Melonseed?

[seedy]

Would this be a good starter boat?

I'm tempted both by the FG version (easy, more sailing) and the plans in 40 Wooden Boats ("I built this boat").

Anybody here sailed one? I live not too far from the Chesapeake Bay and also near a large freshwater lake with frequent calms.

One thing I don't see is a way to add an iron breeze (see above).

Or maybe I should just buy a FG one and if I like it I can build a wooden one?

I can't afford it, but I'm thinking of doing it anyway, just so I can get started learning to sail.

This design sounds small enough and safe enough to withstand my learning curve, while being responsive when I learn how to appreciate that.

Any thoughts or alternative suggestions?

[Ged]

Mr. Perry sure seems to like it. His review of it is at the bottom of the linked page. At the end of the review, there is a web address given where you might be able to find more information.

http://www.sailnet.com/sailing/99/bobfeb99.htm

A boat that interests me in this range is Gifford Jackson's Marisol. This, or a stitch and glue design of Paul Gartside's, may turn out to be my first boatbuilding project.

http://www.woodenboatstore.com/store/prodinfo.asp?number=400-013&variation=&aitem= 3&mitem=17 (http://www.woodenboatstore.com/store/prodinfo.asp?number=400-013&variation=&aitem=3&mitem=17)

[ 05-31-2003, 09:45 PM: Message edited by: Ged ]

[Steve Paskey]

I used to own a fiberglass melonseed, sorta regret that I sold it. I think it's a wonderful boat for a beginning sailor -- fast to rig, easy to handle, loads of fun, and very responsive. It's also great for experienced hands -- you wouldn't outgrow it.

I'd encourage you to stop by the Melonseed group at Yahoo:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/melonseedskiffmelonheads/

Nice people, and you can probably find someone nearby willing to take you out for a spin. It's also the best place to look for a used boat.

If you watch that space, you'll learn about an annual messabout held by the Delaware River Traditional Small Association in New Jersey every September. Last year ten or eleven melonseeds showed up, including several wooden boats (along with several Barneget Bay sneakboxes and assorted other craft).

As for the wooden version: performance is much the same. I've seen the plans for Marc Barto's version and, depending on your skill level, it might be a bit of a challenge for a first time builder.

There are plenty of other good designs for a first-time builder and novice sailor. Hang out here for a while and I'm sure the crew will throw out a few suggestions.

[ 05-31-2003, 11:28 PM: Message edited by: Steve Paskey ]

[garland reese]

I have never sailed one, but I love the Melonseed skiff, both wood and other. Sam Devlin has a stitch and glue design derived from the 'seeds, called Zephyr. web page (http://www.devlinboat.com/) . The plans are reasonbly priced and would be simpler/faster to build than Barto's version. You could get sails and spars from Crawford, I'd bet.
That's one little boat I want to build too.......maybe from the Chappelle drawings. I like the Crawford rig better than what Chappelle drew.

[Tar Devil]

Fellow forumite Phil Maynard is building a stitch and glue Melonseed...
http://galaxy.lunarpages.com/~pmayna2/index_files/updated_photos/29-forward-quarter-mast-cb.jpg

Here's link to his website. Bunch of good stuff there..
Phil Maynard's Page (http://galaxy.lunarpages.com/~pmayna2/)

Later,

Phil

[ 06-01-2003, 09:32 AM: Message edited by: Tar Devil ]

[ishmael]

Lovely boats. I watched one go together at another's hand when I was a student. Cedar on oak and a hemlock knee for the stem. 'Chinese caulked' deck, which is means of compressing the fibers on the edges of the cedar decking so as to make a kind of tongue and groove. Very much a reproduction of an original, I believe Chapelle.

Row and sail, both quite well. Designed to sail shallows, and take a gun and a retriever dog. Fully decked, with only a small cockpit and oak, oval coaming, ready for some fairly rough weather.

Would this be a good starter boat?
Yes! And it will row so well I wouldn't think of putting a motor on it.

[Johannah]

The Delaware River Traditional Small Craft Association has its own webpage which includes contact information. http://www.tsca.net/delriver/index.html
An email or phone call will get you some names of folks sailing the melonseed.

[seedy]

Great, thanks for all the linkage!

I tried joining the Yahoo group and got nowhere; Yahoo wouldn't let me pick a name. No customer service mailto either.

The S&G looks veddy interestinc, but probably beyond me as a first effort.

Anyway, I continue to book-learn from lurking here, and I'm getting motivated to get out on the water somehow, hopefully with wood.

[MBR]

Here is a link to a fellow building a Marc Barto designed Melonseed. There are also some links to other builders at the bottom of the page. Very nice looking boat.

http://www.nd.edu/~cozzi/boat/index.html

[Alexander Shramenko]

>I tried joining the Yahoo group and got nowhere; Yahoo wouldn't let me pick a name. No customer service mailto either.

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