Recomendations for Trailerable Camper/Cruiser.

[Driver Mark]

Looking for something upto about 24 ft. with room enough for 2 to comfortably spend a few days to a few weeks cruising lower Columbia River, with future aspirations of Puget Sound, the San Juans and possibly the inside passage to Alaska.
Would prefer safety and stability over speed but not looking to spend forever trying to get somewhere (if you know what I mean). Best bang for buck, and not overly complicated please. On a budget and woodworking skills are not great but improving.(I can build things that function they're just never going to be works of art.)
All opinons respected and considered because anyone who has sailed much has waaaay more experience than I. (I've built an 8ft. D4 dinghy that Ijust started learning to sail and a 15'6" DayDream sailing skiff that hasn't got wet yet).

[JimD]

I'll start the bidding with Paul Fisher's Simplicity 24. Chined plywood, several different keel options, designed for a client who wants an easily handled and safe cruising boat for his young family

http://www.selway-fisher.com/Simp24p1.jpg

[BarnacleGrim]

I was looking at a map of the Columbia River and the Puget Sound, and unless you're willing to sail out on the Pacific ocean (thus needing a good offshore boat), a trailer sailer is indeed the way to go. However, for the inside passage, I would actually consider a boat with offshore capability depending on how stable the weather is in the passage.

What are your requirements for head and galley?

[capt jake]

B&B Yacht's Princes Sharpie.
http://www.bandbyachtdesigns.com/princess.htm
http://www.bandbyachtdesigns.com/princsailing1.jpg
Also available in a 26 foot version. The designer (Graham) is really easy to talk with.

[Yeadon]

Chebacco. (http://www.chebacco.com/)

... 19'8" long by 7'5"beam, with a draft of 1'0" or 3'11" depending on whether or not the centreboard is down.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1235/1344710970_26e0c8c7ff.jpg

Do a search on the forum for this design. Good stuff all around.

[JimD]

Chebacco also comes in a motor sailer version with higher freeboard and a big cabin.

[Eric.B]

Hello Mark welcome to the madness. I am in the same boat (or lack there of). My needs are little different and finaly decided on devlins winter wren. it’s was hard to decide with so many options. If it helps here was my short list.

Hartley 18 , also comes 21 24
http://www.hartley-boats.com/18b.html (http://www.hartley-boats.com/18b.html)

Fancy free 21’ gaff sharpie (looks kinda like another design in a recent thread :eek:)
http://www.glen-l.com/designs/sailboat/fancyfree.html (http://www.glen-l.com/designs/sailboat/fancyfree.html)

and for stability a few cats I really like

Strider Club/Shadow 24’
http://www.sailingcatamarans.com/shadow.htm (http://www.sailingcatamarans.com/shadow.htm)

Cat 19
http://www.selway-fisher.com/PCCat.htm (http://www.selway-fisher.com/PCCat.htm)

Jarcat 6
http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/rhturner1/j5-6.html (http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/rhturner1/j5-6.html)

hope this helps good luck and happy building

[David G]

D'Mark,

I'm currently entertaining the same sorts of thoughts. I'm slowed, though, by my dithering about whether I want a straight motorboat (like Redwing 21 or 23 or a Gartside Wayward), or a sailboat. For me, it has to be easily trailerable, sleep 2 (and maybe two boys under a boom tent or canvas shelter), protective of a neophyte sailor, capable of being easily single-handed, and useable year-round in the Pacific NW. How does that match your wish list?

I too have an 8' sailboat (PuddleDuckRacer), and a 15'6" sailboat (Goat Island Skiff).

If I should decide to go sailboat, there are several that have caught my eye: Welsford Penguin; Stambaugh Mist; Oughtred Eun na Mara; Norwalk Island Sharpie 23; and maybe the Chebacco Motorsailor. I'll be interested to see what other suggestions there are.


"Why Not"

[Greg P H]

Penguin, by John Welsford
I like this one :)

http://www.duckworksbbs.com/plans/jw/penguin/Greg-Pullens-Little-Wing.jpg

LOA 6.4M 21FT
BEAM 2.44M 8FT
Weight 970kg dry
Ballast 450kg
Berths 4
Headroom 1.450m
SAIL AREA
Gaff Rig 21.8sqm
Bermuda 20.7sqm
http://mysite.verizon.net/proto57/bivalve/penguindwg.gif

http://www.jwboatdesigns.co.nz/plans/penguin/index.htm

[Steve Paskey]

Sam Devlin's LICHEN:

http://www.devlinboat.com/lichen.htm

http://www.devlinboat.com/images/lichen2.jpg

[BarnacleGrim]

The Glen-L Tango (http://www.glen-l.com/designs/sailboat/tango.html) is nice:

http://www.glen-l.com/picboards/picboard15/pic747-1.jpg

Dudley Dix' Cape Cutter (http://www.dixdesign.com/inspir19.htm) and Cape Henry (http://www.dixdesign.com/ch21.htm) are also nice designs, but the plywood clinker may be a bit more difficult to build.

[capt jake]

Devlin's Lichen is roomier than it looks. The old boy that owns her uses her as a live aboard for a good portion of the year here in Olympia.

[BarnacleGrim]

What about the Bateau.com Vagabond 20 (http://www.bateau.com/studyplans/VG20_study.htm?prod=VG20)?

http://www.bateau.com/prodimages/VG20_300.jpg

Here's a project diary for it: http://www.amateurboatbuilding.com/justright/index.htm

[JimConlin]

There are some classes of boats where the stock of existing boats is large enough that their selling price is lower than the cost of building from scratch. This is certainly the case with 20-40' cruising boats. If the cost of the adventure matters to you, you might be better off buying an existing manufactured glass boat and going sailing. When you decide you want to move up (or out), you have a decent chance of getting your money back.

[Driver Mark]

There are some classes of boats where the stock of existing boats is large enough that their selling price is lower than the cost of building from scratch. This is certainly the case with 20-40' cruising boats. If the cost of the adventure matters to you, you might be better off buying an existing manufactured glass boat and going sailing. When you decide you want to move up (or out), you have a decent chance of getting your money back.
I'd really like to build for various reasons but the 2 biggest are just to do it and if I build I don't have to come up with the cash all at once (there's that darn budget thing again)

[Driver Mark]

I was looking at a map of the Columbia River and the Puget Sound, and unless you're willing to sail out on the Pacific ocean (thus needing a good offshore boat), a trailer sailer is indeed the way to go. However, for the inside passage, I would actually consider a boat with offshore capability depending on how stable the weather is in the passage.

What are your requirements for head and galley?

The Passage thing is more maybe than anything, cruising the Columbia is a definite, it's real close, the Puget Sound would be after I learn the ropes and am comfortable with my abilities.
As far as amenities I have a small chemical porta pot for a head. and a camp stove if nothing else. I don't mind roughing it a lttle but I gots to have a bed to sleep in, my back can't take the cold hard ground like it used to

[Driver Mark]

D'Mark,

I'm currently entertaining the same sorts of thoughts. I'm slowed, though, by my dithering about whether I want a straight motorboat (like Redwing 21 or 23 or a Gartside Wayward), or a sailboat. For me, it has to be easily trailerable, sleep 2 (and maybe two boys under a boom tent or canvas shelter), protective of a neophyte sailor, capable of being easily single-handed, and useable year-round in the Pacific NW. How does that match your wish list?

I too have an 8' sailboat (PuddleDuckRacer), and a 15'6" sailboat (Goat Island Skiff).

If I should decide to go sailboat, there are several that have caught my eye: Welsford Penguin; Stambaugh Mist; Oughtred Eun na Mara; Norwalk Island Sharpie 23; and maybe the Chebacco Motorsailor. I'll be interested to see what other suggestions there are.


"Why Not"
Sounds real close except I'd exchange the 2 boys for the 2 golden retrievers I'm sure the missus would never leave behind.

[David G]

The Passage thing is more maybe than anything, cruising the Columbia is a definite, it's real close, the Puget Sound would be after I learn the ropes and am comfortable with my abilities.
As far as amenities I have a small chemical porta pot for a head. and a camp stove if nothing else. I don't mind roughing it a lttle but I gots to have a bed to sleep in, my back can't take the cold hard ground like it used to

D'Mark,

If you're gonna be learning in this boat, I'd recommend you definitely keep it trailerable. Partly that's for exploration and variety's sake. Mostly, though, it's because the Columbia near us is not that great a place for a beginning sailor. It's big water and can get rough. There's a lot of very unforgiving ship, barge, and tug traffic to dodge. The winds tend to blow straight upriver or down - which leads beginners to typically tack back and forth across the width of the river and back - getting in the way of the motorized traffic. And the winds also tend to be either very light or very strong. Oh, and the current can be quite strong. There are lots of sailboats on the Columbia... but, because of the above factors, not as many as you'd expect for a body of water this size. Learning on the Columbia is certainly possible, but might get discouraging. Keep your options open.

So... to whatever degree possible, I'd do as much of my learning as I could on one of the local lakes. Hagg Lake, Timothy Lake, or even the South Sound - launching at Olmpia. I learned (and am still learning) on the Columbia, the Willamette, and local lakes.

I might note that the first time I went out on the Columbia, I capsized. It wasn't traumatic, just embarassing - as I was with a whole gaggle of fellow Ol' Coots (who, of course, captured it on film). Another time - even after a bit more experience - we went camping on an island in the Columbia. When it came time to leave, the wind was strong and downstream, and the current was rampaging. Everytime I clawed my way a bit upstream toward our launch ramp, I'd have to tack away from the slack water near shore, and the current would whisk us back toward Astoria. I finally had to get out and wade the boat up and into the protected channel. It was an interesting (though not hugely pleasant) learning experience. Then again, I've had some gorgeous days on the Columbia.


"What does not kill me makes me stronger" -- Friedrich Nietzsche

[Swidm]

The Penguin is on my dream list but it, along with several of the other boats suggested here, is a large build that will take some time. Also, it is a little big to be a 2 hr traileable...i.e. one quick and easy enough to trailer and setup that you can go sailing in a 2hr window. I would suggest you consider something a bit smaller to finish and enjoy while your are building your bigger dream boat. Goat Island skiff as well as Welsford's open boats like Navigator or Houdini fit this category. If you wand a cabin you could consider putting a lid on an open boat. Some other smaller cabin boats to start with include Welsford's Sweet Pea, bateau.com Adelie, Nancy's China, or B&B Belhaven.

[Driver Mark]

D'Mark,

If you're gonna be learning in this boat, I'd recommend you definitely keep it trailerable. Partly that's for exploration and variety's sake. Mostly, though, it's because the Columbia near us is not that great a place for a beginning sailor. It's big water and can get rough. There's a lot of very unforgiving ship, barge, and tug traffic to dodge. The winds tend to blow straight upriver or down - which leads beginners to typically tack back and forth across the width of the river and back - getting in the way of the motorized traffic. And the winds also tend to be either very light or very strong. Oh, and the current can be quite strong. There are lots of sailboats on the Columbia... but, because of the above factors, not as many as you'd expect for a body of water this size. Learning on the Columbia is certainly possible, but might get discouraging. Keep your options open.

So... to whatever degree possible, I'd do as much of my learning as I could on one of the local lakes. Hagg Lake, Timothy Lake, or even the South Sound - launching at Olmpia. I learned (and am still learning) on the Columbia, the Willamette, and local lakes.

I might note that the first time I went out on the Columbia, I capsized. It wasn't traumatic, just embarassing - as I was with a whole gaggle of fellow Ol' Coots (who, of course, captured it on film). Another time - even after a bit more experience - we went camping on an island in the Columbia. When it came time to leave, the wind was strong and downstream, and the current was rampaging. Everytime I clawed my way a bit upstream toward our launch ramp, I'd have to tack away from the slack water near shore, and the current would whisk us back toward Astoria. I finally had to get out and wade the boat up and into the protected channel. It was an interesting (though not hugely pleasant) learning experience. Then again, I've had some gorgeous days on the Columbia.


"What does not kill me makes me stronger" -- Friedrich Nietzsche


I've got a 15 1/2' foot sailing skiff that I'l do the bulk of actually learning to sail in, I've sailed my D4 up at Clear Lake on Mt. Hood a few times (enough to get the hang of tacking) but it was too small to take the wife out in (we tried it didn't work to well) I did plan on honing my skills on some of the local lakes and the Willamette River before attempting the Columbia.
Have you sailed Hagg Lake? If so how good is that one for sailing?
I was thinking of trying Vancouver Lake but couldn't find any info about a public boat launch there. Do you know of one?
For sailing the Columbia I would guess one would do well to have some kind of back up power like an electric or small outboard motor.
Mark

[David G]

D'Mark,

I've sailed both of my boats out of Willamette Park a lot, because it's so near my shop. Winds can be sketchy, but it's too handy to resist. I've only sailed Hagg Lake twice, but both times it was a treat. Solid, but not challenging winds. Pretty country. Good facilities. There is no public ramp at Vancouver Lake, though I've carried my small boat down from one of the picnic areas. Otherwise, you have to join the sailing club there. I don't like sailing with an attached outboard on small, unballasted boats that are subject to capsize. I don't enjoy wrenching, and am not excited about flushing & going through the motor after it's submerged.


"We set sail on this new sea because there is knowledge to be gained" -- J.F.K.

[BarnacleGrim]

Sounds real close except I'd exchange the 2 boys for the 2 golden retrievers I'm sure the missus would never leave behind.
Nice, but then you'd need a big boat! I've been wanting to get a Newfoundland myself, but a dog that large would take up a whole berth, and my Folkboat only has two. Also you need to think about how to get the dogs out of the water, should they decide to take a swim. The stern on the Vagabond actually looks ideal for that.

[Driver Mark]

David,
Have you ever given any thought to an electric trolling motor for backup? A couple of batteries secured to the bottom would also add some ballast.
Barnacle,
These dogs don't take up too much space on a boat but I haven't taken them out for more than a day of fishing, and then we weren't too far away from shore ,so they could still go do their business. That's the part that would be a problem on a weekend or longer outing, not having a spot for the dogs to go. (never gave that thought) ((note to self ....Leave dogs with neighbors!))

[JimD]

...Fancy free 21’ gaff sharpie (looks kinda like another design in a recent thread :eek:)
http://www.glen-l.com/designs/sailboat/fancyfree.html (http://www.glen-l.com/designs/sailboat/fancyfree.html)

...

Superficially, yes, it looks a bit like that other boat, but Fancy Free carries over 600# of ballast. It would be far more stable and safe. It is my favourite sharpie in that size range and better looking that almost all of the rest:

http://www.glen-l.com/designs/sailboat/sailboat-images/dsn-ffrb2.jpg

Downside is only 4' of headroom. I'd want 4.5 for good sitting headroom over the settees and I'm not a big guy.

[David G]

David,
Have you ever given any thought to an electric trolling motor for backup? A couple of batteries secured to the bottom would also add some ballast.
Barnacle,
These dogs don't take up too much space on a boat but I haven't taken them out for more than a day of fishing, and then we weren't too far away from shore ,so they could still go do their business. That's the part that would be a problem on a weekend or longer outing, not having a spot for the dogs to go. (never gave that thought) ((note to self ....Leave dogs with neighbors!))

D'Mark,

The trolling motor could work, if it's a design where a bit of ballast makes all the difference in stability (like the doryish hull of our GIS). However, I'm still not keen on the possibility of tipping over a boat full of of batteries. I can understand the urge to have a backup propulsion system, but for a lot of boats, it'll be simpler to just learn to sail out of trouble, and keep oars aboard for backup propulsion. For a larger boat, where you're not likely to capsize, the trolling motor could maybe work... The problem then is - does it have adequate thrust to get you out of a hard place... and adequate battery life.

[JimD]

On the subject of batteries for ballast, our boat, a Glen-L Minuet, is designed with a 120# steel centerboard for ballast. Adding two batteries as low in the bilge as they can be one on either side of the centerboard case below the sole more than doubles the ballast and makes a remarkable difference.

[Yeadon]

This is a great thread. I love this size of a boat, 18-22 feet, trailerable, with a well balance rig and a small cabin. You can take a boat like this most anywhere around Puget Sound, and have a decent place to crash for the night. One the weekend is up, it's back up on to the trailer and home, where you can put the boat next to the house or in the garage.

That Wellsford design, the Penguin ... a nice little boat. I like it as a gaffer, but the yawl just looks right.

http://www.jwboatdesigns.co.nz/plans/penguin/penguindwg2.gif

[David G]

D'Mark,

If you haven't been to Hagg Lake, here's our GIS sailing there:

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t4/auroradan/Hagg%20lake%20Messabout%2007%2019%2008/DSCF0074.jpg

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t4/auroradan/Hagg%20lake%20Messabout%2007%2019%2008/DSCF0090.jpg


Here are the albums from the Ol' Coots outing that day:

http://s156.photobucket.com/albums/t4/auroradan/Hagg%20lake%20Messabout%2007%2019%2008/?start=all

http://waderweb.com/boats/160/080719_hagg/hagglake_start.htm

You'll notice that a lot of the photobucket images of Sisu are a bit blurry. That's because when the wind was up, she moved so fast the shooter had trouble keeping us in focus <G>

[TonyH]

Pretty much the brief I bought this boat - 22 foot plywood fin-keel gaffer - for, except for the trailerable part:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8ce34b3127ccec50a9e3cbbb700000010O08Ict2LlwzbA9 vPho/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

The interior is small but sufficent for overnight camp cruising, especially with a boom tent as well.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d930b3127ccec4c3b793c80b00000040O08Ict2LlwzbA9 vPho/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

[Driver Mark]

D'Mark,

The trolling motor could work, if it's a design where a bit of ballast makes all the difference in stability (like the doryish hull of our GIS). However, I'm still not keen on the possibility of tipping over a boat full of of batteries. I can understand the urge to have a backup propulsion system, but for a lot of boats, it'll be simpler to just learn to sail out of trouble, and keep oars aboard for backup propulsion. For a larger boat, where you're not likely to capsize, the trolling motor could maybe work... The problem then is - does it have adequate thrust to get you out of a hard place... and adequate battery life.


David, Point taken. My thought about ballast was just to avoid the tipping over part, and for something about the size of a GIS anything with 40lbs thrust or more should push it around fine (for a little while). ;)

[Woxbox]

Lots of good suggestions. I've cruised a fair bit in an 18' boat, and you certainly want something with good ballast but not so deep it's hard to get on and off the trailer. Also a self-bailing cockpit. The Penguin is a real gem -- that or an Eun na Mara from Ian Oughtred would be my choice if build time and cost weren't issues.

But if you're looking for a quicker, cheaper build, I'd study Bolger's stretch micro.

http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/00/DM1999/articles/micro/micro23.jpg

[Chip-skiff]

I'd decide, upfront, whether to focus on the trip or the build (and longterm ownership of a wooden boat).

In the former case, the trip, I'd probably shop for a classic plastic boat with a good record and ample headroom, like the smaller Pacific Seacraft sloops (Dana 24 and up) or a Pearson Vanguard 32. You could take it up, sell it, and ride the Alaska ferry home.

Building any of the wooden boats proposed will set back the trip 1-2 years. Making the trip in a decent old f-glass boat will give you a much clearer idea about what sort of wood boat you would be happy with, longterm.

(If you build and want to keep, you'll have to make the trip both ways, or pay a bundle to have it barged back home.)

For sheer design values, I'm keen on Norwalk Islands Sharpies, but the lack of headroom in all flatbottom plywood types is a problem for me in terms of living aboard for months at a time. And the Passage isn't a shallow-water estuary by any means.

I've not taken a sailboat up but trips on the Alaska ferry persuade me that it's not really a sailing trip but more dependent on either motor or multiple oar power. So, lacking an Outward Bound group, I'd want a staunch little diesel rather than an outboard, trolling motor, etc. The currents are strong and there's quite a lot of rocky lee shore. Queen Charlotte Sound can be a rough passage for small craft: the crux of the trip.

Simply put, a shallow-draft sharpie doesn't seem like the proper yacht for the journey. Beware the partisans of one design or other.

good luck—
Chip

[Nicholas Scheuer]

I sailed in company with a Princess Sharpie last summer in the Texas-200. It is an able sailer that was built in Port Lavacca Texas for an owner in Oklahoma.

The Princess tows nicely, too.

Moby Nick

[Driver Mark]

I'd decide, upfront, whether to focus on the trip or the build (and longterm ownership of a wooden boat).

In the former case, the trip, I'd probably shop for a classic plastic boat with a good record and ample headroom, like the smaller Pacific Seacraft sloops (Dana 24 and up) or a Pearson Vanguard 32. You could take it up, sell it, and ride the Alaska ferry home.

Building any of the wooden boats proposed will set back the trip 1-2 years. Making the trip in a decent old f-glass boat will give you a much clearer idea about what sort of wood boat you would be happy with, longterm.

(If you build and want to keep, you'll have to make the trip both ways, or pay a bundle to have it barged back home.)

For sheer design values, I'm keen on Norwalk Islands Sharpies, but the lack of headroom in all flatbottom plywood types is a problem for me in terms of living aboard for months at a time. And the Passage isn't a shallow-water estuary by any means.

I've not taken a sailboat up but trips on the Alaska ferry persuade me that it's not really a sailing trip but more dependent on either motor or multiple oar power. So, lacking an Outward Bound group, I'd want a staunch little diesel rather than an outboard, trolling motor, etc. The currents are strong and there's quite a lot of rocky lee shore. Queen Charlotte Sound can be a rough passage for small craft: the crux of the trip.

Simply put, a shallow-draft sharpie doesn't seem like the proper yacht for the journey. Beware the partisans of one design or other.

good luck—
Chip
Chip,
The focus would be on the build and long term ownership, the trip is more of a goal for the future (retirement present,,,maybe} couldn't take the time from work to do it now, but maybe someday.....
I want to build something that would be a good trailerable sail camper/cruiser first and foremost,something big enough to be fairly comfortable,but small enough to overland fairly easy behind a full sized pick up. Some thing fairly not too complicated to build, but fairly decent looking, (I really like the look of gaff and lug rigged sloops) and will last. Build time is not really an issue but budget is.
I know that's probably a tall order but as I've said before, right now I'm only in the research and dreaming mode. Looking for suggestions to ponder(and there have been many good ones).
Mark

[andrewe]

Mark, lots of good advice here. I am building the Cape Henry 21, after thinking hard about Welsford´s Penguin. While they both qualify as trailer-sailers, at over 3000lb they are not something that you would often use for a day sail as the launching and recovery take too much time out of the day. The practical limite is around 19ft and 2000 lb with a simple rig. Two large dogs on a 19 ft cabin boat might be a touch too much, you must be fond of them.
I made my choice partly because of the good reputation of the Cape Cutter 19 and the open style cabin in the CH21. The pengiun has more space and headroom but cut up by bulhheads. Compared to a sharpie/dory they are much more of a build though. The Norwalk Isl. Sharpie 18 seems a good compromise and a very capable boat.
Andrew

[Driver Mark]

Lots of good sugestions and ideas presented.
Thank you all for your input.
Any more to add?
Mark

[ishmael]

I don't think anyone has mentioned Bolger's Black Skimmer. It's around 24 IIRC. It's a sharpie and quite pretty, though it doesn't have the acommadation of some of the others mentioned. Basically just a big open space. No bunks, you lay your bedding on the bottom, so it's definately camping. There was a lengthy discussion of the boat a few years back so you might try the search function.

Being flat bottomed it would go together quickly. Quite able by reputation.

[chrisk]

I've always liked Paul Gartside's 22' double ender #106
http://www.gartsideboats.com/pgimages/106cb.jpg
I've always liked to see that one with a yawl rig

Or Ted Brewer's Grand Banks 22, which probably is a bit tough to trailer with the fin keel I'd expect it's doable, but I've always liked it and it's be an easier build:

http://www.tedbrewer.com/sail_wood/images/GB22-sailing.gif

And the write up claims it has made the Alaska passage:

Several dozen of these little ketches have been built and have proven their speed and ability in all weathers, from calms to 40 knot gale winds. At least one of the boats has made the passage to Alaska and return!

[Chip-skiff]

Might be worth a trip or two up to harbours in Washington & BC with a lot of wood boats (e.g. Port Townsend). Look about and ask questions, shout a few drinks.

As I recall, the farther north one goes up the Passage, the fewer open cockpit boats one sees and the more motorsailer types with a helm under cover. No mystery about how much it rains up there.

So for that trip, I'd incline to something like the Bolger Chebacco with a stand-up deckhouse & inside steering, or some capable design by a PNW resident, that suits the waters.

For instance, I don't think extreme shallow draft (e.g. a sharpie) would be an advantage, compared to enough engine power to buck strong currents along with decent motorsailing capability.

But I'm speculating— Obviously someone who lives and sails there (with that trip in their log) would be the best source of all.

[Lion]

Hi Mark,

I like this Meaban design from Francois Vivier. 6.80 mtrs/22.5 ft o'all.

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

Can be done in strip or Ply (with moulded bilges).Cool looking with I reckon a good turn of speed. I paticularly like the good sized cockpit for day sailing and the fact that the c/board does not intrude into the cabin.

Plans and patterns are more than most but they are beautifully detailed and presented and you get access to Francois who, like a number of small boat designers, is a pleasure to deal with for advice etc..

I also like Andrew's (Hi Andrew!) choice of Dudley Dix's Cape Henry 21 and I could be happy with either. I am a bit surprised that both designs havn't gained more traction in the US. Comment?

Unfortunately my boatbuilding plans are on hold, but you go for it!

Lion

[Chip-skiff]

What I'm groping towards is the idea that a boat that's perfect for the Inside Passage to Alaska might not be one that's ideal for a day of trailer-sailing.

For a build— big commitment of time and energy— it might make sense to sort out the likelihood of the Alaska trip vs. the sort of sailing you'll do most often from home, and enjoy for the long term.

For example, I live where there's not much surface water, so I bought a Bolger Gypsy skiff, a light 15 ft. daysailer, and a 15-minute launch from the trailer. A friend, thinking of camp-cruising adventures, bought a 20-ft. Compac keel sloop with a cabin that (sort-of-ly) sleeps four. But he doesn't have many chances to sail it without trailering hundreds of miles. A few days ago, he was looking at my wee yacht and kicking himself for not getting something like it.

The choice being, I guess, whether camp-cruising will be your major involvement, as opposed to day-sailing. Good to have a reality check before ordering the timber.