Peapod vs Whitehall

[Dean4140]

Would a 14' Peapod, Joel White design with 4'7" beam be tippier as a double-ender daysailer than a 14' Penobscot or Whitehall design with a broader transom?

I have sailed a number of different dinghies with standard broad transoms, but not a Peapod or a narrower wine glass transom type transom.

I assume a Peapod hull design can handle rough bay water OK. Thank you. http://www.woodenboat-ubb.com/ubb/icons/icon7.gif

[rbgarr]

If the hull cross sections of the two boats you are comparing are the same (except at the transom, of course) you will find that the peapod will be a bit tippier when you are getting in or out, sailing it from or sitting in the stern.

[J. Labaree]

I can stand on the gunwale of my 14' peapod (Gardner design). It's a very stable boat. It might roll a bit when climbing in and out, but nothing dangerous.

It will certainly handle a good chop.

- Jonathan

[sawcutmill]

Two years ago I built D Hylan 13' Beach Pea.It is marine grade mahogany ply, angelique backbone, and gunwales,locust stems, with varnished mahogany seats.I added 4 frames for the abuse I knew I would put it through.It is also built with a centerboard for sailing.
I have always been a fan of peapods, they were intended to be used for hard service in the inshore lobster business , during the later part of the 1800's.The peapod I built, has been used twice a day for 6 months at a time, as my mooring is a nautical mile from the dock, I row the mile each way every day regardless of weather.It has seen several(understatement) NorEasters of 35-40 knots,and one memorable So'Easter of 45-50 knts,with 5 foot waves. It performs extremely well, and can handle any sea thrown at it!
Last summer, I had four grown men, with two of us rowing, we averaged over 5 knots, leaving a wake!I too can stand on the gunwales, loaded with food/water , an gear. On an average day, I row it the mile in under 15 minutes! It is nimble,purposeful, and very seaworthy!Having NEVER taken a wave over the sides or bow.It tows behind my 1952 gaff rigged ketch,38'OD, also a double ender,like it belongs there.
I also own a 16',1926 Lawley "Whitehall",cedar on oak with teak seats an trim, all original, with bronze seat brackets, it has three rowing stations.It is a gentlemens boat, it rows very well, but it is a little unruly in a head wind, and likes to catch the waves with its plum stem.It is not a boat for open water in a storm, as it is very heavy, and has a mind of its own.I spent 600 hours restoring it , as I found it ,it had been in a barn for 40 years or so! It has the lifting eyes in the bow and a massive lifting ring in the stern.It has a mast step too, no centerboard however.A rudder accompnies it with a handmade back seat that I built as the hardware was ther for it, also out of teak. It is a very beautiful boat, but once one gets it going , there is no stopping it ,as it likes to keep true to its line. Turning it is cumbersome due to the plum stem. It is named " Mopsy" ,a nickname for my mother, as she taught me the ropes of sailing and boating, in Bristol Harbor,RI. Her motto was "with oars an sails" I shall get there.......stephen

[rbgarr]

One of the most appealing all-around whitehall-type designs I've seen is a 15 footer shown by Phil Bolger in his book SMALL BOATS.

Anyone else seen that design? Anyone built one?

[Ian McColgin]

sawcutmill's remarks are on target but there are a lot of variables. The "authentic" peapod was a work boat with great capacity. It rows and sails miserably when light. The old guys set out with rock ballast that they tossed as they brought lobster aboard.

However, there are some wonderful modern "yachtized" things that resemble a peapod in that they are double ended, yet they row and sail well enough.

Same happens with Whitehalls from the other direction. The original hull is a rowing livery boat with very fine lines for easy reach to a hull speed and a load capacity limited by length and breadth - figure 150# per thwart or so.

I do not think that a whitehall's tippiness is reduced by the transom, as it's small and out of the water anyway. The only reason for a transom at all is to allow room for the aft seat.

[almeyer]

Although spritsail rigs have been added to both the peapod and the whitehall, both, if I'm not mistraken, were originally intended for primarily rowing. The post from sawcutmill above seems to verify the peapod attributes for rowing. The Penoboscot 14 shows a whitehall influence, but was designed as a daysailer. The plans give you the option of three rigs: an unboomed spritsail, a loose-footed standing lug, and a gunter sloop. I've also rowed my P14 quite a bit, and it handles well enough, although probably not as well as a true rowing boat.
Al

[Dave Lesser]

sawcutmill,

I'm just starting construction on a Beach Pea. It will be the rowing version, to be used as a tender. Do you think that the extra frames added much strength? Did you laminate, saw, or steam bend them? At what stations?

[Dean4140]

Thanks everyone for the input. All of the boats are nice and I think the key is matching the intended use with the boat design. The Peapod sounds like one tough little boat that can handle rough water well. It's also nice that it can be both rowed and sailed. To many boats in the air, but I'm getting it narrowed down to where I would have two good choices that would work well. Thanks again.

[sawcutmill]

picture os launch day of Hylan's Beach Pea, May 10 th 2003!
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid103/pe4a3eb113298d21e63ef792b167444f0/f99e3c55.jpg

[sawcutmill]

I laminated up some Angelique strips, and used the various mould stations for the back bone, screwing blocks of wood to the top edge, and then scribed/spiled them to fit the hull shape,back bevelling each plank till they fit right, notched the tops to fit under the inwale, and screwed and glues them in place. Yea I think the frames have added strength , how much I am not sure , but I do know that the boat is very stiff , and responds well to the exertion of hard rowing into Mor Easter type situations,winds 25-30 + and rough water aproaching 3-4 feet, whitecaqps are thrown in for excitement! lol....One has to power through abit , but each successive trough is a place to accelerate for the next one! I also