Getting close to decision

[khadine]

I don't know about you, but I am one of those persons that prefer less choices than more. With more choices what usually happens is that I want them all! So many tiddly boats out there.

As a first time boat builder I have narrowed my selections to three: John Welsford's Pathfinder and 6 Metre Whaler, and Iain Oughtred's Caledonia Yawl.

I am looking for some advice as to which would be the simplest to build. I am pretty handy with woodworking tools and have a lot of time on my hands, so the length of time would not factor into it. I know there are easier boats out there to build (e.g. stitch and glue etc.) but I keep returning to these three.

The whaler with it's canoe stern would appear to be fairly tricky to build however she sure has some nice lines. smile.gif

I want to have all three but the wife says I can only have one to play with!

Any advice and thoughts would be appreciated.

[Donn]

"I want to have all three but the wife says I can only have one to play with!

Any advice and thoughts would be appreciated. " Reason with the woman! :D

[Keith Wilson]

I don't think there is a whole lot of difference betwen these boats in the amount of skill needed to build them. Personally, I like the Whaler (http://www.jwboatdesigns.co.nz/plans/6m_whaler/) best. Double-enders aren't any harder than boats with transoms - you're building one stem already, so two is just a variation on the same thing, no? The Whaler doesn't look any more difficult than the others, at least not from what I can tell from the pictures. The bends in the planks at the stern aren't that extreme, and she sure is pretty. A couple of pictures:

http://www.jwboatdesigns.co.nz/plans/6m_whaler/6mw4.jpg

http://www.jwboatdesigns.co.nz/plans/6m_whaler/6mw1.jpg

[Venchka]

Obviously, I am prejudiced. One nice aspect of the Caledonia yawl is that you can build her simple...

http://www.mavc2002.com/caledoniayawl/billimg/dpk3eb.jpg

or fancy...

http://www.mavc2002.com/caledoniayawl/images/9eb.jpg

The boat's ghosting abilities are almost spooky. It's like she makes her own invisible breeze. Heavy air performance is quite nice too.

I own a set of professionally made and faired Caledonia yawl molds sitting in St. Andrews, N.B. ;)

[ 05-04-2004, 10:36 AM: Message edited by: Venchka ]

[Meerkat]

With felicitations to the Caledonia yummies, Welsford's designs are easier to build. There's not as much finicky work in spiling the hull planks. Using his method, it's more a matter of "hang and trim" than "hank, mark, take down, trim, hang". Builds a huskier boat too.

[Venchka]

I was going to say something...but I feel a Pacific Northwest Cruising update coming on. Check Misc. Boat Related.

[almeyer]

Just two cents from an first timer. I'm at the sanding, varnishing, and painting stage on my Penobscot 14. This boat is built using stringers similar to the Welsford designs. The stringers make spiling the planks almost easy. The downside of the stringers is that they seem to get in the way of almost everything when you're working on the interior.
Al

[Venchka]

Originally posted by almeyer:
...This boat is built using stringers similar to the Welsford designs. The stringers make spiling the planks almost easy. The downside of the stringers is that they seem to get in the way of almost everything when you're working on the interior.
AlWhat Mike O'brien of WoodenBoat magazine said way back when. The way I see it, long after the thrill of saving maybe a day while planking, you'll still be looking at, cleaning, maintaining, fussing and cussing those stringers. Trust me. 1/2" bottom and 3/8" topsides high density (doug-fir/
African mahogany) marine plywood with a 3/4" lap bent around those sweet curves is hell for stout!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[almeyer]

I agree, Venchka. The stringer method really impressed me when I chose the design, as it reminded me of the model airplanes I used to build. Really sweet lines, not a something-less-than-attractive v-hull, yet used a construction method I was familar with. Now that I've got this one (almost) done, I'm thinking my next project will be without stringers. Got to admit though, both the Whaler and the Pathfinder are very nice looking.

[Jack Heinlen]

I don't know about any of the boats, but would vote for a simple yawl rig. Having a small mizzen is first rate in a boat this size.

[Don Maurer]

The Oughtred boats can be built with stringers attached to the molds. It makes lining off the strakes much easier, and the top edge can be trimmed with a router. That's the way I built my Tammie Norrie. From what I have read, that seems to be the way most folks decide to build Iain's boats.

I have not seen it yet, but Iain is rumored to have a 16'6" version of his Tammie Norrie available that should be similar to the Pathfinder in size.

[Venchka]

The new bigger Tammie Norrie based SKUA is interesting. On a Beam/Length ratio I would think that Fulmar is closer to Pathfinder and SKUA, if it maintains similar B/L ratio as T.N., would be more akin to Arch Davis's Penobscot 17. Just a guess. I can't see having two boats 2" apart in length and the same beam.

Good idea about the stringers and leaving them on the molds. The same could be done with the Daivis designs, or so it seams.

Actually, and this is becoming borderline silly trivia, the Caledonia yawl had a continuous stringer backing up the sheerstrake lap once upon a time. If the decks are added, it makes a nice support for the sides of the decks.

Here's a picture:

http://www.mavc2002.com/caledoniayawl/images/cbild3b.jpg

Also notice that the upper sides of the floors are parallel to the waterline making the floorboards flat. HUGE inprovement in the interior of the boat. The plans show the floors with a curved upper edge and sprung floorboards. Not very skipper friendly at all, in watered down politically correct speak. Flat floors for sure!

[Venchka]

And another thing...Iain Oughtred has made so many additions/changes to his design catalog that anyone thinking of buying plans should write/call Iain and get the latest and the greatest scoop on his boats.

IAIN OUGHTRED
Struan Cottage
Bearnisdale
Isle of Skye
Scotland IV51 9NS
01470 532 732

[John E Hardiman]

index recovery

[Thuna]

I am looking for the same type of boat… a 20 ft open roomy open trailerable sailor with nice lines suited for occasional camp cruising etc.. What I like about the Whaler is the way that John Welsford designed the rudder and the outboard well. This looks line a very functional efficient solution. I built a double ended gunning dory years ago and had a hard time coming up with a decent rudder design because the ends are so pointed. I tried the design shown for the Caledonia Yawl but I did not like it. That long stick got always in the way and it is acward to push and pull instead of steer with a tiller. I suppose one could design a curved tiller but that has also it’s limitation. After years of tinkering I ended up cutting the %^&&%$ pointed stern off and installing a flat stern.

I would love to hear from anyone who has built the Whaler . The only information I could find was on John Welsford’s website.

In my “maybe built in the future folder” is also the 18 ft Cat Ketch design from the Benford Design group (is a sharpy though) and the 21 Northeast beach boat (maybe a bit to modern). Does anyone have other suggestions?

[JimD]

I like the Whaler. There is something about her, perhaps the stern, that is both elegant and at the same time robust.