Dutch Cat from Lyle C. Hess

[Venchka]

Awesome!

http://www.anaburen.nl/catboat/th_022.jpg http://www.anaburen.nl/catboat/th_024.jpg http://www.anaburen.nl/catboat/th_2003-09-21jaapjaap2.jpg

CHARLOTTE II (http://www.anaburen.nl/catboat/)

Enjoy!

[ 02-10-2004, 05:39 PM: Message edited by: Venchka ]

[landlocked sailor]

Lyle Hess' eye is unsurpassed. I cannot believe the tow vehicle is a Volvo wagon!! Rick

[Venchka]

I was wondering who would spot that besides me. As a Volvo wagon owner I know for a fact they exceeded the factory towing limit. Probably just a get her in the water trip.

[landlocked sailor]

Even backing down the ramp would be dicey! I wonder if the trailer has brakes. Rick

[Venchka]

I wonder if they got her up the ramp. This is one of those "trailerable" boats that won't travel far from the water on her trailer. Lovely boat! smile.gif

[brian.cunningham]

Nice boat, but I am surprized that pic of the Volvo towing it hasn't made the internet yet!

[JimD]

Sheesh! Enough about Volvos, already! :D Looks like a lot of freeboard for a catboat. Probably hard to find a 16 footer anywhere with more room inside. Lovely boat :cool:

[Paul Scheuer]

3000 lbs on a four wheel trailer is certainly nowhere near the record for a standard car.

I like the rear bumper/light bar on the trailer, I wonder if that's the law there.

[Hans Lassen]

Awesome, agreed! I mailed the builder, Jaap and he told me he built her over seven year's time, totally from recycled wood. What I find particularly inspiring is the splendid engineering - imagine having to build such a beautiful boat in a rather limited space, in your free time, and making sure (see that minimal space between top of the door and cabin roof?)that you can eventually get her out of the workshop unharmed... and imagine to have to navigate these narrow alleys, too tongue.gif .
As to the Volvo: well, you'd be hard pressed to find steep inclines anywhere in the Netherlands. There's practically no place there that's further than 60 miles from the nearest coast as well, so there would be not much towing distance; and the Dutch are really nice people on the road, very considerate. They probably applauded Jaap all the way to the water and left manoevering space for his car & trailer smile.gif .
The law says you must have a working brake on the trailer when you exceed a certain weight; but it stops the whole thing if it is applied. It's just to prevent the trailer from overtaking you when it accidentally jumps from the hook :D .
The bar on the trailer is a nifty item; you just unhook it, and off she goes into the water. Don't you have to put a similar contraption on your trailers, too?
Anyway, a truly inspiring piece of work.
I wish I could start on my next project, but I have to wait until I moved house (and workshop) in the summer...
Greetings,
Hans