Naut 350, Naut 400, Naut 420, Naut 450, Yakyak 365 et Yakyak 425 (nautline.com)

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

Why is everyone thinking monohull?

I think a Tiki 21 would be ideal. Easy to build one hull at a time in the shop.
No doubt what-so-ever about it being suitable for any crossing - One was actually sailed around the world.

A pretty easy build, shallow draft, easily beached, easily trailered if a bit long to setup at the water.

She checks all the boxes -



And oh yeah, it will sail rings around anything else shown in this thread, blow high or low.

Suggested on the first page and shouted down by the usual negativist.

The big potential drawback is location, the OP has Canada Maritimes and I suspect that the Tiki is better suited to warmer climes.

[Rigadog]

An article on these designs here:

http://traditionalsmallcraft.com/BarnagetBaySkiffs.html

[WI-Tom]

Suggested on the first page and shouted down by the usual negativist.

That's an interesting characterization. You mean the negativist who posted this?

It's true, though, that multihulls tend to get overlooked, and they probably deserve a mention now and then.

Or this:

The question of monohulls--I mean, the question of why they hold no personal appeal for me despite some undeniable advantages--always intrigues me.

Or did you mean the negativist who pointed out that suggesting a 21' boat when a max length of 19' was specified is stretching parameters a bit? (while also posting that stretching parameters can be useful)?

Yep. Pure negativity.

Tom

[Jack Loudon]

What a lot of boats for the OP to have to choose from!

Would the OP be singlehanded for the 100NM crossings? Although I dont do it any more, I used to make open sea passages (English channel and southern corner of North Sea) single handed with a 15foot by 5.5 foot open sailing dinghy once each summer for several years. The longest of these passages was about 70NM and I would not want to do longer, partly because of the effect of sleep deprivation - Although some of these passages were completed within 24 hours I was once at sea for the best part of 36 hours (too tired to time it!) and felt quite debilitated on arrival. Maybe the French professional solo racers get acclimatised for this but it is not easy leaving an office job on Friday evening then early next morning setting off accross the sea. To make long offshore passages solo in a small boat you might consider something like the boats used in the mini-Transat race which are set up to allow the boat to sail itself most of the time, but that kind of boat would not meet most of your other requirements.

I agree that it is very good to have a boat like mine without an engine, but if that means you will be rowing it in some situations bear in mind that rowing a boat solo may be difficult with beam more than about 6 feet - I made my boat 5foot six beam partly to suit rowing.

John, thanks for your informative post.

[Andrew2]

Long Micro negatives: It's heavy, not too pretty, could be hard to trailer launch, not really suitable for rowing, flat bow transom.

Your pic is of the standard Micro at 15ft 4 in.
If any interest, I am quite happy to share my alterations. Some flare to the sides, resulting in a beam of 6ft 6in (slight prob to the OP with this) sharper at the bow with an angle to the prow. Sides return to the original beam at the cabin top from the lower rub rail. Transom canted back a bit, then returned after the rub rail. A bit Drascombe-ish. Result, it is 17ft long and more like the Selway boats. Rig is standard.
The ballast makes her right from 'mast in the water ' scenarios. There ares some mentions of an OZ guy some time back taking his engineless standard one into some of the wilder places down there. Oars were his other motive power. Think he had holes on the cockpit sides.

Ed: Just to add, With the time effort and money involved in building a boat, a 6ft wide door frame is a minor job to dismantle...
Back in the days when my father designed ply boats, we got several photos of boats emerging from upstairs windows, after the frame had been taken out due to a 'miscalculation' .
A2

[Jack Loudon]

Your pic is of the standard Micro at 15ft 4 in.
If any interest, I am quite happy to share my alterations. Some flare to the sides, resulting in a beam of 6ft 6in (slight prob to the OP with this) sharper at the bow with an angle to the prow. Sides return to the original beam at the cabin top from the lower rub rail. Transom canted back a bit, then returned after the rub rail. A bit Drascombe-ish. Result, it is 17ft long and more like the Selway boats. Rig is standard.
The ballast makes her right from 'mast in the water ' scenarios. There ares some mentions of an OZ guy some time back taking his engineless standard one into some of the wilder places down there. Oars were his other motive power. Think he had holes on the cockpit sides.

Ed: Just to add, With the time effort and money involved in building a boat, a 6ft wide door frame is a minor job to dismantle...
Back in the days when my father designed ply boats, we got several photos of boats emerging from upstairs windows, after the frame had been taken out due to a 'miscalculation' .
A2

Interesting modifications to your Micro. Do you have any photos?

Sorry about the incorrect illustration, taken hastily off the web. I dug up the correct Long Micro from a box in storage, though not a clear copy.
Also possibly of interest is a later version of Micro by Bolger; intended for long range cruising with inside steering, junk yawl rig.

IMG_3580.jpg

IMG_3582.jpg

[Andrew2]

Will try a couple of photos.
The 'boatshop' is a tight temporary lean too and difficult to get far enough away, but you will get the idea..2022_0410Micro20136.jpg
2022_0410Micro20135.jpg
The change of colour near the bow is about where the original bow transom was. Cabin is 4" higher.
Build is a bit of fun, with left over ply and assorted hardwoods. Did buy some Oregon Pine for the masts. Ballast is collected lead at 200kg/440lbs.
A2

[Johan R]

Your Micro modifications are very similar to how a friend drew a "Blobster". Another American designer who apparently shared similar build styles with that Bolger fellow. The bow is certainly less offensive to the eye or the water.

[Jack Loudon]

Thanks Andrew, it looks like it will be a great boat. The flared sides are definitely an aesthetic improvement, and the bow extension is something I would also do. A Micro or Long Micro would be near the top of my build list, if I didn't already have a similar (though FRP) boat.

Jack

[Andrew2]

Thanks Jack.
The cockpit is also self draining, unlike the hatch over footwell of the original. As before, it is a fun build and I doubt I have much more than €1K euro in her. Another forumite in Holland had a set of little used sails, so that was lucky.
The port light in the cabin side is a bit low visually, but there is a stringer just above it and I didn't want to cut that. Spars are made. Just need to fit the ballast and a bit of sanding and painting.
Will post launching photos....
One problem. I am used to building my own trailers, but that is no longer OK in France, so looking for a fixer-upper.

My other boat:
1908010001.jpg

A2

[Autonomous]

boussole, have you looked at Duckworks catalog of designs? They have a nice collection which makes it easy to compare and find designers you may not be familiar with. Plans & Kits - Page 1 - Duckworks Boat Builders Supply

One of our members just built a sweet Tad Roberts design. Sail and Oar Boats ~ Small Boat Designs by Tad Roberts
Most of his designs in your size range are open, but canvas dodgers are a simple, inexpensive and lightweight way to transform and make a small boat more versatile.
My open 17' sail-n-oar craft has a flat, gunnel height canvas bow cover that comes back 4 1/2 feet to the mast and is a great place to keep things out of the elements.

The B&B Core Sound series have a great reputation. Sailboats - B&B Yacht Designs (bandbyachtdesigns.com)

[Autonomous]

One way to help us spend your money and labor would be to let us know your skill level, time frame, general budget and such.
Francois Vivier's designs will require more skill, time and materials than a B&B Core Sound design.

The Calander Islands 18 looks like a match for your requirements, I have a boat very close to its particulars. With 9 1/2' oars and sliding seats it rows fine. With enclosed side decks a sliding seat is easier to build in than you may expect.

The images below are not my boat but are the same system. With that system Chases' boat would have comfortable side benches as these particular rollers need 27" side to side.
IMG_0105-480x360.jpgIMG_0111-270x360.jpg IMG_0100_1-480x360.jpg

Ignore the following images, it is a poor installation.

[Autonomous]

Ignore the 4th and 5th images, that is not a good installation, and I can't seem to delete them.

Rinse your eyes out with this.

slidingseat_51-480x360.jpg

[Dave Wright]

Will try a couple of photos.

2022_0410Micro20136.jpg

Is that pipe set up and what appears to be another pipe fitted into the bow for rotating the hull? Did it workout OK?

[John hartmann]

The big Calendar Islands yawl is a powerful, capable and handsome boat:
E3006D5F-3BEB-4D8E-8285-C190A0DCE82B.jpg
7078AE14-FBE8-42ED-AEE9-F2BB9A45FC8D.jpg
27891A9C-1ECB-4C42-A9FB-A3F79A5F46D4.jpg
Clint Chase’s designs and kits are very well sorted for home builders.

[Andrew2]

Is that pipe set up and what appears to be another pipe fitted into the bow for rotating the hull? Did it workout OK?

Yes. I set the strongback up on a trailer, then after the bottom panel and lower sides, flipped her right side up. With the tight space, then put her on the rotissary. With a 'come along' winch on the cross tube, she rolls in seconds, very handy.
A2

[rgthom]

Ignore the 4th and 5th images, that is not a good installation, and I can't seem to delete them.

Rinse your eyes out with this.

slidingseat_51-480x360.jpg

I copied the Gig Harbor slide seat for my Walkabout, if you have side seats it is a great system that lifts out easily and does not require a structure fitted into the boat as other slide seats do. My actual seat is one for a rowing whitewater raft, feel free to laugh at the appearance but I have done 10 hour rows in relative comfort.

[Autonomous]

Nice!
I'm of the impression that trans-oceanic rowers employ similar systems partly because of the reliability.

[darroch]

My actual seat is one for a rowing whitewater raft, feel free to laugh at the appearance but I have done 10 hour rows in relative comfort.

I don't have a sliding seat but I have experimented with a small amount of back support and it does make a surprising difference.

[Juan]

John Perry

Warmest regards from Galicia

[Geoff C]

Why not a Swampscott dory? This would fit the criteria, assuming a tent were added for shelter:

https://www.clcboats.com/shop/boats/...ster-dory.html