Elf 26'

Hello Mr. Woods,

Wow!
Thank you for the detailed information on the design and specifically that vessel. You have provided more in one post than I have been able to sort out over the internet over the last 2 days.

How far offshore or what conditions would you consider the design capable of withstanding with an experienced able skipper at the helm?

 

Those photos are of a S African built open deck Elf

But I have never seen them before

Looks like a Dutch flag, but clearly the boat isn't in Holland - there are hills in the background, not windmills

Beach cats have crossed the Atlantic, but I wouldn't sail one even overnight. But then I wouldn't sail a 60ft monohull singlehanded round Cape Horn either

However an Elf is more stable than a beachcat so, as always, its the crew that fails first.

I'd certainly cruise one across the English Channel (Elves have done so) or coastal sail round S Africa, or from Florida to the Bahamas. I had heard that an Elf sailed across the Atlantic, but have no confirmation on that. However a 29ft Skua (so only slightly larger than an Elf) did cross the Atlantic and cruised the Caribbean.

Where would you want to sail one?

Richard Woods of Woods Designs

www.sailingcatamarans.com

 

My immediate area is the East coast of the US, but I have always given thought to a circumnavigation upon my retirement which is approaching fast.

I do agree that the crew will always surrender before most designs and it always amazes me how those designs always manage to care for crew and forgive many mistakes that the sea wouldn't.

What is the waterline length to waterline beam ratio of the Elf as designed? Do you remember to what class you designed her? I don't think she is class A, but her beam and weight could mean she may be capable?

 

What about the wetdeck clearance? How high?Is there a lot of slamming

Do those LAR keels keep her on rail without effecting performance a lot

 

I wouldn't want to do a circumnavigation in an Elf or even a Gypsy. Just too small to be comfortable - nothing to do with seaworthiness. Maybe I'm too old

Not sure if you are refering to the open deck Elf or the cuddy version

Certainly no problem with clearance on the open deck boat. The cuddy version has a small, narrow nacelle that is about 8in above the WL so can hit from time to time. Way better than say a Gemini or Heavenly Twins though.

The Elf (either version) is a high C low B under the RCD, so probably a builder would sensibly put it in C just to save any potential litigation

See my website comments and other threads here about LAR keels

Richard Woods of Woods Designs

www.sailingcatamarans.com

 

Thanks again Richard,

I'm referring to the cuddy version. Only 8 inches? That has to be all the way aft for the outboard right? What about the wetdeck clearance forward? That has to be at least 18 inches right?

I think that a 26x17 foot catamaran is plenty comfortable for a circumnavigation for two if you watch the weather and step ashore as needed. Certainly not the white knuckled break neck speeds like circumnavigations in the "big" race.

The kind of circumnavigation that I'm thinking about is a round the globe "shoreline" circumnavigation, crossing all meridians and the equator and floating over a couple of antipodes. Minimal expense and danger and maximum fun and comfort in 26 feet or less.

 

I don't see how you can circumnavigate without making major ocean crossings

Even if you go north via Greenland and Iceland to Europe, you still have 1500mile approx non stop sail. I wouldn't recommend that in an Elf

Many people find sailing the shorelines more dangerous than offshore sailing.

Why not buy a used Gypsy which is a proven ocean cruiser eg Panama - Tahiti and Mexico- Hawaii - Vancouver

My old Gypsy is for sale in the UK for much the same price as an Elf

I attach a photo of the Vashon Elf to give you an idea of bridgedeck clearance

Richard Woods of Woods Designs

www.sailingcatamarans.com

 

Ahhh, I'll give it a shot.
For me, and yes there are many holes in the preliminary plan, up the east coast of the US, around Baffin Bay and then around Greenland to Iceland, cross to Faroe Island, Shetland and then Norway, due south around the Cape of Good Hope and north to Pakistan, India and Thailand, south and around Australia and north to Japan up the Bearing sea to Alaska, south to the Panama canal around the gulf of Mexico make a left at Florida State and up the east coast of the US to original location. Longest distance I calculated to cross is about 280 miles from Iceland to Faroe and halfway is 140 miles, which means a 20 hour weather window. There are other ways I calculated, but this one is simplest and probably the coldest.

Equator is crossed as are all meridians and no doubt that the minimum miles required are met. Floating over the antipodes is easy, but might mean a different route and much better planning that this simpleminded google map explanation.

http://www.antipodemap.com/

You've been very helpful and I appreciate your time. Thanks for the photo. That is the same vessel being considered if her numbers haven't changed and it looks like there is at least 7% wetdeck clearance there so I suspect that the wetdeck integrity might not be in too much danger from slamming unless I happen to do something terribly stupid.

The Gypsy is a beautiful design but I'm a minimalist at heart and it might be a bit too much for my own needs. The first mate is not into the nautical scene and will do small excursions but wants to fly home to play with the grandkids so to have a large oceangoing veseel is just not practical.

Do you know what her air draft might be and can the mast be tabernacled?

 

From memory airdraft is about 43ft

I suggest you look at the coats of Africa/SE Asia in a bit more detail. And you'll see the safe harbours are often far apart - like hundreds of miles. Not sure how many people have coasthopped the gulf of Benin since de Gama. Probably still not to be recommended, if for no other reason that it is all very third world and people will be unused to yachts and Americans may not be welcome.

I have taken an Elf mast down using the mainsheet and boom and st steel tabernacle

Richard Woods of Woods Designs

www.sailingcatamarans.com

 

You are of course correct. I was only making a feeble attempt at demonstrating that a full ocean crossing would not be required. Some areas as you pointed out may require waiting on military transports for escorts or stealthy night operations with groups of cruisers, but I wasn't even looking at that. Obviously, the further offshore during these precarious crossings the better but it must be at least out of international waters.

Great news about the tabernacle. Thanks again.

 

Does anyone know if any reviews have been written by nautical publishing companies on the design or if there is an owners manual available. I think it is an Elf 26MK2 Version (cuddy), but even the 26 reviews would be ok. I'm trying to establish how hard and to what conditions they sailed them.

 

From my review of 2000 the first owners of the Vashon Elf reported this:

"The Elf is a 26' production boat, built in the UK by the Multihull Centre and also available in South Africa. We recently had a letter from a new owner in Canada "The ELF sails like a dream! We have had little cat experience so have not really pushed the boat yet, but have seen 11.4 knots reaching. It feels great to pass 40' monohulls in all winds and on all points of sail. The 9.9hp Nissan is more than adequate. Overall the design is well thought out. Thanks for building such a great boat!"

AFAIK no magazine has reviewed the Elf Mk 2

I maybe maligning you. Maybe you are an ex-marine or US SEAL. Maybe you have already ridden a motorbike round the world. But most people are not that tough or have that much travel experience.

If you succeed in doing the trip you plan (in any boat, and I still wouldn't recommend the Elf for your trip) then you'll have completed a MAJOR cruise. Far harder than anything Tristram Jones did, for example and WAY harder than a non stop circumnavigation on a 60ft race boat.

I haven't visited half the places you plan to visit. But I have sailed to over 40 countries, including the USSR, Brazil etc and done a lot of small multihull sailing. Maybe its that experience that makes me say "I wouldn't do it in any boat"

I suggest you look at Noonsite.com and check out the Visual Passage Planner program. Several S Africans read this forum. No doubt they can tell you whether landmines are still a problem in Mozambique, and how far north you can sail before you hit the Somalia pirate problem.

Richard Woods of Woods Designs

www.sailingcatamarans.com

 

What about trailering?

Does it have to be a container or can a deck over trailer be fitted with shipping cradles to secure the hulls then maybe secure the cuddy above them on frames? Oh damn wait, the beams and mast have to ship as well.

How long is the mast?

 

Jfwiw

Possibly off topic but attached might work....