Ready to order plans!

[Cyberjag]

Well, the car is sold, the garage is clean, and I've built a workbench. Now I'm finally ready to fill that empty space back up with a boat. I'm looking to build the Glen-L 15 as an initial project. At some point I intend to build a much larger cruiser as a multiple year effort, but I want to get my feet wet with something more manageable first.

Before I order my plans, I hope to get a quick gut-check from this forum. I selected the Glen-L 15 for a couple of reasons. The size is right, for starters. I want a wooden boat that can be sailed or rowed in a pinch, and it needs to be able to support a small motor (because of where it will be used mainly, sometimes you're going to need alternate propulsion). I want to use plywood/epoxy in the construction as well. Finally, I want to make something very attractive.

To be perfectly honest, a big reason I selected the plans I have is because of the pictures of the really beautiful finished boats on the website. I know it's not the most thoughtful reason, but that's a big part of why I'm making this post.

Can you show me a set of plans that will make a prettier boat with the same construction technique and size? Is there any compelling reason you can think of for me to select something different given my loose criteria?

I'll mainly be sailing in the channels and inlet on the east coast of the US between North and South Carolina. I may do some lake sailing as well, but that would be secondary.

Thanks for any good responses, I look forward to the wisdom!

(and I'm not being sarcastic!)

[JimD]

Cyberjag, there's a number of nice plywood dayboats in that size. I like the look of this Headland Green Island 15, for example:



But the Glen-L boat looks like a fine craft and there are benefits to Glen-L such as the kits you can get specifically for their designs, such as fasteners, sails, etc. I have built two Glen-L boats. One is the 15 foot Minuet (I do not think the Minuet is suitable for your usage, however). Take a look at the day sailers on this site for a good cross section of what else is available, if you haven't already: http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/r/p...daysailers.cfm

[hansp77]

I had to look to see what sort of boat the Glen-L 15 was, so I thought I might as well post a few images while I was at it.
btw, I have no advice, just interest.
It does look cute, and a nice first build, but I am sure there must be some damn good contenders out there for competition.
I look forward to seeing what is offered.
from http://www.glen-l.com/designs/sailboat/gl15.html#avail

[Rational Root]

I'm building the Glen L 14 at the moment.

One peice of advise - when cutting the frames - draw them out on a sheet of white painted ply - then you can lay up the peices against the drawing and ensure the angles are correct.

Cut a little long at the joints, and plane to fit.

[donald branscom]

This is the 15 foot Glen L design that I liked because it has more freeboard which makes it a dryer boat and a cuddy cabin in case you get caught in a storm. You can store your gear inside and lock it up.
And more important if you need to .......you know have privacy for a porta potti.

<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i15.tinypic.com/6b2tydf.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>

[katiedobe]

I second the idea that Donald Brascomb suggest.
My very first woodenboat was almost exactly like that Glen L 15. Large open cockpit, centerboard, and a large covered front deck. I had a hell of a time stowing gear underthere and keeping it dry. I always wanted the convenience of a lockable cuddy cabin.
So my next boat was only 2 feet longer, 17', easy to trailer, handles like a 15' boat and the ability to keep things dry and accessable in the cuddy cabin is so great. I have only slept in it twice but I use that cabin every time I sail.
So go for the slightly large boat posted above, you will love it. And build is using the best materials you can afford.
Good luck.

[JimD]

As I said in my post the Glen-L Minuet shown above (I have one) is quite a different sort of boat from an open, lightweight daysailer. The Minuet is twice as heavy and that along with the freeboard and high combing makes it darn near impossible to row. This does not sound like the sort of boat Cyberjag wants.

Decided to edit: Maybe a Minuet or similar craft is what Cyberjag wants but doesn't realize it yet, perhaps hasn't thought the whole thing through. It will provide a measure of safety, comfort, and privacy well beyond the open Glen-L 15. But there are the tradeoffs. Also, as a project to prepare for building a larger craft it will introduce you to many more of the building issues a larger boat will face. The Minuet has a self bailing cockpit, a cabin, sliding hatch - more of the things a larger boat will have. So building a Minuet would be better practice as well. Just don't try to row it

[rbgarr]

Brand new set of Glen L (II?) sails on ebay: http://tinyurl.com/29op5y

[Cyberjag]

Brand new set of Glen L (II?) sails on ebay: http://tinyurl.com/29op5y

I think those are Glen-L 11 sails, a different part number than the 15 on the Glen-L site.

[Cyberjag]

As I said in my post the Glen-L Minuet shown above (I have one) is quite a different sort of boat from an open, lightweight daysailer. The Minuet is twice as heavy and that along with the freeboard and high combing makes it darn near impossible to row. This does not sound like the sort of boat Cyberjag wants.

Decided to edit: Maybe a Minuet or similar craft is what Cyberjag wants but doesn't realize it yet, perhaps hasn't thought the whole thing through. It will provide a measure of safety, comfort, and privacy well beyond the open Glen-L 15. But there are the tradeoffs. Also, as a project to prepare for building a larger craft it will introduce you to many more of the building issues a larger boat will face. The Minuet has a self bailing cockpit, a cabin, sliding hatch - more of the things a larger boat will have. So building a Minuet would be better practice as well. Just don't try to row it

I appreciate the thinking, but I don't care to have a cabin on this boat. I'm fairly certain that the basic design I've selected is what I want. What I'm not sure about is whether then Glen-L is the best or if there's a better or more attractive one out there in that same mold that would be better for what I'm interested in doing. I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and what you like may not do it for me. Still, if the worst thing that happens is that I have to look at some pictures of great looking sailboats... well I'm just going to have to take that risk.