Who likes this boat?

[JimD]

Jacques Mertens writes: Attached are some renderings of a new design, still in the works. I already lowered the windshield since I made the renderings. I may call her Fast Launch 26...

It is an economical inboard diesel day cruiser. It offers the same layout as the LB26 but will cost a lot less to build and operate. I guess she will cost 1/3 of the LB26 in materials and labor. The engine is a 50 HP, down angle transmission, straight shaft, prop behind a skeg. The hull is sharpie style, flat bottom with well immersed bow. She is capable of 18 mph with a 50 HP, up to 14 with a 30. She has a very fine entry but generous flare at the bow. An unusual feature is a trim ballast tank forward. This will trim the bow down, clear the transom and save fuel at low speeds. It is an option. For those who want to keep going fast in rough seas I recommend trim tabs. She is an offshore capable boat, I may build one for my self to cross to the Bahamas on the week-ends.

The looks are inspired by a Sparkman and Stephens design from 1940s: the Escort. Bolger drew his own version of it named Blackbird. Escort and Blackbird are round chine boats, mine is hard chine. She is not as narrow at the waterline as the Dave Gerr 28' dory but more in the style of some Atkins designs.
She has a lot of flare at the bow and some tumblehome at the transom. The plans show exactly how to create that shape from plywood sheets with a few slits. The curved transom is a cylindrical development. All the superstructure panels are easily developable.

Just curious

[Paul Pless]

I like it.

Besides, Bolger and many others, mmd, has something similar in aluminum that's pretty cool.
I think Reuel Parker does too.

[rbgarr]

I'd like to see more on this design as it develops because I've always like that style of boat. Can you post a link to more views?

Meanwhile, I don't see the 'lot of flare at the bow' that he mentions. The 'person' on the rendering also seems to be too short and narrow-shouldered for the scale of the boat. He looks about five feet tall and maybe 16-18" across the shoulders, given that the boat is 25 -26' long.

I also wonder about the claim of 18 mph for 50 hp.

I'm probably incorrect and it's all scaled and calculated correctly, but I just wonder....

What is the LB26 he refers to? A recent article in WB details the building of Reuel Parker's Commuter 36 for $50,000 a number of years ago. Say this boat cost less than that. Would that be "less than 1/3 the LB26"?

[JimConlin]

I like the aesthetics as I liked Blackbird.
I don't have the knowledge to evaluate how the hullform will behave in a variety of conditions. My usage would include Buzzard's Bay which can get lumpy. so I have my misgivings.

[David G]

My experience is that boats always look better in person than in fotos or renderings. If that's so, both Blackbird and this Mertens FL26 will be quite lovely. Not a style of boat I'm personally interested in owning, but quite nice nonetheless. I think for that size boat, I'd prefer the enclosed outboard of Blackbird to the small diesel inboard.

"A well-spent day brings happy sleep, so life well-used brings happy death" -- Leonrdo da Vinci

[paladin]

There's some flare forward but not much, and the aft portion is left open to keep it light. The bottom is dead flat with a skeg. I am redrawing the boat with a few changes, a modified underbody so that in heavy water it won't pound as much, moving the cabin back about 2 feet, stretching the boat to 28 feet, increasing the beam to 8'6" and bringing it more to the proportions of Blackbird......tentative engine is a 60 hp Beta diesel with hydraulic gear into an Aquadrive cv unit, and attempting to do the boat entirely with developed ply with laminated frames etc.....then make a storage area at the transom where the engine cover is at present on Blackbird....perhaps 2 feet....immediately in front of that will be a wrap around settee, storage under for lines, jackets etc, life raft, dinghy.....then the central open area will be teak and holly forward will be a double, a comfortable seat for sitting, a little galley, and head with shower. already have a system worked out to put a full length tent over it for blistering days or to keep out skeeters......
The wrap around settee will have a drop leaf table in the middle of it...with a hole to mount a "beach" umbrella.

Personally, I like the proportions of Blackbird better.


By stretching Blackbird to 8'6" beam and 28 feet length overall, you increase her volume by almost 25%.......

[rufustr]

I have been waiting for more information since I found mention of it on the Bateau website.
Looks very interesting.

[rbgarr]

...then make a storage area at the transom where the engine cover is at present on Blackbird....perhaps 2 feet....immediately in front of that will be a wrap around settee, storage under for lines, jackets etc, life raft, dinghy....
The wrap around settee will have a drop leaf table in the middle of it...with a hole to mount a "beach" umbrella.

[donald branscom]

I like the boat, but i would get rid of that cover over the engine. It looks like trouble.
Also i would want a short mast in front of the windshield, maybe foldable for flags and nav lights etc.,. very useful.

[donald branscom]

...then make a storage area at the transom where the engine cover is at present on Blackbird....perhaps 2 feet....immediately in front of that will be a wrap around settee, storage under for lines, jackets etc, life raft, dinghy....
The wrap around settee will have a drop leaf table in the middle of it...with a hole to mount a "beach" umbrella.

No.no,no Not a wrap around setee! Just a seat on each side.
Do you want fish blood all over those cushions or grease, or muddy foot prints from hanging over the transom trying to get to something.
What about tending to the lines and cleats on the aft area?

Oh !....the hired help was supposed to tend to all that.OK whatever.

[paladin]

If you are referring to the cover on Blackbird, I intend to get rid of it, close the transom and smooth that area over and use an inboard diesel...and I am working on a short staff, the running lights, placement of the radio antennas and other such things that usually get "tacked" on and look rather "tacky"......sorry...

[JimD]

I'd like to see more on this design as it develops because I've always like that style of boat. Can you post a link to more views?

Meanwhile, I don't see the 'lot of flare at the bow' that he mentions. The 'person' on the rendering also seems to be too short and narrow-shouldered for the scale of the boat. He looks about five feet tall and maybe 16-18" across the shoulders, given that the boat is 25 -26' long.

I also wonder about the claim of 18 mph for 50 hp.

I'm probably incorrect and it's all scaled and calculated correctly, but I just wonder....

What is the LB26 he refers to? A recent article in WB details the building of Reuel Parker's Commuter 36 for $50,000 a number of years ago. Say this boat cost less than that. Would that be "less than 1/3 the LB26"?

Here is the link I used: http://www.amateurboatbuilding.com/a...teau/fl26.html , or from Bateau.com there is
On the drafting table:



- the FL26 is almost ready. This is a classic looking, commuter style launch with small cabin, 26' long, diesel inboard.


The 'LB' is a lobster boat version:
Lobster boat 26, inboard diesel or gas. The LB26 has the looks and the features of production boats costing several hundred thousand dollars but you can build this one yourself.





More: http://www.bateau.com/studyplans/LB2....htm?prod=LB26

Specifications: LOA: 26' 3" 8 m Max. Beam: 8'-1" 2,47 m Hull draft at DWL: 16" 0.40 m Displacement DWL: 5,400 lbs 2450 kg PPI at DWL: 675 lbs/in 130 kg/cm Hull only weight: 2,500 lbs. 1130 kg Fuel: 90 gallons 360 liters HP 200 HP 150 Kw Material: Foam sandwich or plywood composite

[JimD]

A very different kind of boat I realize but something like this 26' Elco redux has always appealed to me

[JimD]

I think there's some new stuff on the Fast Launch 26 at bateau.com. Interesting approach to producing the flare in the sides at the bow with slits in the side panels that have to be filled with long tapered wedges, I guess:







http://www.bateau.com/studyplans/FL2....htm?prod=FL26

[P.L.Lenihan]

[quote=JimD;1751478]Interesting approach to producing the flare in the sides at the bow with slits in the side panels that have to be filled with long tapered wedges, I guess:

Or 60lbs of Bondo and 40 hrs of longboarding

The little Elco 26 however, is a real cutey and then some! Funtastic weekender and all around dayboat with a nice nappy nook and creature comforts!!

Peter

[JimD]

[quote=P.L.Lenihan;1751488]

Interesting approach to producing the flare in the sides at the bow with slits in the side panels that have to be filled with long tapered wedges, I guess:

Or 60lbs of Bondo and 40 hrs of longboarding

The little Elco 26 however, is a real cutey and then some! Funtastic weekender and all around dayboat with a nice nappy nook and creature comforts!!

Peter

And you can get plans for that Elco, too. I would enclose some of the canopy for a proper wheel house. A very compact little classic.

[Nicholas Scheuer]

I think your design is wonderful! Blackbird has long been one of my favorite powerboat designs.

I have a desingn in mind that I may have someone draw; about 36-ft, mostly flat plywood bottom, plywood topsides twisting from a flare forward to tumblehome aft at a pointed stern, with twin outboard motors mounted on the quarters and protected by rub rails. A generous gap between bottom and topsides would be closed with a rounded contour of strip construction.

The stern is inspired by another Bolger design, Snow Leopard; having a hard chine at the stern for planing, but able to run at didplacement speed with little or no wake.

Moby Nick