The Swiss Army Knife or Boats

[Chadd Hamilton]

Found this while browsing around today. Interesting design, but jaysus, the claustrophobia would set right in...

http://www.btinternet.com/~w.serjeant/micro-sb/sleeper.htm

Anyone in here built one???

[Scott Rosen]

As far as I can see, it would row badly, sail worse and be horrid for sleeping. Probably too heavy for easy car-topping, although with the right car rack and some help, you could pull it off.

Other than that, it's a great looking design.

[ 03-28-2002, 01:49 PM: Message edited by: Scott Rosen ]

[Chadd Hamilton]

yeah, I'm with you, Scott. But, I have to hand it to those inventive type who come up with stuff like this.

[Dave Thibodeau]

Derek Van Loan wrote several articles about this boat which were published in Messing About In Boats. The boat is 7'11" long which exempts it from California's laws governing the required registration of boats 8' in length and longer. Derek has "cruised" the waters of San Francisco bay on many occasions and seems to have enjoyed the experience. It is a boat designed to meet specific requirements and I feel Derek did an outstanding job.

Dave Thibodeau

[Alan D. Hyde]

The Spanish call things like this "ducks."

Can walk, swim, and fly: but none of them well.

Alan

[Ian McColgin]

Reminds me of the Danish guy who built his global cruiser in an upstairs apartment - When on land he can bicycle it around.

Too funny.

Especially the persistant use of what I take to be a misprint - surely he means the Swiss Army Knife of Boats . . .

[AngWood]

A little too coffin-ish for my taste.

[ken mcclure]

At last - a design that deserves to be built from fiberglass!

[paladin]

Yeah...Guys....but you could make the axle permanent, the wheels larger in diameter and use them as leeboards....eliminate the centerboard..cover the decks with solar panels and use a small NMh battery and small trolling motor for power..........or even rig bicycle pedals and use them to drive the propeller....... :D

[Billy Bones]

Originally posted by Alan D. Hyde:

Can walk, swim, and fly: but none of them well.

AlanHang on a minute, ducks can take off vertically from a standstill. Not many other birds can do that. Also, they attain speeds that exceed raptors, except when stooping. Eider ducks have the fastest accurately clocked speed of 47mph. The avian altitude record, BTW, is held by a flock of whooper swans at 29000' over Northern Ireland.

I like ducks, but otherwise I agree with the sentiment as regards the boat. Seems kinda like 'one size fits none' to me.

[Don Maurer]

Originally posted by AngWood:
A little too coffin-ish for my taste.Yeah, If it ever capsized with you in it, it would be one too. :(

[Roger Stouff]

FORGET THAT!!!

Jeesh. I get the willies just looking at it!

Eek.

[TomFF]

Ouch- That daggerboard looks dangerous.

[Kermit]

Who designed this beauty? Herreshoff? Crowinshield? White? What a wonder! :D

[Leon Steyns]

I like it! If you add some flotation foam, it's a perfect lifeboat, too...

Greets, Leon Steyns.

[dld]

I know its plastic and not wood but the cocept is neat
pocket yacht (http://www.minuetyachts.com/)

[SailBoatDude]

I think what really kicks my butt about this thing is the designer actually thinks one could talk their better half into joining them for say, a week on the bay in the damn thing.

Though, if the deck were removed and a couple of long handles attached, she'd be a right fine wheelbarrow for compost in the garden.

[Andrew]

dld, I like the little Schooner in on the Minuet site.