Small builder seeks new design for market

[imported_glenn]

Hello,

I run a one man shop and I am looking for a new design to add to my mix of projects. I have built a number round bottomed herreshoff and joel white designs for day sailing but I am now looking for an alternative to expand my range of options available to new customers.

This "new boat" will be built on spec to allow me to see how things go. I am looking at the John Alden O-boat which is a centerboard sloop and seems to have very nice lines and an elegant sail plan. Beyond this, I have not found anyone who knows too much about this design. It seems to have straight-forward construction but I would like feedback on how wide the appeal might be in the marketplace and how well this craft might sail, its trailerability, etc. I am not stuck on another daysailer as I would consider a small work boat, power cruiser or launch. I can build up to 40' feet in length but at this point in the existence of my business, I would like to come up with something around the 20' LOA area.

I have looked at a number of designs including some double ended yawls with full decks but the construction timeline can stretch out longer than I might be willing to hang myself out there for a spec job.

Thanks for any feedback...

[George Roberts]

A lot of people like the Eun Mara.

There are so many nice boats in the 20-25' length.

I think the two big considerations are:

centerboard/keel (You indicate you want a centerboard.)

2000#/3500# (it makes a big difference on a trailer.)

[ahp]

I would love to have you build a folkboat but I don't know if I could afford a price that would keep you from starving to death. It is not economical to build just one. What is the demand? Not much, I think, although it is one of the best ever designs.

[imported_glenn]

I am looking for a product that comes in between $30,000 to $40,000.

[Venchka]

Chip Flanagan built an O-boat a couple years ago on spec. The last asking price I saw put it into the "steal" category. Perhaps Chip would share his thoughts with you.

Fred Bayer in Massachusetts was building 2 Caledonia yawls (one open, one half decked) over the 2002-2003 winter. Not sure what ever happened with the boats.

Geoff Kerr builds Caledonia and Ness yawls to order all the time. John at Independance Boatworks builds Iain Oughtred's smaller dinghies, some on spec.

I see Harry Bryan's Handy Billy in 18' and 21' lengths offered by several places in the WoodenBoat ads.

The designer I don't see folks building on spec. is Paul Gartside. Maybe you can change that. Paul's boats deserve a wider audience.

Paul Gartside (http://www.gartsideboats.com/)

I don't know if this helps any at all. I can tell you that builders I met at the WoodenBoat Show who had small boats they could carry to shows were getting good response. These boats were either customer boats ready for delivery or the builder's personal boat. In either case, the boats demonstrated the builder's skill. A nice sailing clinker dinghy that can be transported easily will show buyers a lot. A boat like that sold me on the builder I selected.

[Venchka]

Originally posted by glenn:
I am looking for a product that comes in between $30,000 to $40,000.Here you go:

http://www.gartsideboats.com/pgimages/Spartan2-110.jpg

Paul Gartside Design #110 (http://www.gartsideboats.com/catsail2.php#spartan)

"Here's a small boat with a big potential. Keep it at home on the trailer for minimum overhead, then launch at weekends anywhere within driving range. At 18 ft and 1800 lbs it can be towed easily behind the family car and the shallow dinghy hull makes it quick and easy to get on and off the trailer. Short mast and simple rigging will make it easy to rig. A great way to see a lot of country.

The cabin contains a simple two berth layout with galley and head. Construction is a frameless laminate of strip planking and cold molded veneer laid up over temporary molds."

Specifications for 18 ft centerboard sloop, Design #110

Length on deck 18 ft 0 in Beam 7 ft 8 in

Length waterline 17 ft 0 in Displacement 1800lbs

Draft CB down 4 ft 3 in Draft CB up 1 ft 2 in

Sailing rig Gaff sloop Sail area 222 sq ft

Building time 1000 hours Skill level Intermediate

Price $325 CDN Design #110 6 Sheets

[ 03-10-2004, 02:36 PM: Message edited by: Venchka ]