KAMCHATKA

From WoodenBoat magazine No. 260, January/February 2018: KAMCHATKA is a 27′ adaptation of the John Letcher—designed pocket cruiser ALEUTKA. The raised deck amidships offers about 5′ of headroom; a pop-top increases this to at least 6′3″.

Particulars

• LOA: 26′10″ (8.18m)
• LWL: 24′41⁄2″ (7.43m)
• Beam: 8′4 1⁄2″ (2.55m)
• Draft: 3′0″ (0.91m)
• Displacement: 5,363 lbs (2.44 tons)
• Ballast: 2,200 lbs (0.91 tons)
• D/L ratio: 158
• Prismatic coefficient: 0.55
• Ballast/displacement ratio: 0.37
• Sail area: 385 sq ft (35.8 sq m)
• Sail area/displacement ratio: 20
• Power: 5- to 9-kW 48-volt electric motor with folding 3-blade propeller

KAMCHATKA’s canoe form is easily driven. Twin bilge keels allow for easy drying out for bottom maintenance, without the need for shoreside facilities.

The freestanding masts and booms are made of carbon fiber for easy setup and simplicity. Reefing and furling are easy with the wishbone booms—which also offer easy control of sail shape.

The boat has simple, well-organized accommodations, with no mast in the living space. Two berths and ample stowage in the forepeak allow for extended cruising for a couple.

The power vs. speed curve shows an easily driven hull. It requires just 0.9 kW—about 1.2 hp—to make 5 knots.

Laurie McGowan is a Nova Scotia based boat designer with a diverse on- and below-water work history. He specializes in energy-efficient commercial and pleasure boats. More of his work may be found at mcgowanmarinedesign.com.

J.F. Bedard is a designer-builder in Florida specializing in a range of CNC-cut boats and kits. His work may be seen at www.bedardyachtdesign.com.

Design Sketchbook appears in every issue of WoodenBoat. McGowan takes readers’ ideas of their ideal boats and designs a vessel to those specifications. This is 3-D concept drawing to supplement the installment found in WoodenBoat issue 260, January/February 2018. See the article for lines drawings and more details. Do you have a boat concept you’d like to see Laurie McGowan develop? If so, send it to Sketchbook, WoodenBoat Publications, P.O. Box 78, Brooklin, ME 04616, or email it to sketchbook@woodenboat.com. Your letter should be no longer than 500 words.