I have enjoyed following the progress of SCAMP over the past few months, but I am wondering about suggestions for larger (15-16 ft trailerable pocket yarchts) that have relatively shallow draft and are intended for ply or strip plank construction (not S&G).

Bolger's Micro, I think, is a good example of what I am looking for here. It gives decent space in a short length. There is sprawling room in the cockpit, it supposedly offers spirited sailing, but the flat bottom, not the keel, is slightly off putting to me. Michalak, I know, has many designs in this category, but I cannot say that his designs inspire me much, which is odd given that Micro is the first boat I mentioned. Selway-Fisher also offers some choices in this range, but I don't find them appealing either. So, given the limitaions of the length, what other designers can you suggest to me that are worthy of a look? I'd appreciate any help you can offer. Thanks, Dennis

Here's a strip-planked 16 footer that would turn a lot of heads




complete plans were published in an article in watercraft magazine, #76 (http://watercraft-magazine.com/wc_backissues.html) or you can get the regular plans package from gartsideboats.com


another just under 16' glued lap or strip-planked, from http://www.whisstock.com

I would suggest having a good look at a Matt Layton design called Paradox.
It's another flat bottomed boat but one very interesting detail is the use of chine projections to provide lateral resistance.
http://www.microcruising.com/plans1.htm

Yes, a very interesting design.

I've been following Lesie's blog "Leslie's World"
She now lives in Pasadena, TX and is well along on her build of a Paradox, "Tardis"

Check it out! This link goes to a fairly early point in her build; she's now tackling the cabin structure.

http://lezliesworld.blogspot.com/2011_0 ... chive.html

Simeon

love that sketch of the Paradox! always loved that style of showing the interior/exterior of boats.

If you want a small cruising boat, there are three options for accomodations. You can 'stack' the cockpit on top of the accomodations (Micro and Peephen for example). You can combine the cockpit and the cabin in a Birdwatcher configuration, Or you can convert the cockpit to a cabin with a tent (DCA Roamer for example).

In my view, a major portion of the boat's ballast is crew weight and in small boats, ballast should be concentrated as low as possible and near the center of the boat. If you agree, then the latter two alternatives would seem to be desirable.

Birdwatcher cabins provide shelter from the elements and offer some insurance against the fear of capsize. They also isolate the crew from the weather, can provice degraded visibility (as the windows get wet and salt incrusted), and the ergonomics can be an issue as the boat heels.

Open boats provide more freedom of crew movement and more intimacy with the environment. Capsize is possible, accomodations can be damp (puttting a tent up over a wet boat doesn't dry it out), and putting a tent up and taking it down can be a hassle.

Somewhere, there may be a perfect boat, but every one I have found is a mix of compromises. The key is to find a set of compromises which most closely meet your wants.

JohnT

look@ Duckworks plans index..i like Francis Viviea's plans and of couse John welfords plans

here's a video of Alister Law's Paradox Little Jim filmed by randoneur beating in a force 5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=ULvsP ... sP8iMPMkEE

Brian

Are you going to build your boat yourself? There are a lot more options if you have the skills and the time. Here's another designer to ponder:
Selway-Fisher pocket yachts under 16'. I like his Highlander 18 more, but its bigger than your spec.