2 questions - catboats, small gaff cutters

[cmcgovern]

Hello all, just wondering if the hive mind could help me with some curiosity I've been having:

1. does nobody cruise on catboats? if not, why not? Is there inherent danger in the rig? I am talking about even small scale camp-cruising. You never hear of catboats doing this.

2. is there a small gaff cutter design out there somewhere that can be rowed for auxillary power? like 16-17-18 feet long? I know Gartside has something small, don't remember the name, but it seems too broad and heavily built for oars. I was hoping for strip plank or glued lap ply (or stitch and glue).

I really love that gaff cutter rig, bowsprit and all. Hoping to find a rowable boat that uses it.

Thanks!:)

[Ian McColgin]

1. If you check out the Catboat Association you'll hear about cats that cruise. I know one couple who cruise between Florida and Nova Scotia almost yearly in a Marshall 22.

Tougher people who manage open boat cruising do it in cats and anything else.

The traditional New England cat (2:1 Length to Beam) gaff rigged develops a huge, uncontrolable weatherhelm if over canvassed but bad things happen to all boats when overcanvassed, so have a reefing system you can use easily and safely when the weather catches you.

Being so bluff of bow, cats never meet a head sea they don't want to stop and talk to. If the seas pick up, ease the sheets and fall off to a tight reach (5 or 6 points off the wind, maybe 60 degrees). And, as gentlemen don't sail to weather, change your goal or limit your ambition when the wind's against.

2. Others of more knowledge of pocket cruisers will essay this.

[Daniel Noyes]

Hello all, just wondering if the hive mind could help me with some curiosity I've been having:

1. does nobody cruise on catboats? if not, why not? Is there inherent danger in the rig? I am talking about even small scale camp-cruising. You never hear of catboats doing this.

2. is there a small gaff cutter design out there somewhere that can be rowed for auxillary power? like 16-17-18 feet long? I know Gartside has something small, don't remember the name, but it seems too broad and heavily built for oars. I was hoping for strip plank or glued lap ply (or stitch and glue).

I really love that gaff cutter rig, bowsprit and all. Hoping to find a rowable boat that uses it.

Thanks!:)

"You never hear of catboats doing this."

You aren't hear'n enough about cat boats then, camp cruising is practically all they do here in Massachusetts... that and day sailing, and racing

about the cutter, if it is 18' long it can be rowed. mabey not against a strong tide or wind but it would be rowable, if you want a camp cruising sail and oar boat a cutter is an interesting option, not sure how practical though, I would be inclined to go with a knockabout sloop or a cat rig.

Dan

[kenjamin]

Check out John Welsford's Pilgrim:

http://www.jwboatdesigns.co.nz/plans/pilgrim/index.htm

[G.Sherman]

Even my sixteen foot Crosby Catboat is comfortable enough for me to make overnight excursions… cramped, but comfortable.

[Thorne]

2. is there a small gaff cutter design out there somewhere that can be rowed for auxillary power? like 16-17-18 feet long? I know Gartside has something small, don't remember the name, but it seems too broad and heavily built for oars. I was hoping for strip plank or glued lap ply (or stitch and glue).

I really love that gaff cutter rig, bowsprit and all. Hoping to find a rowable boat that uses it.

Thanks!:)

Here is my friend Tony's cutter in the Eureka area which meets your specs exactly. I think he'll sell it for around 4k or so on the trailer, all up. A great boat that can outsail anything in its size when the wind pipes up.

http://www.luckhardt.com/bl_tasher1.jpg

http://www.luckhardt.com/bl_towtasher1.jpg

[cmcgovern]

Thanks Thorne, but I'm not in a position to buy right now. Do you know what design that is? it looks great. Does it row?

[Daniel Noyes]

is it balasted? it looks very low in the water compared with freeboard I would expect from the photo of it on the trailer.
Dan

[Ian McColgin]

Pete Culler made two lovely designs, the Concordia sloop boat and a somewhat huskier boat of similar feel with Buzzard's Bay in the name, that will meet anyone's need for good sailing, good rowing beach cruiser of gloriously traditional beauty.

[StevenBauer]

Paul Gartside has a little 18' gaff cruiser featured in a recent Watercraft(UK) magazine. Plans and offsets included. :)


Steven

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

Tidbit 16'-7" perfect Catboat camp sailor.

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m320/fosterhere/Camp%20Sailing/DSCF0347.jpg

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m320/fosterhere/Camp%20Sailing/DSCF0322.jpg

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m320/fosterhere/Camp%20Sailing/DSCF0337.jpg

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m320/fosterhere/Camp%20Sailing/DSCF0359.jpg

[jackster]

cmcgovern.
A must read;
"The Boy, Me, And the Cat" Henry M. Plummer
Available at the Woodenboat Store, and other places.

[isla]

I've always liked the look of Paul Fisher's 16'0 Islay Skiff (http://www.selway-fisher.com/DoubleEs.htm). Strip plank or clinker ply. I have the plans but I never got around to building one.

[Thorne]

Nah, the boat is a restored original fishing boat from up in that area, no modern plans for it. Yes ballasted and very stable because of it. Yes it is rowed, but usually double. Cannon not included...
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs098.snc1/4984_94069489699_717109699_1848285_7005143_n.jpg

I'll second the suggestion for the Concordia sloop as a rowable cruiser -
http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=100593
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3427/3734101422_5d83c1008b_o.jpg

[G.Sherman]

Well, if Joe's posting propaganda photo's..... so can I!

16' foot 1933 Crosby Catboat "Jenny"
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff164/Gaz02026/PICT0007-1.jpg

I only have a single burner camp stove, but I DO have Garmin GPS.:D

[Ned Asplundh]

There are two of us in the Philly/Baltimore area, soon to be four, who weekend cruise in Joel White Marsh Cats. PM for further details.

[DGentry]

2. is there a small gaff cutter design out there somewhere that can be rowed for auxillary power? like 16-17-18 feet long? I know Gartside has something small, don't remember the name, but it seems too broad and heavily built for oars. I was hoping for strip plank or glued lap ply (or stitch and glue).

I really love that gaff cutter rig, bowsprit and all. Hoping to find a rowable boat that uses it.


For some classic designs like this, check out W.P. Stephens book "Canoe and Boatbuilding for Amateurs," which you can read, online, here: http://www.dragonflycanoe.com/stephens/

Here's my fav, complete with oarlocks . . . .
http://www.dragonflycanoe.com/stephens/plate35.gif

[Ted K]

I can second that a lot of small catboats are used as camp cruisers by TSCA folks in the mid-Atlantic.

For the gaff cutter, TD (Tom Dunder-something) of Campion Boatworks UK has plans for some lovely 15 to 18 foot boats that can be rigged gaff cutter. I got very close to buying plans for his Apple when picking my next build.
http://www.campionboats.co.uk/

[P.L.Lenihan]

[quote=G.Sherman;2316453]
16' foot 1933 Crosby Catboat "Jenny"
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff164/Gaz02026/PICT0007-1.jpg
/quote]

Now that, Mr.Sherman, is one finely maintained and cared for catboat! Bravo for your dedication and obvious pride of ownership! Worth emulating!

Any deck,cockpit and cabin photos to share, inspire and drive us crazy with?................pretty please:)

Cheers!


Peter

[G.Sherman]

Thanks for the encouragement......
Here is a link to all my Jenny photos from the day I brought her home to the present, PLUS some other stuff.:D

http://s243.photobucket.com/albums/ff164/Gaz02026/

Still stuff to do, but she's worth it.

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

Thanks for the encouragement......
Here is a link to all my Jenny photos from the day I brought her home to the present, PLUS some other stuff.:D

http://s243.photobucket.com/albums/ff164/Gaz02026/

Still stuff to do, but she's worth it.

OMG that was great thanks for sharing

[G.Sherman]

OMG that was great thanks for sharing

OMG?

Oh, Mighty Garry?:D

[P.L.Lenihan]

OMG?

Oh, Mighty Garry?:D

Yup, that sounds about right and should do, considering the boat!:)

[Longbow]

That is a sweet boat!

[Whameller]

Have a look at some of Francois Vivier's designs (Google "Vivier Boats" for his English language website)

[Lewisboats]

Well, if Joe's posting propaganda photo's..... so can I!

16' foot 1933 Crosby Catboat "Jenny"
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff164/Gaz02026/PICT0007-1.jpg

I only have a single burner camp stove, but I DO have Garmin GPS.:D

I would love to see any more pics you might have of THIS beauty...pretty please! :D:o:D

[G.Sherman]

See more here:
http://s243.photobucket.com/albums/ff164/Gaz02026/

[NealmCarter]

~Jenny~...what a sweet vessel. Do not like the outboard though. Get a nice,bronze, detachable bracket and you can stow the motor below, when not in use...and it wont get stolen.

[G.Sherman]

If only I had enough room below to stow it.... It's got a cuddy and when I sleep overnight on weekends, there is barely room in there for me....

[Pitsligo]

My father and I used to cruise/camp aboard his 12' Beetle Cat. One each side of the centerboard trunk. Cosy. More like a floating tent than a "cruising design". There are an awful lot of nice cruising catboats out there, though. Good advice from Ian McColgin: reef early, or that weather helm turns into a heck of a fight.

I have a 19' Ralph Stanley sloop, "Bucephalus". Gaff rigged, 3000#, 3'3" draft (fixed keel, inside lead ballast), 6'6" beam, (bowsprit for a single headsail, yard topsail). My only auxilliary propulsion is "Ash & Armstrong": 9'6" oars. It works, but 3000# is a lot of boat to muscle around. I'm also about to install a sculling lock as well, as maneuvering a 19' boat with a 20' beam through a marina has its awkward moments.

A friend rowed his 26' Pemaquid Friendship sloop (fiberglass) for years, until he got lazy and installed an engine.

If you're looking specifically for a dual-propulsion boat, as at home under oars as under sail, I strongly reccommend going with a lighter design than mine. 3000# can feel awfully heavy in a calm.

Alex