Completed project gloat

[Spokaloo]

Id like to introduce everyone:



Just thought Id throw some photos and invite people to look at the blog (where many more pictures and the entire build process resides) who might be interested in a Jacques Mertens LB22, which you can find plans at www.bateau.com .







She is a boat inspired by Atkin's NINIGRET (that unmistakable sheerline and warped plane hull), Bolger's HALLOWEEN, and some other influences here and there. I intended on getting the boat completed last June, and guess what, it took almost twice as long. I omitted the windshield because our usage dictates using the decks as armrests while cruising, and the cabin removed because it is sunny here 300 days a year (though many of them are very c-c-c-old).

I can't reccomend Bateau enough. The support there has been amazing as the designer participates in the forum and helps all the builders along the way.

E

[Flying Orca]

Looking mighty fine!

[PeterSibley]

A seriously good job ! Very ,very nice !

[ChrisBen]

Nicely done Eric.

[djn]

Good job Eric. Bet you it feels good to finish her up. Cheers.

[Spokaloo]

Surprisingly long road thanks to a couple of hard winters and a shop with no heat (boy paint and epoxy are tough to deal with in 12 degrees f).

E

[paladin]

I guess the question is....when ya gonna build the one fer the missus?

Nice work.....your effort shows......

[David G]

Not bad work for an E. Wa. cowboy <G> (I was born in Aberdeen)

Seriously - very sweet looking

[JimConlin]

Looks like a nice job on a very useful boat.

[pipefitter]

Congratulations Spokaloo. Looks great!

[JBreeze]

Beautiful boat! I've been following your posts here and at the other board since the beginning.

One point worth reiterating...that boat can be set up in many configurations based on the builder's choices. Notice the engine size at the designer's website....this semi-displacement double wedge hull can be driven by a 30 hp outboard - pretty good for a 22' boat!

That's my dream boat for Narragansett Bay - seaworthy, decent speed with low power and would be great for day trips to Block Island.

Great job and great blog!

[RonW]

And yes since it is a double wedge semi-displacement hull, I hope you give a detailed report as to how it handles choppy water, how fast can you go in choppy water and still have a reasonably smooth ride, and even how it sits at the dock when the wakes come rolling in from the big power boats, even though it is a no wake zone.
Please tell more......it will be interesting.......

[Spokaloo]

David, the truly funny part about your E. Wa cowboy comment is that I was raised in Salem....

Ron, I have a completed and rather long statement of her abilities on the blog, but I will see about reposting it here. This was written when she was partially finished and sea trialled:

5 people, 3 gals of fuel in the aft storage area
full throttle: 25.5 mph by GPS
cruising speed 70% throttle: 19 mph

Notes:

She runs away from her wake at 1/8 thtrottle, loses wake froth at 1/4 throttle, and has no hole, no strange planing movements, just slips from rest to any throttle setting comfortably. This thing is amazing. With a substantial load (2/3 of which were in the bow seating area) she left little wake, moved out with little effort, and plowed a substantial bow spray. It remains dry even with large chop and wakes, shipping only wind-driven spray. With the bow weighted, waves were so gentle as to not jar even a woman with back ailments.

The scuppers are not going to be a go as drawn, Jacques. With this load of people (about 900lb) the scuppers would be about 2" below the waterline at rest, and about 1" below green water when at full throttle. The decks would have been awash the whole time had the side scuppers been in place. I think the aft scupper is the way to go, through the transom, but let me know your thoughts.

The fuel vent is right below the gunnel, inside the port side cabinet. With this load, I probably shipped 1/2 gal of water. This is a blessing of the SNAFU on the fuel system, as I would not have seen this had I not screwed up the fuel filler hose. I think a ball check valve might work, in combination with high hose routing. Ill keep you posted.

2 people, plus food and drinks, 400lb payload:

full throttle: 27.5 mph
cruising speed, 70% throttle: 20.5 mph

When turning, up to 70% of full lock is okay at any throttle setting, but more than that will cause massive ventilation. The type of ventilation that stops the boat dead in its tracks until the throttle is backed off.

When light boat like this, she does pound at speed. Obviously we are only using the aft planing surfaces, so its essentially a 14' flat bottom. Sean was beside us in his boat, and noted that at least 2' of skeg is visible out of the water. We do not have fuel in the forward fuel tank at this time, but I am also considering putting in a water ballast tank forward (fat sack) for those rough nasty days, as this thing is a DREAM when the bow is in the water.

There are no rattles, no creaks, no funny noises at all. It sounds like a drum when it hits waves, with a nice quiet bump, no matter how big the slap.

It is a touch on the weight sensitive side abeam. A 200lb person can change the trim from one side to the other an inch or two when at cruising speed. Not a huge deal, esp once the seats are in place.

On the throttle, the boat moves in a relatively different way than I am used to. It's a deliberate rush, not a quick jerk, through the throttle. She's just too elegant to be in any hurry, but it gets to speed very quickly. There is no speed that I can find where she is uncomfortable or isn't efficient. When light, there is barely a hint of wake at almost any speed.

When off the throttle from cruising, expect a little longer drift than most boats. It seemed to be so efficient that it just kept on sliding through the water without any power.

Later I tested her with just me, and she topped out at 29.5 mph with a 11x11.25 wheel. I am considering going up to a 11.5 or 12" wheel to get a little more efficiency and pull a little pitch out of it. She runs at 5500 rpm WOT, so I think I have a little elbow room for less pitch without losing speed.

E

[Jim Ledger]

That's a fine looking boat. Congratulations and good luck.

[SaltyD from BC]

She looks great E. I'm glad she's now totally done so you can enjoy this summer in style...

[SalmonMan]

Eric,

Beautiful boat! Very nice workmanship throughout!

What is the inside depth from the sole to the top of the gunwales right at the helm area?

Thanks for sharing your build.

[boylesboats]

Eric,
I have been watching your blog for quite some while..
I am impressed seeing your finished project... You did very beautiful job....

BTW... I like that script on the transoms.. very original taste..

[RonW]

Very interesting and informative on the performance, sounds to be a lot smoother riding then you had expected.
From your description it made me think that a 30 horse instead of the 50 would be less weight in the back and with a little more weight in the front it would be even smoother, of course you will loose some speed.
I think boats like jacques nina and atkin ninigret are going to become more popular, not only for a smooth ride, but it appears that gas prices will have a direct influence on things to come.
Someday I would like to build weston farmer's piute, another one of the semi- hull forms that took a back seat to speed boats.

http://duckworkspottery.com/05/desig...piute/free.htm

[Spokaloo]

Salmon, shes pretty low as far as the thighs are concerned. I dont have a tape measure and the boat next to me, but I can tell you that at the consoles it is around 20-24". I would be a little tentative hauling crab pots as I built her, but if you made the coamings 8" instead of 6", and carried 6" of it above the level of the decks, she would feel deeper. If you are lusting after real numbers, I can put a tape on it, just let me know.

Ron, I would guess that the trim would change maybe a degree at most due to the weight of the engine, but the reduced hp definitely would make her smoother. When Im putting around at half throttle she doesn't slap an ounce and can take a 2' wake without so much as a curtsy. She splits the wave, and gets that characteristic downeast fan of spray off to each side (which Im partial to, very lobsterboat). I completely agree that semi-planers are going to be the new "in" boats once people realize how small the difference between 30 and 40 mph is. I like to make a point of talking with people about gph and mpg as it relates to their boat and my boat. Once they learn that I burn about 3gph at the same speed they are burning 15gph, they open their eyes pretty wide (which I might add is 8-9mpg, a number even Harry Bryan can smirk about).

Definitely study up on the WM Hand designs, which Paiute is a takeoff from. Any of those warped plane, double wedge hulls can produce impressive numbers if displacement is just too slow. As for Atkin and Mertens, the boat flat performs better than anyone had anticipated, thanks to the flat aft sections and the gentle transitions. I actually have about 16 feet of parallel lines on the keel, and very little warp in the last 6 feet, which I would estimate gives her the planing speed performance with a couple extra hp.

E

[JimD]

Looking forward to seeing pics under way.

[David G]

David, the truly funny part about your E. Wa cowboy comment is that I was raised in Salem....

And yet you escaped. Good on ya! E. Wa... good choice for a hideout <G>

[WX]

Well done...enjoy!

[Lew Barrett]

Congratulations. She's a beauty!

[SawmillBrook]

Beautiful boat... I've enjoyed seeing pics of her build.

You mentioned that the boat porpoised a little... Have you considered adding wedges?

Great job !

[Spokaloo]

Later on in her life, she doesn't porpoise an ounce. I think she was just so light at the time without her details that she bobbed a little.

Nowadays, steady as a rock. The only way I can make it porpoise is if I have two aboard, and both of us kneel on the back seat and stick our heads in the motorwell (nobody is at the helm, safe eh?).

To answer a previous question, when shes on the dock, waves come and go, but she doesn't mind them. Shes narrow (7'), so a beam sea does roll her around, but no more than a comparable 8' wide V hull, and I get that dory feel from her that she rolls around the waves instead of standing up to them and shipping water. That 11 foot long keel doesn't hurt any....

One thing I have been amazed with is her tracking. Dead nuts. If you tell her to go somewhere, thats where she goes, no questions asked. I have never had a boat that docked as well as this one does (definitely night and day compared to my little jet sled). Its a thing of beauty, and will really stun those dockside when you can plant her anywhere, anytime, in any wind.

E

[SawmillBrook]

What color and brand of green paint did you use? I just ordered some kirby green/grey... very nice job.

Andrew

[Spokaloo]

You hit the nail on the head...

Kirby Green-Grey

E

[Mad Scientist]

I intended on getting the boat completed last June, and guess what, it took almost twice as long.E

And that twice as long comment is what I'm afraid of in my own build...

Tom

[SawmillBrook]

Just received my green/grey in the mail. I'll post pics soon.

Love that color. Saw it on a Beetle cat once.