New Canoe Yawl

[Dave Lesser]

For the past couple of years, I have had the privilege of working with Paul Gartside to design a double ended cruising sailboat. Although not strictly a canoe yawl like Rozinante or Wenda, those boats were the inspiration.

The design criteria were:

Able to be handled by an elderly, short-handed crew.
Comfortable motion in a seaway.
Good sailing performance in a variety of conditions.
Simple but comfortable accommodations for two.
Classic good looks.

Here is what Paul came up with:

[outofthenorm]

Well, I'll be the first - but certainly not the last - to say .... WOW. She's spectacular - a thoroughly up to date interpretation of the classic concept. I love the tall high aspect rig - her light air-performance should be wonderful. But she'll also snug down beautifully. The high arch-profile of the coach-house will look very sweet I think.

Gotta say, speaking as a guy who spends a lot of time doodling his own design thoughts, there is a lot to be learned from the way Mr Gartside draws out his ideas.
The drawings are elegant enough to spend some quality time with.

You're a lucky man Dave. Congratulations!

- Norm

[RodB]

Nice work, Paul G is one of the best designers of our times. I downloaded your photos for further study... more comments later...

Keep us informed, sweet design.

RodB

[StevenBauer]

Wow! She's beautiful, Dave. Are you looking for crew?


Steven

[Paul Pless]

That is a sweet looking boat for sure. Thanks for sharing this here! I like the concept of a scaled up canoe yawl cruiser a lot.

Can you tell us more about the design? I can't make out any dimensions... (LOA, beam, draft, displacement, sail area) What' s the intended construction specs? (I'd guess she 'd be well suited to Mr. Gartside's epoxy double planking system) Are you gonna build her yourself or hire out the job?

Again... Wow!

[Dave Gray]

Nice looking 40' boat. Is Mr. Gartside going to build her for you or is this a home brewed project?

[Gerard]

Oh wow I'm smitten! Keep us posted as you build or have built this beauty. Thanks for sharing!

[Dave Lesser]

Thanks for the nice comments. We went through 6 versions of preliminary sketches before we got to one that we were both happy with. Paul is obviously a genius, but more than that, he is joy to work with.

Some specifications:

Length on deck: 40' 9"
Waterline length : 32' 6"
Beam: 11' 7"
Draft: 5' 9"
Displacement: 21,500 lbs
Ballast: 7,000 lbs

Hull will be cold molded. Inner layer of 3/4" western red cedar laid fore-and-aft, then 2 diagonal layers of 1/8" WRC, and an outer layer of fore-and-aft 5/16" douglas fir with glass sheathing.

Total sail area 873 sq ft, with 379 in the main, 347 in the jib, 168 in the staysail, and 116 in the mizzen.

Construction is still a year or so away. I'm about 10 years too old to build her myself, so I hope to have the hull and deck built professionally, then spend the first couple of years of my "retirement" fitting her out.

[JimConlin]

Not to be maudlin, but build expeditiously. Life is uncertain.

[keyhavenpotterer]

Searching Flickr nothing on this boat? Will have to do with a picture of PG's nice Riff design for now

[Dave Lesser]

Are the links working now?

[Paul Pless]

Dave, the half hull in your Avatar is carved to these lines too?

[Dave Lesser]

Paul,

Yes, that's her. Here's a larger image:

[David G]

Searching Flickr nothing on this boat? Will have to do with a picture of PG's nice Riff design for now

That's the new owner of Riff - Hal Colvin - sailing her in the confines of Depoe Bay, Oregon, during the annual D.Bay Wooden Boat Show. Mr. Gartside both designed and built her. She IS an absolute beauty... as is this new 40 footer.


"The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it" -- William James

[norseman]

Beautiful, a work of art. The perfect cruising boat. Looks like an easy boat to plank too, I want copper fastened carvel for mine I think ;-) Where do I sign?

[emichaels]

I suppose.........if you like beautifull lines and thoughtful seaworthy designs, one might come to love this boat.

Seriously, what a strikingly sweet boat you two have come up with !

Eric

[emichaels]

I would doubt that you are building her for lake Tahoe so where will her home waters be......... so that we may all go and see.......

Eric

[norseman]

To illustrate carvel planking,splined;

[Dave Lesser]

emichaels, I hope to be in your neck of the woods eventually

[Jay Greer]

It is always a pleasure to see a well thought out new design to be built in wood!
Congratulations on both the boat and the common sense of having it built by a well qualified builder.
Jay

[emichaels]

It will be nice to see you on the water here.

Eric

[StevenBauer]

Well that's good news. Will you be around here anytime soon, Dave? We just brought Talisman home this afternoon. You could have a look see. We didn't even have her yet last time you were here.


Steven

[gert]

That is nice; congratulations.

I bought his study plans for #106, before I settled on Grey Seal; it was only her draft that shied me away.

Gartside is an awesome designer of eye catching boats.

[Russ Manheimer]

And another beautiful double ender is born. Thanks Dave and Mr. Gartside.

Russ

[Steve Paskey]

That's a really lovely hull. I'd rather see a gaff rig, but that's more of an aesthetic preference ... I'm not fond of really tall high aspect rigs.

[Dave Lesser]

Thanks again for the compliments. I couldn't be happier with the design. I hope to be able to do her justice with the build.

Steven, no immediate plans to be in Portland. Maybe next summer. I'd love to see Talisman up close.

Rune, I'll be pleased if she turns out to be nearly as nice as Azora.

[norseman]

Thank you Dave. I love the rig too. Please keep us updated on the build.

[frank pedersen]

What a lovely design! I know of Jesperson's fine reputation as a builder, but I would like to make a pitch for Brion Rieff in Maine. Among the things that he does is carefully spile the planks of the inner layer, using a t. & g. joint between planks, and always place the glue line of a scarf behind a bulkhead or frame; the appearance then is of only continuous planks. He also maximizes the number of frames and bulkheads that are included in the cold-molding process, which is not always done but simplifies the finish work. Since you described Mr. Gartside as a genius, I must tell you that my wife and I have had serious conversation about nominating Brion for a MacArthur Genius Award. If that were successful, he could tell more convincingly the boatbuilder's joke: What would you do if you found yourself with a million dollars? I guess I would keep on doing what I am doing until that ran out too.

[rbgarr]

PG did another double-ended design for a family that lived aboard on Vancouver Isalnd IIRC. That one was a cutter and had an aft cabin IIRC. Both are beautiful hulls. One thing concerns me (not that it's any of my business at all) but it looks like she may not get much natural light down below and the view out will be limited. The cabin side ports are small and few. Perhaps the companionway hatch slide is transparent or there are ports in the aft bulkhead out to the cockpit? I just know that my wife wants to be able to see out, especially on cold, rainy, gray days and not suffer that 'cave-dwelling sensation'. We sailed aboard one boat that had deadlights in the hull above the pilot berths. She loved looking out through them when seated at the cabin table, and even (or especially) when the boat heeled and you could observe the rushing sea. Nonetheless, I'm sure the interior will be gorgeous. There's alot of crown to the cabin top isn't there!
Best of luck with your dream boat! Paul designed another with/for a couple we know and they are thrilled with it.

[Dave Lesser]

rbgarr,
I think that you're referring to the pilothouse cutter that was in WB #102. It was a much more substantial boat with a displacement of over 30,000 lbs. This one is more svelte and has less interior room

I appreciate your comments about light below. I was thinking about putting deadlights in forward berth, but they might be nice over the pilot berths as well. Also, I'll probably add another portlight on each side of the cabin. The interior layout that is shown is still tentative. Since the hull can be cold molded without any structural interior bulkheads, we'll build in-place mock-ups to be sure that the ergonomics are right before finalizing the layout.

Frank,
I have been talking with Brion. Thanks for your endorsement.

[Clinton B Chase]

I just discovered this thread, very exciting. I graduated PG's design course at WB and got to know him better and sure learned a lot. I am now applying what I learned designing my own boats. A canoe yawl is on the list. This one is striking. Did you help do any of the actual drawing Dave or was it more a typical designer-client back-and-forth deal. I have to say my approach is heading more towards the collaboration approach in actual drafting, etc. The work is tedious and very time consuming! Is Paul settled in in NS? I haven't spoken with him in a while. Did you find a builder? Use mainebuiltboats.org as a guide.

Cheers,
Clint

[Dave Lesser]

Clint,

Lots and lots of sketches went back and forth over the past couple of years, but Paul did all of the actual drafting.

I last saw Paul in July when he was on Long Island. He had purchased a boatyard in Shelburne, Nova Scotia, but I don't think he had a house yet. He was hoping to be settled by now, but I haven't heard from him for a while.

Thanks for the Maine Built Boats link.

[moonpagan]

It looks absolutely beautiful. I'm a big fan of those sweet looking double enders as well as Paul Gartside's designs in general.

Ron.
o<((;-} >

[Paul Denison]

Striking, did you say what the build time would be on the hull?

[Rum_Pirate]

Can we please have an update?

[Dave Lesser]

Planning to start construction in September with Eric Jespersen.

[Paul Pless]

Cool! I'm eager to follow this project, thanks for the update.

[esingleman]

I have been to Paul's website a few times in the past, but I can't get too good of an idea of what the boats look like from the profile sketches. I always thought they looked very nice. But after seeing some of his designs in 3D as half hulls, models or constructed boats, I have to say they are some of the most beautiful boats I have seen.

I particularly like the 24 foot canoe yawl he has drawn up (more my size range). However i am very envious of this large 41 footer, she is absolutely beautiful.

[PeterSibley]

She will be lovely ! Paul Gartside really is an artist isn't he ? Such beautiful drafting !

[Dave Lesser]

And so it begins:

[AJZimm]

Congratulations on the build starting!

That hull looks even better in person than the drawings.

We look forward to progress updates

[StevenBauer]

Great news, Dave! This will be the thread to watch.




Steven

[Venchka]

Photo not available. Bummer.

[Paul Pless]

And so it begins:

Awesome!

Where you having her built?

[Venchka]

Am I the only one who can't see the photo?

[Paul Pless]

which photo can't you see

I think I'm getting all of them here.

[Venchka]

tHE PHOTO IN #42. wHICH JUST MAGICALLY APPEARED. Sorry. didn't mean to shout.
Where is the boat shed and growing hull located?

[Dave Lesser]

Where is the boat shed and growing hull located?

That's Eric Jespersen's shop in Sidney, BC

[Venchka]

Thanks Dave!

[Alex Low]

Coooooooooooooooool. This is going to be pure gold.

Alex