International 14

[JoJo]

Just got back from Strictly Sail 2001 in Chicago. It was a great time. While there my brother and I were watching some International 14s and we both thought it looked like a fun boat to sail. I'm trying to find out if there are any plans out there to build one out of wood. Anybody have any idea where I could find some info. Thanks,
JoJo

[garland reese]

have you checked with the class assoc.? www.i14.org (http://www.i14.org)
I dont' know if there are plans available. It may be that class buidlders have to be approved/commissioned....whatever, by the i14 class org.
But, there are some other, albeit tamer designs that are similar and could be built by the homebuilder. Check out the Cherub. Farr Marine has some drawings for buiolding this one in wood. this design is not a strict class. It looks like a very fun boat.
Also, have a look at www.nwmarinedesign.com (http://www.nwmarinedesign.com) at the Delta V. It is a very nice design. It is not nearly as extreme as the I14, but she'd fly along nicely without all the acrobatics form the crew. There is a small fleet of these in CA. New Zealand has a very active class.
Check out the movie "WIND". The movie is so-so, but there is some really cool I14 footage in there. Those things definitely look like a wild ride.........I must be gettin' old.
garland

[JoJo]

Thanks for the tips. I'll check them out. Funny thing is the local yacht club chartered a bus to Chicago (From eastern WI.) and on the way home they played the movie "WIND". Forget the plot just watch the sailing. It has some great I14 footage. These boats look really exciting. Hopefully I can find some drawing somewhere.

[DougWilde]

JoJo,

In the classic mode there are the designs of Uffa Fox. WoodenBoat sells copies of his plan for "Lively", an absolutely gorgeous boat (I have the plans). A lot of frames (1/4x3/8 on 2" centers, IIRC), built to be trailered. Have considered building it cold-molded. The tough part would be finding the drum assembly for the centerboard.
Most of Uffa's books, available on interlibrary loan, cover the International 14 scene in the 30s and 40s, with line drawings.

Doug Wilde

[Smacksman]

The beauty of the Int14s, Merlin Rockets, National 12's, Sydney Harbour 18' skiffs and the like is that they are development classes and have been around for ages. Designed around a rule, they come out in different shapes and change in fashions. I think the Int14's are one of the most exciting boats I have sailed. They were the first or one of the early classes to go with a bowsprit and asymetric bags and are now so powerful that they have a tubular space frame in way of the mast step to triangulate the forces. Both crew on trapeze like the 49ers. Strong class of vintage 14's race here [uk]- one up-manship to have a low sail number.

[fair&fair]

I used to have a book that was put out by the 14 class a bunch of years ago that had examples of modern and old 14's. I used to race them and had loads of fun doing it. I would say that you should get your hands on a set of rules and study them. The requirements can seem intimidating since the rules are always heavily debated, however a fast wooden boat of the modern ilk could be built relatively easily; there are plenty of them out there. You won't be competetive with a wooden boat, but you'll have plenty of fun zooming around. My personal take is that building a replica of an old uffa fox 14 doesn't make a whole lot of sense, since they aren't nearly as fast as the modern hull forms, and therefore are not quite as exciting...very pretty boats though. Anyways, enough rambling here, hope I was able to help

[JoJo]

Hey, thanks for all the tips so far. I've found some really neat designs already. The Cherub looks like a really fun boat to sail as well. I think I'm going to look at getting more info (rules, regulations, etc.) from and International 14 Club. I've been in touch with someone from the San Fransico fleet. Maybe I coulc get some lines and go from there.

[DougWilde]

Whether one of Uffa's 14s provides an exciting ride depends upon how one uses the boat. In one of his books Uffa describes the sail two of his friends and he made across the English Channel in a 14 to participate in some races. They eventually had to slow down because they were shipping so much water the two guys bailing could not keep up! After a day or so or racing they sailed back to England just in time for another set of races.

Doug Wilde