small sailboat advice

Hi,

I've searched the archives of this group for a number of years and
always learn something new. I've been dreaming of building a small
sailboat for many years now and am finally starting to narrow my choices
down.

I need a small sailboat that can handle lake erie fishing weather; which
is a bit more than most recreational boaters like. My childhood memories
of fishing with my dad invovled leaving early in the morning with 2-3 ft
waves, by lunch those waves were 4+, and on returning home 6 or more
wasn't all that rare. This weather was always taken in a 22-26 ft
powerboat(bayliner). This is basically my standard of what a boat should
handle although it may never see it. The prospect of going 20 miles out
for walleye in a sail/rowing craft is rather daunting.

The boat should be able to be rowed as well as sailed; an engine is not
wanted. I have very little interest in fighting to cartop a boat and the
sizes I need are a little to heavy for that in my view. I want room for
a passenger or more. I'm looking at the 14-16 ft range but will go up to
about 21 if neccessary.

I will be first time builder and I feel plywood is the best choice for
time/cost. Feel free to convince me other wise. I also prefer a smaller
simpler boat for a freshmen effort. I'm more interested in traditional
form. It would be nice if I could build the boat in the winter then
assemble it in the spring, but this is not neccesary.

My choices are: maybe a norwegian sailing pram 12-18 ft (not at all sure
about this one), a flat-iron skiff (parker's 14ft oystering sharpie),
and some type of swampscott dory.

Out of these 3 choices I know a swampscott will be able to do what I
want. I notice glen-l has a 18ft version of the beachcomber alpha. The
"oystering sharpie" looks like it would be a good sailer. I like the
prams but have no idea if they are up to what I want from a boat.

I'm a big fan of the dories but will build a flat-iron if it is
significantly easier/cheaper. The "oystering sharpie" is my favorite so
far.

matthew
ohio

On Sep 30, 8:02 am, MatthewK <Matth... DeleteThis @letterboxes.xx.org> wrote:
> Hi,

> I need a small sailboat that can handle lake erie fishing weather; which
> is a bit more than most recreational boaters like.> matthew
> ohio


Hi,

Find the boook titled, "American Small Sailing Craft" by Chappell.

Its filled with 10'-40' turn of the century working sailboats. Then
contact the Smitsonian Institute's Watercraft department and request a
"set of lines" for the boat you like. They have all the lines found in
the book Not sure how much they cost now but it was a few bucks each.
when id did that.

If you cant find the book just contact the Smithsonian and request
their Guide of Chappell's lines.

I I built and sailed the paint off a 15' sprit rigged dory. things I
learned:
It was a work boat.
Designed to sail best with 200 lbs of cod on board .
Did not sail to wind or tack that well.
Looked cool !
Rig was unstayed doug fir pole with lots of splits. I got the mast
from a discarded salmon trolling pole sitting in the parking lot of
Dock 5. Worked great and cheep plus stayed with the historic workboat
nature of the boat.
I learned a lot about boat and rig design cause everything was
traditional "work boat' fitted. ie galvanized awning pullies.

If you have kids or a wife I think you'ld have more fun if you bought
a 15' or 19' Potter. I they sail more smartly and are "nicer." AND you
can be sailing that weekend! Besides no need for 200 pounds of cod
sloshing around ur feet. Unless you are one of thoes guys who want to
take a great workboat design and bastardize it by creating a "musuem
display quality" jewlery boat to impress everyone but is too pretty to
knock around and get the 22 top coats of hand rubbed hightech stuff
stratched.

Personally, I was poor and wanted to learn. So I used a poor man's
design and fitted it accordingly.
Bob