Deciding on the perfect cruising boat is a crazy endeavour. There are so many options, so many styles of cruising, and of course, so many opinions on what is important in a bluewater sailboat.
We started with the reality that a cold-molded boat was probably the best choice for a woodworker to build. We were really drawn to classic looking designs, with a beautiful sheer and a moderate amount of bright work. We wanted a boat that would be large enough to live on for extended lengths of time, but small enough to tuck into remote areas of the world. Being self-contained, and capable of passagemaking with a crew of two was a priority. We plan on poking around every corner of this vast world, going wherever we find something that is different and interesting. A great dream and a shortlist of demands.....
As we started our lengthy on-line search for plans we soon realized that support during the building process would be critical. Despite 30 years experience in woodworking, Richard had never built a sailboat, and we wanted a realistic project that could be finished in a several year window.
We initially were enchanted by the Shearwater 39, a very elegant cutter made famous by Cruising Worlds log of the ITHACA. We ordered study plans and grew more and more excited. A very stunning, well thought out boat, by the South African designer, Dudley Dix. We had initially planned to build a boat barn on a piece of commercial property we own a couple of miles from our house/cabinet shop. As the economy turned, we revisited the decision to build a whole new facility, and scaled down the project in terms of build time and utilizing existing available space at the shop. As we have been told by numerous people....the larger the boat, the longer and more expensive the build, and the harder to handle with a crew of two. Hoisting the main up those extra few feet of mast gets harder as we get older, and who wants to need power winches? We started looking under 35'.
We were enchanted with double-enders, but never found plans for one to be cold-molded with enough capacity that we could live on. A great amount of research and decision making went into treading the fine line between getting enough draft for seaworthiness and a balanced helm, but having the shoal draft capabilities we desired. We came to the conclusion that a swing centerboard keel would work to our advantage. We decided that the main draw backs to a swing centerboard is the expense in building (a problem for production boats) and the logistics of repair and maintaining them. As with all aspects of the plan, simplicity is the key....especially as we were sure that the details of the project would hold many unforeseen obstacles. On a boat nothing is square!
We finally came across plans for the NorthSea 29 drawn by designer Mark Smaalders. It is 29ft length on deck, with a 10'3" beam, and 3'8" draft. The 4800lb lead ballast keel has a swing centerboard that makes the total draft about 6 feet. The displacement is 13500 lbs. It has traditional lines and is drawn as a gaff rig. We are up in the air about whether to opt for the more common Bermudan rig, for ease of sailing, or learn to sail a gaff. It is designed to be built with permanent frames and bulkheads as the form for the strip plank with cold-mold veneer. The swing centerboard is incorporated well into the floor plan. A compact sailboat, but roomy enough for two to live on, having a usable floor plan.
One of the main selling points for us was the philosophy and support of Mark, the designer, in all aspects of our decision making and building processes. He has been very patient and gracious during our learning curve. It appears that we have only the second set of plans for the NorthSea 29 to be purchased, none have been completed to date. It is such a huge undertaking.
We have corresponded with other Smaalder design builders, and enjoy their camaraderie, photos of their projects, and the knowledge of those that have gone before. We have not been disappointed with our choice of designer and sailboat.
We started with the reality that a cold-molded boat was probably the best choice for a woodworker to build. We were really drawn to classic looking designs, with a beautiful sheer and a moderate amount of bright work. We wanted a boat that would be large enough to live on for extended lengths of time, but small enough to tuck into remote areas of the world. Being self-contained, and capable of passagemaking with a crew of two was a priority. We plan on poking around every corner of this vast world, going wherever we find something that is different and interesting. A great dream and a shortlist of demands.....
As we started our lengthy on-line search for plans we soon realized that support during the building process would be critical. Despite 30 years experience in woodworking, Richard had never built a sailboat, and we wanted a realistic project that could be finished in a several year window.
We initially were enchanted by the Shearwater 39, a very elegant cutter made famous by Cruising Worlds log of the ITHACA. We ordered study plans and grew more and more excited. A very stunning, well thought out boat, by the South African designer, Dudley Dix. We had initially planned to build a boat barn on a piece of commercial property we own a couple of miles from our house/cabinet shop. As the economy turned, we revisited the decision to build a whole new facility, and scaled down the project in terms of build time and utilizing existing available space at the shop. As we have been told by numerous people....the larger the boat, the longer and more expensive the build, and the harder to handle with a crew of two. Hoisting the main up those extra few feet of mast gets harder as we get older, and who wants to need power winches? We started looking under 35'.
We were enchanted with double-enders, but never found plans for one to be cold-molded with enough capacity that we could live on. A great amount of research and decision making went into treading the fine line between getting enough draft for seaworthiness and a balanced helm, but having the shoal draft capabilities we desired. We came to the conclusion that a swing centerboard keel would work to our advantage. We decided that the main draw backs to a swing centerboard is the expense in building (a problem for production boats) and the logistics of repair and maintaining them. As with all aspects of the plan, simplicity is the key....especially as we were sure that the details of the project would hold many unforeseen obstacles. On a boat nothing is square!
We finally came across plans for the NorthSea 29 drawn by designer Mark Smaalders. It is 29ft length on deck, with a 10'3" beam, and 3'8" draft. The 4800lb lead ballast keel has a swing centerboard that makes the total draft about 6 feet. The displacement is 13500 lbs. It has traditional lines and is drawn as a gaff rig. We are up in the air about whether to opt for the more common Bermudan rig, for ease of sailing, or learn to sail a gaff. It is designed to be built with permanent frames and bulkheads as the form for the strip plank with cold-mold veneer. The swing centerboard is incorporated well into the floor plan. A compact sailboat, but roomy enough for two to live on, having a usable floor plan.
One of the main selling points for us was the philosophy and support of Mark, the designer, in all aspects of our decision making and building processes. He has been very patient and gracious during our learning curve. It appears that we have only the second set of plans for the NorthSea 29 to be purchased, none have been completed to date. It is such a huge undertaking.
We have corresponded with other Smaalder design builders, and enjoy their camaraderie, photos of their projects, and the knowledge of those that have gone before. We have not been disappointed with our choice of designer and sailboat.
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