The YAWLDORY
It has been years, decades actually, since I had a commission to design a traditional wooden boat. The last was the Friendship sloop Black Star , ex. Rita, built by the Rockport Apprentishop. I'm going to document the process and progress here for enjoyment of various wooden boat enthusiasts and friends.
The Requirements:
1) An open boat, primarily for day trips, that can sleep two under a boom tent for occasional overnights or short cruises.
2) Be easily trailerable on a simple flat trailer that can be use for other purposes when not hauling the boat.
3) No outboard engine or other machinery so rowable although not intended primarily for rowing.
4) Traditional styling and derivation without attempting to mimic any particular historical type.
5) Support a boarding ladder for swimming or retrieving a person falling overboard.
6) Have simple, traditional rig with spars that will stow in the boat.
7) Be easily beachable and sit upright when dried out by tide.
8) Be as seaworthy as possible for an open boat that meets the other requirements.
Here is the in-progress construction and arrangement plan:
(Click the Drawing for Larger PDF Version)
The front half is pretty much a Swampscott dory although perhaps with more strakes than typical of that type. The stern is pulled out to provide better lines for sailing and to provide a transom wide enough for the boarding ladder. The flat bottom runs straight back into a skeg to provide the displacement small vessels often need aft and good directional stability. I've therefore decided to call it a "Yawldory".
Flotation will be foam blocks in painted canvas bags under the ample thwarts and side seats. Filler panels will be carried for the center opening to provide sleeping space. There is a fully open area just behind the main mast for gear storage and to provide a good foot bracing when stepping the mast.
Construction will probably be a composite of traditional methods, strip planked up around the complex curves of the skeg and in the bottom areas most subject to rock impact when beaching. The part of the hull may be glassed. From there up, construction will be conventional cedar lapstrake.
The lines plan:
(Click the Drawing for Larger PDF Version)
There will be some more fairing and development done on these lines before construction but they will be sufficient at this stage to move on to construction and arrangement plans.
Here's a study of the midsection showing the construction method.
The bottom is 1 1/4" glued strip plank, probably white pine with 1/4" oak sheathing that can be replaced
when worn. The garboards are 3/4" glued strip plank, either white pine or cedar. All edge nailed as well as
glued so very strong. The strip planking wraps around into the tight curves of the skeg and is tapered down to
1/2" where it joins the lapstrake.
The rest of the planking is conventional 1/2" lapstrake with 3/4 x 1 1/4 frames bent on the flat on 12"
centeres. The frames will be edge fastened to the 3" high plank floors that support the floor boards.
This is very rugged construction down at the bottom where the weight is useful. It will take pounding on a beach
in a swell or going over rough roads on a trailer.
Here is what the boat will look like with the boom tent set:
The main sprit is lashed to the masts to form the ridge pole.
This is an alternate sail plan with a simpler mizzen. The first reef on this boat will probably be striking the
mizzen and this arrangement will make the cockpit a less busy place in such situation.
And, some 3D views:
An 18 foot version
of this hull is now entering fiberglass production in China by Scandinavian Cruisers
This boat will have a modern interior and state of the art sail, centerboard, and rudder to provide maximum performance in a traditional hull.