What Cruiser wood you Build

[Darren McClelland]

I was searching through ebay and was looking at mid sized cruisers 24 feet to 32 feet and was suprised at the prices and how they look cheap and worn out after little use and was wondering what type of cruiser would be best to build,
sleep two min with a head and a small galley, curious to peoples answers?

Captain sawdust ( Iam a bit away from this dream yet)

[kc8pql]

Sail or power?

[Darren McClelland]

A power boat something that you could have a little speed when needed and something you could spend a week on touring around to islands and ports, I looked in the back of woodenboat current issue and thought maybe a modified lobster boat or perhaps a model like vandam builds?

[James McMullen]

If you're smart and looking to the future you should at the very least look at motorsailers, not straight powerboats. Even if you only shake out the sails when the wind is absolutely perfect you'll be much better off ten years from now. The price of fuel is temporarily down only because the economy is also (hopefully temporarily) down right now.

[JimD]

There's quite a choice in this size range of mostly semi planing hulls:

Blue Jacket 24: http://www.messing-about.com/smallboats/bluejacket.html

http://www.messing-about.com/images/Liz16mph.jpg

Devlin Surfscoter: http://www.devlinboat.com/designcatalog.htm

http://www.devlinboat.com/images/surfscoter26-3sm.jpg

Jacques Mertens: http://bateau.com/proddetail.php?prod=DE25Cockpit

http://bateau.com/prodimages/DE25Cockpit_350.jpg

But I agree looking at motor sailers is not a bad idea although they'll likely be displacement hulls and won't have a high gear for the times you're in a hurry.

A Nimble Kodiak, designed by Ted Brewer. Can't buy plans for it but if you decided to buy its the sort of boat that might be worth a look:...Yikes! Sorry about the big pic. Let me know if you'd like me to delete it.

http://www.nimbleboat.net/images/Wanderer1.JPG

[David G]

Traditional build, or ply/epoxy? Atkin's Martha Green can go both ways, and sport a sail as well. She's displacement speed, not planing speed.

http://www.boat-links.com/Atkinco/Cruisers/MarthaGreen.html


"Learning is not compulsory. Neither is survival" -- W. Edwards Deming

[Darren McClelland]

There was a guy at the wooden boat show in RI two summers ago who had a devlin boat I think slightly larger than the surf scooter and it was well appointed and completed very nice, he invited me aboard and it was quite large and open for a small cruiser
DM

[JimD]

There was a guy at the wooden boat show in RI two summers ago who had a devlin boat I think slightly larger than the surf scooter and it was well appointed and completed very nice, he invited me aboard and it was quite large and open for a small cruiser
DM

Surf Scoter now comes as a 26er. That's getting to be a formidable project for a back yard builder. Black Crown and Czarina are 29/30 feet and that's well beyond the 'head and small galley' category. You'll be spending many years and tens of thousands of dollars to build them whereas basic head/galley/berth and standing headroom in the pilot house can be had in less than 18 feet. You'll likely get a lot more use out of your boat if you first consider very carefully what you need it to do and then look for the smallest possible boat that will fill the need. (That's just mho, of course :))

[C. Ross]

How about a Bartender? Short end of the range, but would be awfully well-suited for Great Lakes swell and chop, has the get up and go you want, and looks like a feasible build.

Plus they are beautiful.

[David G]

How about a Bartender? Short end of the range, but would be awfully well-suited for Great Lakes swell and chop, has the get up and go you want, and looks like a feasible build.

Plus they are beautiful.

I love Bartenders, and Bill now offers kits, in addition to plans, so a fella can get a head start, if he's so inclined. For this brief, you'd probably want one of the larger ones. There newest is also a motorsailer of sorts.

http://www.bartenderboats.com/


"Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life" -- Immanuel Kant

[rbgarr]

Just about any of Paul Gartside's designs. For example, in the heavier traditional powerboat vein: http://www.gartsideboats.com/catpow.php#157

Or the lighter category: http://www.gartsideboats.com/catpow.php#119

[C. Ross]

I love Bartenders, and Bill now offers kits, in addition to plans, so a fella can get a head start, if he's so inclined. For this brief, you'd probably want one of the larger ones. There newest is also a motorsailer of sorts.

http://www.bartenderboats.com/


"Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life" -- Immanuel Kant

The motorsailer is a Tad Roberts design, and looks pretty interesting. Lee Baxter's really great looking build is on the front page of the website, too.

[JimD]

I like the look of Timbercoast. But its not a motorsailer.

[C. Ross]

David G had it better "motorsailer of sorts". So what should you call a powerboat with a little auxiliary sail...?

[Darren McClelland]

I like the timbercoast it reminds me of the surf scooter,I like the 26 foot version, I guess I should clarify what I was looking for , when I boat it is usually me and my friend Tom and I find with the 22 foot cuddy cab I use now,I have a vee berth and a back seat that folds down into a bed a portapotty under the vee berth so I was thinking the next boat should have a head and perhaps a galley and a small area to sit that could convert to the addtional bed . My boat has a camper top and it allows you to sit at the rear with a small table.the problem is the washroom and the lack of space for a cooler and some cooking capablities , we anchor on some islands and walk in the water to the beach both for bathroom and cooking it would be nice if this could be elimanated at times or even the convience in the marinas or to cook breakfast when docked. The cost issue and time does not concern me as when I was looking at the plastic boats (used) they cost as much as 30,000 dolllars for boats in the range I was looking into. I enjoy working in the shop I have a good track record of completing large projects and the time is to my advantage as it spreads the cost out without borrowing money. It also gives you time to think and collect things.

Darren

[Darren McClelland]

A photo of the same boat that I have

http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/rr95/Captsawdust/1998-Four-Winns-Boat.jpg

[JimD]

David G had it better "motorsailer of sorts". So what should you call a powerboat with a little auxiliary sail...?

Didn't realize it was an auxiliary sail. Thought it was a steadying sail to take the edges off the motion.

[Lew Barrett]

If a powerboat, I have to vote for the surf scoter. Maybe my favorite Devlin, it makes such good sense for the waters here.

[BarnacleGrim]

https://www.boatdesigns.com/images/014coastal-lbrown3.jpg
Glen-L 25' Costal Cruiser

I'd really consider going for sail, though. You don't pay for the wind!
And power boats have limited range as well.

[JimD]

Glen-Ls Coaster 25 is a roomy simple flat bottom motorsailer that would be very economical to run:

http://www.glen-l.com/designs/sailboat2/sailboat2-images/dsn-csta5.jpg

http://www.glen-l.com/designs/sailboat2/sailboat2-images/dsn-csta7.jpg

http://www.glen-l.com/designs/sailboat2/sailboat2-images/dsn-cstla.gif
http://www.glen-l.com/designs/sailboat2/sailboat2-images/dsn-cstlb.gif

[kc8pql]

Reminds me of the MacGregor 26. Water ski with your saliboat!!:rolleyes:

http://www.macgregorsailboats.com/images/powering_catalina_cove_small.jpg

[JimD]

You can strap a lot of Ponies onto the back of the McGreggor 26 as it will plane. Glen-L's Coaster is a displacement hull and is rated for about 10 - 15 hp.

[Darren McClelland]

I like the glen L coastal cruiser it would satisfy all of my requests , I enjoy sailing and might consider the sailing option, I mostly criuse in the St marys river with occasional outings into Lake Huron to the small islands. Iam a big fan of all of Devlins designs.

Thanks for your suggestions

I printed out all the responses and I keep them in a file for future boats''

Darren

Too many boats not enough time

[David G]

Mr. McC,

I've seen one of these in person. I always thought they were an interesting combo boat, but never much liked the looks. I gotta say, they're even more awkward and ungainly looking in person. But, we're into aesthetics, so YMMdefinitelyV


"Don't be afraid to see what you see" -- Ronald Reagan

[Saltiguy]

I'm presently building a Bolger "Champlain" . 23 foot, stich & Glue, full standing headroom, galley, enclosed head and 2 full sized berths. Ideal long range cruiser for two in sheltered waters. Powered by a Yamaha 9.9 high thrust OB that swings a 12" prop. 3/4 throttle pushes her at hull speed, approx 7 knots, at 3/4 gph.
Sorry, I don't know how to post pictures.

[JimD]

Bolger's Champlain looks like this (copy/paste the pic from any website you find them on):

http://www.smallboatforum.com/SBF%20Image%20File/Champlain33.gif

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/27/59105370_68a3c64676.jpg?v=0

[BarnacleGrim]

Have you considered looking into a commuter type launch? A fast displacement hull with a large open cockpit for entertaining day guests and a relatively small cabin up front?

See for instance Bateau.com Fast Launch 26 (http://www.bateau.com/studyplans/FL26_study.htm?prod=FL26)