Around 20' coastal cruiser: considering options

[Mimmo]

Good morning, gentlemen! This is my first post here at WB, so a small presentation: I live in South Italy, so South that Greece is 50 miles and Milan 700! Ten years ago I've built a Bolger Bobcat that I countinue to fully enjoy in summer daysailing, while normally I sail a 1972 Marieholm 26 (a bigger Folkboat) with a friend.
Now I am considering building a small, classic line, cruiser, preferably in plywood, between 18' and 21'. At the moment my option are: Joshua Matthew (Laurent Giles), Cape Henry (Dudley Dix) and some of Sam Devlin designs, but I'm open for suggestions.
Woodworking skills are not an issue, while costs for building and maintenance are. Has any of you built some of the mentioned boats? Any expert advice from you all will be of great help to make the right choice.

As Italian sailors say: Buon Vento! (Shall the winds be kind with you)

[James McMullen]

Do you need this boat to be trailerable? Or is it going to live in the water? That might change a lot of things.

[Mimmo]

Do you need this boat to be trailerable? Or is it going to live in the water? That might change a lot of things.
No I do not need her trailerable; just once a year from home to marina and back (5 miles). But shallow water sailing will be a plus. Joshua Matthew draws 0.85mt. while Cape henry around 0.50.

[paladin]

My vote would be for the Cape Henry. I have a son finishing a 19 footer....and I commissioned the Cape Charles version at 32 feet....Mr. Dix does very good work..

[htom]

Oughtred's Eun na Mara (http://www.classicmarine.co.uk/details.asp?Name=Eun+na+Mara) or Grey Seal (http://www.classicmarine.co.uk/details.asp?Name=Grey+Seal), or Welsford's (http://www.jwboatdesigns.co.nz/) Penguin (http://www.duckworksbbs.com/plans/jw/penguin/index.htm) come to mind.

[Dale H]

As htom says above, have a look at the Eun Mara. Good plans, responsive designer (via regular mail) and active and supportive online community.

See: http://www.alistego.com and http://www.geoss.com.au/eun_mara/index.htm

Good luck.

Dale

www.alistego.com

[Steve Paskey]

Paul Fischer in England also has some nice designs about that size ... the 21' Rona Yawl for instance. Board up, she draws 0.42 m. See: www.selway-fisher.com/Yacht2024.htm#RONA

[SaltyD from BC]

I spend a lot of time looking at 'Ratty' from Tad Roberts..

http://www.tadroberts.ca/services/small-boats/ratty.php

[Mimmo]

Thanks for all your suggestions: at first glance Cape Henry, (I'll go with Paladin), will win my preference, due mainly to the possibility to rig it as a gaff cutter (the rig I prefer), for the outboard well that will save building time and money instead of installing and mantain an inboard diesel motor and because of an Italian distributor for plans (and backup assistance if required).
Anyway I will order some study plans before a decision, but this photoalbum http://picasaweb.google.com/capehenry21.izmir is SUPER and convincing! Definitely worth a visit, with lots of congratulations to her turkish builder.
I'll give notice when works will start.
Buon Vento everybody!

[htom]

And welcome to the WBF, Mimmo!

[David G]

Oughtred's Eun na Mara (http://www.classicmarine.co.uk/details.asp?Name=Eun+na+Mara) or Grey Seal (http://www.classicmarine.co.uk/details.asp?Name=Grey+Seal), or Welsford's (http://www.jwboatdesigns.co.nz/) Penguin (http://www.duckworksbbs.com/plans/jw/penguin/index.htm) come to mind.

All good thoughts, but the Penguin is one of my fantasy boats.

[chrisk]

Not sure it quite fits here, but I've always liked Jay Benford's Ragnar. I haven't found anything on the web about it, but I do have his Cruising Designs catalog and it's in there. It's not plywood, it's cold-molded, full keel with a few different rig options including topsail gaff cutter (which may need an extra foot of draft to support though). It's designed for a diesel inboard, but has an option for an outboard in a well.

LOD 20'
Beam 7'
Draft 3'
Displacement 3600 lbs
Sail Area 210 (depending on rig type)
300 (with topsail rig with genoa)

Wish they had a picture of it on the web. The little black and white picture in the catalog probably doesn't do it justice.

[James McMullen]

I'm gonna build a gold-plater Grey Seal for myself once I have a spare year to build her. Oh yeah, and I need some spare money too. Sigh.

Some day. . . .

[keyhavenpotterer]

Francois Vivier has some very nice designs

http://vivierboats.com/html/stock_classic.html

Brian