Please recommend sailboat plans

[jmwalker]

Please recommend sailboat plans.

I’m new to all of this and I'm building a small 12’ sailboat from free plans found on the internet. I’m planning on “over-building” the boat to give me some experience with epoxy and fiberglass.

Soon after I complete this project I would like to begin building a 15’ to 25’ sailboat and I have no idea which one to choose. It seems that there are many options to choose from and each designer seems to feel that their boats are the best things to ever hit the water.

I live in the Chicago area and plan to primarily use this boat on Lake Michigan. However, I wouldn’t mind something solid enough to take further - maybe out on the ocean - if the mood strikes me. I would love something that while somewhat stable, will offer a fair degree of performance. I’m willing to put in the extra time and effort required to build a faster hull.

I work in higher education, so I’m poor. Construction cost, while not my main concern, is an issue.

I would like to be able to bring 2 (comfortably over a weekend) to 4 (day sailing) people on the boat. And, prefer a boat that can be trailered and stored in my driveway over the winter.

Any suggestions?

Do you guys have any favorite designs or designers?
Can you offer any feedback regarding how well designers supported your efforts / answered your questions?
Do you have any favorite books that helped along the way?

I realize that there are many threads discussing and answering specific building problems and questions, but I would appreciate a general discussion of what, where and how much.

Thanks for your help.

[LP]

The hardest part in building a boat is choosing the design. You have chosen the size, so the next step, as I see it, is to determine the construction method. I'm a personal fan of strip-building myself. In a lot lot of ways, it's probably the easiest, although tedious at times, of the methods available. Free plans are nice for getting an idea of what you like, but once I had that figured that out I'd look at purchasing modern plans that utilize modern building techniques. Stitch and glue designs probably offer the quickest build times, but I've never built stich and glue so I could be blowing smoke and I'm not sure how the pennies fall with the purchase of so much marine plywood. One of my first boat plans books that I purchased after getting the building bug was S. S. Rabl's, "Boatbuilding in Your Own Backyard", 2nd edition. There is a set of plans for an 18', strip-built sloop, Picaroon, that just charms me. It's still in print or can be purchased new or used. I like (www.alibris.com). These plans were created before epoxy and fiberglass, but could be updated for their use with a little bit of study.

Do you want a keel boat or do you want something beachable? What is it's intended use. Are you going to ragatta? Do you want to duck everytime you tack? How easily does the mast step?

You've probably been to this site for for free plans. (www.svensons.com/boat/)

And not so free, but almost so. (www.dngoodchild.com)

Good Luck

[jmwalker]

Thanks for your note and for the links LP.

I just want something to cruise the lake for a few days at a time. Maybe sail up through the other lakes for fun.

I've been looking around and I'm just about settled on the Vagabond 18 from bateau.com. Here's a link: http://www.boatplans-online.com/prod....php?prod=VG18

They are charging for the plans, but I'll get $100 back for sending a few pictures in - which seems like a good idea. I've been searching the internet and I have really appreciated the home builder sites that show step-by-step pictures of the building process. They have given me much confidence and encouragement. I'm thinking that I'll set something like that up for the next guy behind me - so sending in a few pics is no big deal.

The bateau plans also call for stitch and glue construction. I have some wood working skills, but not a lot. The stitch and glue process looks like it offers a fair amount of forgiveness along the construction process.

If all goes well with this first boat, I may sell it next year and start building a larger, more traditional boat. I'm not so sure that the vagabond would feel very comfortable on anything larger than my lake here.

Thanks again. John.

[gonzo]

"Overbuilding" will make the boat heavier and more expensive. It may weaken the structure or overstress parts of it. If you want to learn, it is better to stick to a design and follow it from start to finish. A common mistake by amateurs is to modify methods and designs. It ends in expensive problems, wasted time and materials, and sometimes abandoned projects.

[jmwalker]

Thank you for your response. I suppose that I should have been more careful when using a phrase like "over building". Your kind response was not the only one to mention it and the more I read through these forums, the more I realize what others mean when they say it.

By over building I meant that I was planning on glassing the hull of a small sailboat to gain experience with the techniques required to build a larger boat. That type of thing. I found free plans that called for a more traditional screw together build. I was going to use epoxy and fiberglass on the hull.

Thanks again.

John.

[Armada]

I have purchased my Didi 26 kit from www.kitsandboats.com for 2620 Euro, complete with bulkheads, backbone, hull, deck, cabin and cockpit cut with CNC on BS 1088 certified Okoume marine plywood. They still have not build their English web site but have a look at it.

[jmwalker]

Wow. That is a great site. Thanks for the tip. I wish I could read the site. One question though: Are the student workers included in the kit?

I'm thinking that the VG18 will be my first. My employer and I are discussing a transfer to either coast. I would move around the end of 2006. I may sell the VG18 to fund the building of a larger, more ocean friendly boat - one that I could take to warmer climates for a week or two at a time.

Thanks again.

[Chickadee]

The Super Serpentaire was a mini-transat in the 1980's.
Full keel or shorter mast for ocean cruising, if you don't want too much sport or you're older than 35-40 !
pics

[jmwalker]

lol. I guess my age is showing. Its a beautiful boat. I wish I knew more French.

I'm inexperienced in sailing AND building. I thought that I would start small and easy and work my way up to something with more creature comforts.

[Armada]

Great site, I wish I can understand French too