Ruell Parker's Small Ohio Pound Sharpie

[pipefitter]

Has anyone here built this boat? I bought the book. It's a sweet looking little boat. What would this be like for someone to learn sailing these shallow bays here in FL? I don't care if it's a pistol,I'm durable. I've already got a power boat so building another of those anytime soon is not really going to benefit me. The Simmons has exceeded my expectations for my purpose.
http://www.parker-marine.com/barco2.jpg

[RodB]

I say pick a sharpie you like and go for it. Just be sure you build one that will meet your needs in capacity for gear and people and aesthetics. You'll have a blast I'm sure. They're supposed to be very easy to sail and be quite fast...

There are an awful lot of plans out there for them, including the Smithsonion, CMD Design, and of course Parker. The $20 book from the Smithsonion is a wonder but no pix.

Good luck,

Rod

[George Ray]

Should be a real 'Home Run' !

Best Wishes....

[leaotis]

I recently "finished" Reuel's 18-foot Modified Sharpie and after several sails can vouch for the positive comments made about Sharpies. The other day we were running before a 17kt wind and the GPS recorded a 6.9kt top speed.

[pipefitter]

I recently "finished" Reuel's 18-foot Modified Sharpie and after several sails can vouch for the positive comments made about Sharpies. The other day we were running before a 17kt wind and the GPS recorded a 6.9kt top speed.
Thanks leaotis. Your boat is the one that put this notion over the top when you posted the launch pictures awhile back.That's a sweet boat. Nice work.

[RodB]

Hey Pipefitter,

I looked over "The Sharpie Book" last night and its sure hard to make up your mind on which one to build. Did you notice the new 30 foot Presto design on Parker's website?

Lots of boats, lots of boats...

RodB

[Paul Pless]

Lots of boats, lots of boats...
RodB

so little time...

[brian.cunningham]

Looks similar to John's Sharpie from CLC, or the other way around depending on which came out 1st.
http://www.clcboats.com/images/boats/sharpie-2.jpg
http://www.clcboats.com/boats/sharpie.php
There's a review
http://www.clcboats.com/print_reviews.php#JohnsSharpie

[pipefitter]

The Ohio boat looks like it would be great for Tampa Bay.I like how they use the word "easy" so often in the descriptions.Great little book.

[leaotis]

My last fear has been confronted... last weekend I launched or more to the point... I pulled the boat and trailer out of the water on a fairly steep wet concrete ramp using my Camry (front wheel drive) wagon, 4 cyc manual. It came out easily with minimum wheel spin. Also this type of boat sits low on the trailer so while being towed, it follows along in the car's wash. After reaching highway speed the car has no problem cruising in 5th. Funny, my main worries concerned the boat's behavior on land.

[pipefitter]

My main concern is of land as well with my Simmons. But not so much the tracking or towability,it's the numbskulls that follow too closely behind or slingshot across 2 lanes behind it or the low rider cadillac with the donut spare that cut short in front of me doing 40 in a 65. Whoaaaaaa mule whoaaaaa!Nothing like a little adrenaline to finish off a good day on the water.If they only knew that there is 3 hard years of possible homicidal tendancy in tow hidden under the docile blue paint.

[DougWilde]

From the Ideal Series is the Gulf Coast, designed especially for shallow waters with a draft of 5". That is 175 ft of sail, 20' LOA, and a beam of 6'7-1/2"

http://dbwilde.home.comcast.net/BoatScans/GulfCoasta.jpg

And double-ended to boot:

http://dbwilde.home.comcast.net/BoatScans/GulfCoastb.jpg

Wish someone would build one of these and report back.

Doug Wilde

[pipefitter]

My sweetheart likes sailboats. She got all excited when I told her I was considering a blowboat. Tampa Bay and about has some beautiful waters and being I already have the chase rig,why not? I like the double enders but I like the crudeness of the sharpies if one can call them crude. There's an inherent beauty in simplicity and the sharpies look like they fit here somehow. I grew up around the Sheffield style(power) net skiffs and they don't get much more crude than that, that is,until you get to work out of one and see how well they perform their intended task. So that may be the eye association I have with the sharpies.