DaySailer.org Forum

Dear Sailors,

I would like to build my own small (up to 16') sailing vessel. I don't have tons of cash, but I have built all kinds of things. I THINK I can build my own boat, given a good set of plans and a estimated cost of materials. Could anyone recommend some good plans for a small craft with or without a cuddy?

Best regards,
Aaron

Aaron Enke (aenke-at-mci2000.com)

I really doubt you will find plans for THE "DaySailer" as it's construction is controlled by the class; however, there are some alternatives you might want to consider.

One is a 16 foot design that comes from Australia or New Zealand by Bill (?) Hartley. Known as the Trailer Sailer 16, it looks similar to a Daysailer, but has a bigger cuddy. It can be seen on the web at http://www.home.aone.net.au//rfy/nswts16.htm
The design is available in the US from Clarkcraft (http://www.clarkcraft.com - they don't mention it on their web page however). One of the photos on the first link shows a TS16 planing and about to jump off the top of a wave. There must be a bunch of these around - Clarkcraft claims it is their most popular sailboat design and they have been selling this design for a LONG time. My catalog is about 10 years old and the photos have that 50s-60s look.

If you are interested in a design by Uffa Fox, Woodenboat magazine has a planing sailboat design that looks very similar to the lines of the Daysailer (but without the cuddy); the construction looks challenging - cold-molded wood over steam bent frames (and lots of them).

There are a lot of designs for small sailboats. Check out http://www.cyber-dyne.com/~jkohnen/grea ... file3.html

I have built one small boat and all I can say is that it is a really cool experience. I hope this helps.

Good Luck

Dave Bolton
Portland, Oregon
davebolton@aol.com

Dave Bolton (dbolton-at-oxmol.com)

Another opinion.

While building a boat is definitely a neat thing, perhaps I should also offer some other thoughts as well.

Building a boat the size of a Daysailer is going to be a BIG project. Unless you can spend full-time on it, it is probably going to take several hundred hours. It is also not going to be the least expensive way of getting out on the water. You might want to consider finding an old Daysailer and put some sweat equity into it to bring it back to life.

Dave Bolton
Portland Oregon




Dave Bolton (davebolton-at-aol.com)