I
envisioned this boat to be a gentlemen's day sailer...a comfortable
boat with sprightly performance. This is a displacement hull with
clean waterlines. It has enough sail area to ghost along in light
air; yet when a hard puff hits it is not overpowered. You simply
hike out a little and enjoy the ride.
Because
this boat is built with heavier scantlings, the Kevlar has been
deleted. The backbone is configured to offer a lapstrake plywood
option at a later date.
The
"vee" plywood bottom section contributes to the stiffness
of the hull and provides a good measure of abrasion resistance.
A Dacron skin is applied in two pieces from gunwale to gunwale,
joined under the outer keel rub guard. It is stuck to the plywood
with tough Zip-guard varnish filled with epoxy for rough beach landings.
In
keeping with the slightly heavier scantlings, the Dacron skin can
be beefed up with a number of options: A double Dacron skin, an
added layer of 18 oz. double Vinyl Polyester laminate, or a painted
on rubberized elastomeric plastic that is thick and tough.
The
multiple chines contribute to a good looking lapstrake appearing
hull. The Dacron deck is light weight and provides a large volume
of dry storage. It is framed with supports that go to the bottom,
tying the whole structure together with incredible stiffness.
A
carbon fiber wind surfer mast is fitted with a PVC section luff
groove. Eye straps are secured with Kevlar to attach the standing
rigging.
This hull would be a good choice to add an electric trolling motor
and do some interesting river exploring. The light weight bare hull
is a real cinch to load on a small Dinghy trailer.
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