Lyle Hess catboat

[jaapk.]

Catboat-lovers, please take a look at my website: www.kraayenhof.nl/catboat/ (http://www.kraayenhof.nl/catboat/) for pictures of the launch of the second catboat built to Lyle Hess 16' design. I am very pleased with the result after 7 years building. All solid woods are recycled (for details see website).

[Garrett Lowell]

Beautiful!

[Hwyl]

From the website:"Mahogany (coaming, interior, etc) comes from churchbenches from a church in Schiedam"
I've always wondered if recycled pews would make a good boat building material. We have to see how she rides her first storm---is it blasphemy or God's good work?

[Venchka]

We have enjoyed your pictures and lovely boat before. We also wondered if the Volvo survived the launch? :D

[JimD]

Take another bow, jaapk smile.gif

[Figment]

"All solid wood used is recycled wood".

A long, standing ovation for you, sir!!!

[Peter Lyons]

What a beautiful boat! Fine work.

And man, what a lot of boat in just 16 feet!

[Aramas]

That's an interesting version of a catboat. It looks like a cross between a catboat and an Itchen punt.

[jaapk.]

Yes, Venchka, the Volvo survived, but the actual launch was done with the help of a friends LandRover. Because of the steep ramp and because I mixed up the front and rear supports on the trailer, with the Volvo we got stuck and had to change vehicles. The Landrover could pump up its rear-end! Also I am going to move the twin axles of the trailer about 6 inches forward, to get the weight at the tow-bar right. We are taking the boat to the Sailcaledonia week in Scotland and a week later to Boats on Show (west of London), so we need to trailer a lot of miles.

[Venchka]

Good luck! That will be quite an adventure! We look forward to many new photos!

I also tow/launch with a Volvo, but my boat isn't as big and heavy.

[centroid]

A real beauty !
I'm starting to build a Hess boat too, 24' cutter (same plans as Seraffyn). What is the construction of your boat ?

[jaapk.]

The hull is stripplanked with recycled redwood and then sheathed outside and inside with biaxial glass cloth set in epoxy. One day I will try traditional plank-on-frame, but this was my first boat, so I went the easy way. However, because the boat lives more out than in the water, I think an epoxy glued hull has a big advantage above planks that have to swell to keep the hull tight and dry. The first catboat, build to this design, was cold-molded. Maybe even a better choice, since a catboat's short, beamy and very round hull is not easy to stripplank . But for me, stripplanking seemed to be more fun than coldmolding.
A friend of mine, here in Holland, Fred Schotman, is building Lyle's 24" cutter, stripplanked with Douglas Fir. By coincidence, I got to know Bertram Levy, who build beautiful Able , also from this design (see WB article about Lyle Hess , no 77 (?)). My brother Carel, who is a wellknown tango-musician met Bertram in Seattle a couple of years ago, where he came to see Carel's Sexteto Canyengue. They both play the bandoneon. They never talked about boats, but when Carel told me that he had met this guy from Port Townsend, who was a doctor and musician, I immediately saw the great picture of Able in WoodenBoat before me!

[centroid]

Thanks jaapk, please refer my email to your friend that is building the 24' cutter. I would love to talk to people that are doing the same boats to share ideas. Mine will be black locust double sawn frames with planks of either doug. fir or hon. mahog or a little of both.

I have spoken with Bertram briefly about his boat. It is a nice boat that he has.

[Venchka]

Originally posted by jaapk.:


...One day I will try traditional plank-on-frame, but this was my first boat, so I went the easy way.

To everyone out there everywhere, and most certainly to myself, to all of us who look at plans and ask, "I have never built a boat before. Will I be able to build this boat?"

I say read the quote above and see the results below of one person's first effort at boat building. If you need further convincing, look at Art Read's MELINDA.

http://www.anaburen.nl/catboat/2003-09-21jaapjaap2.jpg

16' Catboat CHARLOTTE II (http://www.anaburen.nl/catboat/index.html)

Cheers!

[Paul Pless]

http://www.anaburen.nl/catboat/img_026.html

If you look closely the front wheels are barely touching the ground in the above link.

Cool Boat! I especially like the part about the recycled lumber.

[Venchka]

bump

[John E Hardiman]

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