Hedley Nicol Trimaran Plans

According to one Australian Wanderer owner the Cavalier has 4-6" more freeboard on the main hull sheer profile. The cabin is usually wider to accomodate double wing bunks. The cavaliers are often rigged as ketches. The mk1 and 2 differences are in the hulls and I suspect rig dimensions. Like a lot of owner built boats I have seen a lot of variations in the cabins. A few years ago I found a profile/sailplan drawing of the vagabond mk2 on a plan ad in a A.Y.R.S. publication from the 60's. The sheer dimensions matched my boat which has a vagabond width cabin (single wing bunks) but with angled instead of straight sides. The stock cabin was also lower forward of the galley to save windage while mine is full height and stretched to had a pilot house/spronk/and nav area that we love in the NW rain, not stock but very practical. The sailplan is identical to my boat which may be a modified vagabond hence my interest in the plans. I can scan it and send it to you to compare with the plans. The sheer lines on the mk1 and 2 hulls are different as are the keels. They definitely have a strong family resemblance though. A word on the sail plan. Keep it stock ! It was designed to work with the ama shapes. When we placed the stem fitting in the correct location and added the right amount of rake to the mast it made a huge difference. We went from pressing down the ama bows in heavy going to always keeping them up and developing lots of dynamic lift at speed. Those ama bows also have an advantage over plumb stems. Here in the N.W. it seems the tides are a bit higher (ice pack melt?) and we have more drift than in years past, non plumb bows go over the things you didn't dodge like a sled versus taking a direct impact. There still have to be drawings of these things out there. Ernest Haig was given Cavalier plans to finish his boat (which had wider amas) but tossed them out over the years.....Hopefully other owners can shed some light on the different models.

 

Chilli Magic

Hi guys,
Chilli Magic is the Cavalier I was refering to in my previous post, a lovely cruising trimaran, I am still interested in any of Nicols plans (or copies) if anyone has any lying around

 

Do they have any plans? Chili Magic looks like it has the longer amas of the mk2. The sterns are extended and the reverse sheer continued. The main hull transom on a mk2 also seems to be less immersed if not overloaded. I'll let you know when Imaginary Number gets in touch with me. Maybe this will turn into a plan chain thing. You can get a profile drawing and sail plan of the 25' Clipper from the Mystic Seaport collection. Tomorrow I'll try to scan the Vagabond mk2 sail plan. If you contact the A.Y.R.S. in England ask them to sell you a copy of publication # 55 which has Nicol articles and reviews from the day.

 

I dont think there are any plans of Chilli Magic unfortunately but I'll double check with the owner next time we talk. I almost purchased a Clipper a couple of years back but the price and condition were'nt right.

A bit of info on Chilli Magic, professionally built in Townsville in 1970 of double diagonal (amas) and triple diagonal (main hull) plywood with epoxy used throughout. Strong if not a little heavy. She is powered by a 22.5 hp diesel which gives 5 - 6 knots depending on the conditions. Sloop rigged with a 12 metre aluminium mast and a longish keel give good performance. She is a live aboard cruising boat tho with the associated junk ! which slows her down a bit in the light breezes. I have spent lots of time sailing Chilli Magic up and down the QLD coast and have fallen in love with Nicols designs. Grace, Space and Pace.

Any luck scanning the line plans you have "Cavalier mk2" ?

 

Sorry, I'll try for early next week! I can get 7 knots when light out of my Yamaha workhorse 10 HP but cruise at about 5 1/2 for economy. When we go cruising we load up with a months provisions for 2 and the boat doesn't mind. We were able to pass a monohull while carrying 11 full size soldiers but we aren't carrying the liveaboard things. There is a difference in scantlings between the racing and cruising Nicols. I've brought mine up to cruising specs though it survived from 1970 built light compared to say a Cross. It was used for 20 years carrying researchers for orca whale studies in the San Juan Islands and they liked its economy. Horses for courses, I'm sure a Farrier would pass me but not carrying 10 dry people on the wing deck ! It has been fun for me learning about the Nicols. There are still some around here, especially in Canada, I took pictures last summer of a mk1 cavalier ketch and a modified vagabond mk1 that had sailed around the world. Down here in the states there are a few in California with one Islander owner signed up for a race from San Francisco to Hawaii. I'm still upgrading/modifying our boat getting it closer to what we want but compared to many boats it has what we want to start with. For example, all the bunks are set up so your feet face forward. How many designers of boats, let alone the ones that can go fast, take the time to realize that if you crash into something at speed (we've hit double digits) its better to land on your feet than break your neck? If you have one of these it is important to survey what you have so you can add what you need to sail where you want too remembering that the line between strong and overbuilt/too heavy can be thin in a multihull.

 

Cavalier MK2, and anybody else who can help.
I sold my Vagabond Mk2 plans to "Imaginary Number" on the knowledge they were complete. However he found that the frame pattern sheets were missing. I have had that set of plans in storage in their original tube for 44years and I really don't know where the missing sheets can have gone.. I certainly havent seen them, and it makes me feel a bit of a fool.
If any of you could supply him with copies of similar patterns I am sure he would really appreciate it.
Cheers. OS7.

 

I've been in contact with Imaginary Number and will be getting a copy of the plans from him. After they get here I can compare them with my boat to see if patterns off mine would work (wood work?) with the Vagabond MK2. I made ama frame patterns when I beefed up my boat but would have to transfer and fair them into plan form. Doable but it'll take awhile.....Did you roll them up with something else ? Too much to hope for....I had a similar thing happen last year when I was salvaging a searunner 31. My brother handed me plans he never built from but half of them were missing! In that case it is still possible to replace the missing sheets from Marples but there is no source for the Nicols.....Keep your eye out for anything from the other designs over there, I would be interested in them too.

 

I was thinking of Nicols but being a Wharram fan also I'll ask what you've found.

 

Now you have got me going.
I delved into a cupboard full of archival stuff and came up with 5 Wharram Classic plans which I had accumulated over the years but never built.
Here they are with the present prices in British pounds(L) & US($) at current rate of exchange.

MAUI 17' L90 $137

NARAI 40' L900 $1370

NARAI MKIV 41' L1195 $1820

ARIKI 46' L990 $1505

RAKA 36' L625 $950

I am prepared to sell these plans at a fraction of those prices.
Please PM me to negotiate a reasonable price if you are interested.

Do not E-mail me as E-mails are not secure where private information is concerned.

 

Imaginary Number sold me the Vagabond MK2 plans and kept a copy. My boat is definitely a modified Vagabond MK2. Our tri is 37' long instead of the stock 36', the extra length is added to the main bow profile as the stem curves upwards. It softens the difference with the ama bows.
Our wing deck and cabin are stretched about 2 feet towards the stern to give room for the covered cockpit/pilot house feature. The top comes off for a cabrio effect. In here is a spronk and fuel locker to port and a ice box/ chart table to starboard with bench seats. The neat thing is it is self draining so makes for the shower spot when curtained off using a solar shower bag.
The main cabin is the same height all the way forward instead of having the split profile and the sides are angled out at the bottom a lot more than stock for more streamlining.
Our float fins have been removed and depth added to the main fin along with a fat fairing of dubious section. As a vortex generator it throws a h**l of a vortex but we can't wait to remove it and add a board leaving a stock keel to take the ground. The plans show the stock light construction that should be beefed up when going offshore. The skins are fine but the framing and connectives need the treatment previously mentioned. I'm very happily sitting here looking through the plans thinking its like finding the factory shop manual for a old sports car, what was stock, how was it hotrodded, hey I want to try that etc... If anyone finds the patterns for one of these let me know. Otherwise I'll be making templates off this boat. Also if any one has any full or partial plans, sheets etc... for other Nicol designs contact me.

 

I would be interested in the nari or raka plans. I'll email you when I log on at home as that's where I have your address.

I'm never going to use those taneui foam plans so if you ever encounter someone looking for those I'm happy to sell them on. In no hurry to get rid of the B24 plans though. Beautiful boat.

 

Just curious as to where these plans came from?

I have the original Vaggy plans at my house. Being Hedley Nichol's Grandson and all... Infact (I'd have to check) as far as I know all original plans drawn by Hedley are still held by both myself, Father, and Aunt, except for maybe one set Lex Nicol may have.

Please feel free to email me if you're not happy to disclose how they came about in your possession. More interested in the story than ownership/rights. The more Hedley tri's or design influence the better I say

Regards

Ian Nicol
iananicol@internode.on.net

 

Hi Ian.
Yes I got that set of plans from Hedley in the middle 1960's shortly before he was lost at sea. They were stored away in a box since then, still in their original shipping tube. I had forgotten all about them until I discovered them again just recently.
Cheers. OS7

 

Hi Ian, I'm glad to hear Hedley's family kept his work. I wound up with the plans in question and they are without a doubt from the 60s. My modified Vagabond MK2 was built in Washington State in 1970 and finding reference material has not been easy! Would you consider running off a set of the hull(s) patterns? Sheets 11, 12,13?
There are a number of these boats up here that current owners would love to get plans for if they were available. I would also like to get later Cavalier plans for comparison as well as Clipper plans for fun. My son and I love the boat, without even trying we have introduced well over 100 first time sailors to the water in the last few years. You Aussies should consider a equivelant to the Mariners Museum in Virginia where the Piver collection and Newick's older work are kept. Jim Brown has work going there someday. I'm sure they'd make Hedley Nicols available too.

I've talked with frustrated Nicol and Crowther owners who wanted to repair , survey or build a new boat because they like them not be able to find a source for plans. If you digitize them you could have a low impact internet business helping out the vintage multihull barnstormers...let me know!