“Te Mata’i” was launched July 2021 on Tomahawk Lake in Woodruff, WI as the first retirement project of owner/builder Scott Joswiak. Starting as a Pro Kit in April 2020 and designed by John C. Harris of Chesapeake Light Craft, she is a modern version of a Tahitian Outrigger sailing canoe. Total build time was 250 hours.
Total weight 250 pounds. Hulls are 4mm okoume plywood, stitched together with 300 copper ties, covered inside with 4 ounce fiberglass set in epoxy with 6 ounce fiberglass/epoxy exterior. Decks are 6mm okoume plywood. The remainder of the structures are primarily cypress/epoxy laminate. She is finished in 6 coats of varnish and 3 coats of polyurethane marine paint. The hulls, crossbeams and seats are lashed together with nylon strapping in about 1 hour. The lateen rig with 20 foot yard and boom provides lots of speed even in light breezes but the design is much more stable, dry and ergonomic compared to the owner’s prior Hobie 16. She tacks equally well to port or starboard. Power craft frequently circle Te Mata’i to ask what she is and compliment her good and unusual looks.