‘Gorfnik’ Paraduck

'Gorfnik'

Paul who has on several occasions contributed to the comments section of this blog sent me an email with information about a very small Puddle Duck-type sailing cruiser designed for protected waters. I thought I would share the details:

André-François Bourbeau who lives at Saguenay, Québec, came up with the idea of making his own Paraduck based on a modified Puddle Duck Racer.* She is fully enclosed with sitting headroom, having a similar but smaller cabin to that of Matt Layden’s Paradox, of which André-François is an owner and builder. Unlike a Paradox, ‘Gorfnik’, weighs about 200 lbs, as opposed to 1,410 lbs, allowing her to be launched from a dinghy trolley, which means she can go where a Paradox can’t on account of requiring a slipway with vehicle access.

Bearing in mind the limitations of such a boat, ‘Gorfnik’ looks like a load of fun, both to build and to sail. This is not an endorsement or a recommendation, but if I was not already a boat owner I would consider having a go at building one and sailing her.

I would add the caveat that any choices you make are entirely up to you, and I can take no responsibility for your decisions and actions.

Links

Gorfnik ‘Paraduck’ – Here are a few photos at Flickr

https://www.flickr.com/photos/92281245@N07/sets/72157658270391621

‘Gorfnik’ Free Building Plans (Download page for the PDF – 6.3MB)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/q8dto6a1kqilrvp/EDITED%20GORFNIK%20PLANS%209-6-2015.pdf?dl=0

*PD Racer

http://pdracer.com/

Puddle Duck Free Building Plans

http://pdracer.com/free-plans/

Puddle Duck Racer 952 (‘Gorfnik’)

http://www.pdracer.com/members/?boat=952

Paradox Sailboat Videos

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/paradox-sailboat-videos.html

‘Anne Marie’ Houseboat at Burnham

There are a number of houseboats at Burnham-on-Crouch, each with unique histories, for none of them are identical and most were built for different purposes; some are ex-motor or sailing yachts, Dutch barges, canal boats, Mulberries, and there’s Anne Marie, a PB200. Formed from pre-cast concrete panels in 1940, along with about 200 other PB200s, she was commissioned for the purpose of transporting petrol/water from shore to ship in the Second World War.  She was brought to Burnham in 1948 where she was transformed into a houseboat, and she has performed that function until today. Berthed at West Quay, she is not far from the Yacht Harbour. At the other end of the quay there’s ‘Mulberry’, the subject of a previous article.*

Links

*Mulberry Houseboat

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/mulberry-houseboat.html

Anne-Marie, The Quay, Burnham

http://www.zoopla.co.uk/house-prices/burnham-on-crouch/the-quay/cm0-8as/

Anne-Marie, West Quay, Burnham

http://www.192.com/address/details/burnham-on-crouch/cm0+8as/anne-marie/  

Ferro-concrete Cargo Barge – not built the same way as a PB200

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30018296

Westerly Fulmar 32

Not many of us can afford to spend between £22,000 and £30,000 on a second-hand yacht, but if we can we may consider a Westerly Fulmar 32, perhaps Westerly’s most successful yacht with over 437 to their credit. Designed by Ed Dubois, she made her debut in 1979 to replace the 26’ Griffon.* She was a bigger and more powerful yacht constructed with top quality materials, including interior joinery in wood. She was said to be faultless in terms of handling under sail and power, a boat that was right from the outset requiring few modifications. An aft cabin version had little appeal, and was quickly withdrawn from production. Likewise, only a few were built with ‘sugar scoop’ sterns before production ceased in 1992.

Note

Both fin and twin keel versions were available. Most probably the boat shown in the photos above has twin keels, because that part of the River Crouch at Hullbridge dries at low water. The shallower draught of 4’ as opposed to 5’ for the fin keel version would be advantageous for that location.

*Westerly Griffon:  http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/westerly-griffon.html

Fulmar 32 Stats: http://www.duboisyachts.com/design/yachts/under-24m/Fulmar-32-Westerly/ 

Links

Westerly Fulmar

http://westerly-owners.co.uk/boatRange.php

Fulmar 32 (Westerly)

http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=991

Westerly Owners’ Association

http://www.westerly-owners.co.uk/

Westerly Fulmar

http://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/archives/westerly-fulmar/westerly-fulmar.htm

Westerly Marine Construction Ltd  - 1964 to 2000

http://sailboatdata.com/view_builder.asp?builder_id=46

Bing Images of Westerly Fulmars

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=westerly+fulmar&qpvt=westerly+fulmar&qpvt=westerly+fulmar&FORM=IGRE

Ed Dubois

http://www.duboisyachts.com/

Ed Dubois Yachts und 24m

http://www.duboisyachts.com/Design/Yachts/under-24m/  

Westerly Fulmar for Sale £25,000

http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/Cruiser/westerly-fulmar-32/97335#hQiVzBmoYtl4IGYH.97

Westerly Fulmars for Sale at Apolloduck

http://westerly.apolloduck.co.uk/boats.phtml?id=236

The River Crouch at Hullbridge

I was born and bred in Somerset and I’ll never lose my love of the beautiful countryside which is markedly different to that of east Essex where I’ve resided for the past forty-three years. I’ve come to love the flatlands of Essex as much as my former love. The marshlands and creeks bordering the River Crouch have an intrinsic beauty. They never fail to enchant. The Crouch casts a spell that draws me to her side to see her intoxicating loveliness. She lures those worthy of her love, not only me, but others who walk her banks and those who explore her moving waters by boat.

Yesterday was no exception. She was splendid in her beauty.

Links

Hullbridge River Walk

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/hullbridge-river-walk.html

Hullbridge Waterside on a Sunday Afternoon

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/hullbridge-waterside-on-sunday-afternoon.html

Mute Swans

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/mute-swans.html

Hullbridge Riverside

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/hullbridge-riverside.html

August Bank Holiday Dreaming of Oceans

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/august-bank-holiday-dreaming-of-oceans.html

My Love of the River Crouch

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/my-love-of-river-crouch.html

‘Finda’ – A Miniature Hastings Beach Boat

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/finda-miniature-hastings-beach-boat.html

Falmouth Bass Boat

The above photos are of a 16’ GRP Falmouth Bass Boat seen at Hullbridge Yacht Club. The original 14’ Bass Boat was designed by Rodney Warrington-Smythe for amateur construction in plywood. Hard-chined, she was relatively simple to build. Over the years since the early 1950s the design has evolved. Today there’s a 20’ version and an 8’ Baby Bass Boat with a junk sail!

A history of the boat can be found here: http://falmouthbassboat.weebly.com/fbb-history.html

Dimensions/displacement

Builder	Falmouth Bass Boat Co
LOA	4.88m (16'0")
LWL	3.96m (13'0")
Beam	1.78m (5'10")
Draught Min	0.25m (0'10")
Draught Max	1.00m (3'3")
Displacement	272kg (599.8lbs)

Links

Falmouth Bass Boat Association

http://falmouthbassboat.weebly.com/fbb-history.html 

Falmouth Bass Boat - Description

http://www.sailingnetworks.com/design/details/d-falmouth-bass-boat

FBB 16 specification

http://falmouthbassboat.weebly.com/fbb-16-specification.html

16ft Falmouth Bass Boat Details

http://www.easternyachts.com/cley/

Bass Boat YouTube Video Portland Harbour

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTpNwHOxXTQ#t=13

Falmouth Bass Boat (Sold)

http://wales.boatshed.com/falmouth_bass_boat-boat-77563.html

More Messing About with ‘Pike’ – Part 2

Reefed

Reefing snotter

Rope horse

Brailing line and fairlead

Being able to reef the sail quickly and easily is important; therefore I replaced the experimental polypropylene luff lacing with a permanent Terylene one, and I devised a dedicated reefing snotter. I also exchanged the rope horse for a new one. To prevent the brailing line from being jigged up the mast and out of reach, I added a fairlead and a hook for the tail.

These changes have made it so much easier to reef the sail.

Link

More Messing About with ‘Pike’ – Part 1

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/more-messing-about-with-pike.html

More Messing About with ‘Pike’

Toggles

Cord

Sail lowered

Once again I find myself undoing what a previous owner did with ‘Pike’. Perhaps the biggest mistake he made was attaching the luff of the sail to the mast with toggle cords. They were all identical in length, but the mast was tapered; hence the upper part of the luff sagged away from the mast, especially when tension was placed on the sprit snotter. Another disadvantage of a toggle system became obvious when I tried to reef the sail. As it was lowered, some of the toggle cords had to be undone to enable them to pass over the snotter fairlead, then they had to be done up again.

The traditional single luff cord passing through cringles is far superior, because to lower the sail for reefing, one simply eases the snotter and the halyard. After the reef is tied, they are re-tensioned. Because the reef is rolled in the form of a sausage, the sheet becomes twisted. To untwist it you disengage the clew block that is attached to the clew cringle with a snap hook, then hook the block back on again. The sail is reefed, and you are ready to go!

Another advantage of the single luff cord is being able to lower the sail into the boat where it can be lashed securely around the sprit.

Had a Good Sail with ‘Pike’ – Part 2

Under sail

At anchor

Cliff Reach

The buoy

Fambridge moorings

Cleaning

As promised, here are more photos illustrating yesterday’s sail.

Altogether I was on the water for ten hours, not all of them sailing or rowing. I took two breaks, the first at anchor off Cliff Reach and the second tied to a buoy near the western entrance of Bridgemarsh Creek.

Shortly after setting out from the slipway at Hullbridge I noticed what appeared to be a long piece of string trailing from the rudder. This turned out to be a crab bait line, probably lost by some unfortunate child, who like many others gather at the end of the Up River Yacht Club’s slipway for a bit of sport, catching as many crabs as possible, before throwing them back into the water.

Apart from the crab line incident there was an event that could have been very significant. The wind was generally light, but as clouds began to appear, the wind became puffy. A stronger puff than the others heeled ‘Pike’ to a point where she was about to take water over her side. I was able to spill wind from the sail to bring the boat onto a more even keel. At the time, I was midway along Longpole Reach, which is a stretch of water to the east of Fambridge. Not many people walk the banks that far from Fambridge, and had ‘Pike’ capsized I doubt anyone would have seen me struggling in the water attempting to right her.

I had worked out a passage plan considering the possibility of capsizing. As a safety precaution I carried a whistle, and wore a buoyancy aid. In truth, a whistle may not have been of much use, but on returning to the same stretch of water later that day, I saw a man seated on the north bank who could have been birdwatching. (During the sail I saw two flocks of geese, many plovers and several lone egrets.) At the outset, I had my doubts about being able to recover the boat after capsizing, and yet I took the risk. Needless to say, I became more vigilant after the event.

Except for the happenings described, nothing else of note occurred. I sailed as far as Burnham Yacht Harbour and back to Cliff Reach where I anchored and had lunch. Later I made my way to the easternmost buoy of the Fambridge moorings for a nap while waiting for the water to become high enough for me retrieve the boat at Hullbridge. I chose to row the last 3 ¼ miles for a bit of exercise.

Things learned

The new sheeting points are good, but I do not have enough strength to pull the sheets really taught for long periods. I may have to revert to the previous single sheet system, despite its drawbacks.

Sailing ‘Pike’ on the River Crouch in more than a Force 3 would be too much for me. This definitely limits what I can do with her.

Had a Good Sail with ‘Pike’

High water neaps at the start from Ferry Road slipway

The weather forecast for today was accurate, and most importantly there was a light wind from the north. Conditions couldn’t have been better for a sail to Burnham from Hullbridge. Not counting tacks, ‘Pike’ did a total of 18 nautical miles - 3 ¼ of them under oar.

There will be more photos tomorrow, along with a brief account of how things went.

Exciting Prospect of another Sail with ‘Pike’

So far I have only taken ‘Pike’ for a trial sail, but there is a realistic prospect that I may be able to take her for another tomorrow. I shall have time to do it, and tomorrow’s neap tide is favourable for a long day out. In my part of the world neap high tides occur early mornings and late evenings. Neap tides are ideal for taking the ebb from Hullbridge (my home port) towards Fambridge and beyond. If the wind is favourable it is possible to sail as far as Burnham in a small boat before having to turn around for the sail back with the help of the flood tide.

A favourable, but light wind from the north is forecast to blow all day. Coming from the north, it may be cold, and if the forecast can be believed, it will gradually become cloudier as the day goes on until evening when there may be a glimpse of the sun.

With this prospect in mind I have prepared ‘Pike’ for the water. She waits impatiently, tethered to the car. All that remains to be done is for me to sort out food and drink for the day.

Nothing can be guaranteed, but my hope is that the day will be enjoyable. Assuming all goes well, and I return home safely, I’ll let you know how things went. Whenever you are out on the water, there is always an element of adventure, because you can never be sure what will happen.

Messing About with 'Pike' - Part 5

By way of an experiment I'm uploading this article from my mobile phone.

Today I checked the nearside wheel bearing of 'Pike's' road trailer and I couldn't find any fault with it. As a precaution I re-packed the bearing with fresh grease.

I finally got around to sorting out the sheet by converting it into a continuous one that runs between blocks at each quarter. The sheet is long enough for the sail to be fully brailed to the mast, and it no longer interferes with the tiller as it did when it passed through a block attached to a rope horse.

I'm hoping the new setup will be better than the previous arrangement.

Messing About with ‘Pike’ – Part 4

An owner of a sailing boat can have a considerable amount of fun tinkering with her, and the usual reasons for doing so are to improve her or make her more suitable for the owner’s use. He may want to improve her performance, her condition, or her interior, etc.. Sadly, some owners think they can improve their boat, whereas by straying from the original design, they unknowingly do the opposite.

‘Pike’ is such a boat. A previous owner added a boom and a tiller extension, both of which I have removed. The boom made reefing the sail difficult and the extension was totally unnecessary. Someone has also changed her rudder into a semi-lifting one. In my opinion none of these changes improved the original boat. With regard to the rudder, it has a number of strings for raising and lowering the bottom half of the blade. There are pieces of metal attached either side for aligning and locking parts together. These additions interfere with the flow of water, causing drag. The only advantage of this arrangement is being able to reduce the rudder’s draught for sailing in shallow water; at the same time the daggerboard has to be raised.

I’ve added an anchor, but it does not adversely affect the performance, or interfere with the functioning of the boat, and it is not fixed to the hull.

Recently I exchanged like for like: The stern buoyancy bag had a slow leak; therefore I replaced it with a new one.

As far as I can tell, ‘Pike’ is ready for her next sail; except the nearside wheel of her road trailer does not run freely. I shall have to investigate the cause and put the matter right.

Link

Crewsaver Buoyancy Bag

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/crewsaver-buoyancy-bag.html

Messing About with ‘Pike’ – Part 3

The weather hasn’t been brilliant lately, and there’s hardly been a day when it hasn’t rained, but that hasn’t stopped me messing about with ‘Pike’.

In anticipation of eventually having a sun-filled day when the tide is right and I have time to spare, I’m preparing ‘Pike’ for a second sail. During the first sail I was conscious that I did not have a suitable anchor. The one I had was far too small. The Dinghy Cruising Association recommends equipping a cruising dinghy with an anchor weighing no less than 5 kilos, irrespective of type, along with at least 2 metres of chain between it and 30 metres of 8 millimetre, non-floating cable. (Safety Recommendations 3.3)* That is a good rule of thumb.

It’s all very well having such an anchor with its chain and cable, but all the bits and pieces must be secured in a way that the anchor can be deployed at a moment’s notice. If the dinghy were to capsize, the anchor must not become a hazard in the recovery process. Being able to deploy it at a moment’s notice could be crucial for keeping out of trouble. I recollect such an occasion when the tide was taking my Torbay Class 11 Racer towards the swing bridge at Teignmouth and there wasn’t enough room for the mast to pass under without hitting it. The anchor proved its worth, and all was well.

Another factor regarding anchor stowage is to make sure it does not damage the boat. Anchors are awkward things, because they have pointed bits and protuberances that are capable of inflicting injury; therefore it is best to stow them where they present the least hazard.

Bearing in mind these requirements I have made provision for ‘Pike’s’ anchor and tackle to be kept in a sturdy plastic bowl. The whole lot is retained by a rope that passes through fittings screwed to the hull. To deploy the anchor, all I have to do is undo the rope from a cleat and lower the anchor over the bow.

I feel happier about sailing ‘Pike’, now that she is equipped with a 5 kilogram Bruce anchor, with 2 metres of 8mm chain and 30 metres of 10mm nylon rope.

*DCA Safety Recommendations: http://dinghycruising.org.uk/pages/safety

Links

Messing About with ‘Pike’ – Part 2

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/messing-about-with-pike-part-2.html

Messing About with ‘Pike’ – Part 1

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/messing-about-with-pike.html

Boats Seen at Burnham – Part 4 – Sunset 27

Sunset 27

MG Spring

Until seeing this less than enchanting twin keel yacht I had never heard of a Sunset 27. (‘Less than enchanting’ is from the point of view of aesthetics, which is always subjective.)  On looking up her pedigree I was surprised to find that she was designed by Tony Castro, who also was the author of the MG Spring that was launched in 1986. She was an immediate success, being sporty, and at the same time, very practical for typical club racing and for a spot of cruising.

This particular Sunset 27 was built in the year 2000 - fourteen years after the MG Spring, but you can see similarities, in that both yachts have almost identical interior layouts and their external streamlined profiles resemble one another. However, in terms of appearance to my mind, the Sunset 27 lacks character. She has nothing that significantly proclaims, “I’ve got it, and "I’ll flaunt it!” There’s nothing you can latch onto that says, “She’s the boat for me.” At least, that’s the way I feel about her, but a cold, pure analysis of what she offers paints a different picture:

Feelings apart, from a practical point of view the Sunset 27 has useful attributes, especially for the sailor who wants a yacht for a drying mooring. Her twin keels make her admirably suited to this.  I like her transom platform that gives easy access for those getting in and out of a tender. She also has a boarding ladder that doubles as a pushpit gate. She has high, sensible guardrails, and her side decks are wide enough for people to walk on without being restricted. Hand rails along the cabin top are a helpful in this respect, especially if one has to move along a lee deck when the boat is heeling.  Her high boom reduces the chances of being hit on the head by it, and a high boom means a high sail which does not restrict ones vision, as can be the case with some yachts.

Her open-plan layout is functional by having things sensibly located; for example, the cooker is almost in the centre of the boat where there is least movement. Likewise, the navigation station is on the opposite side – both of them are by the companionway where there is light and fresh air. A double bunk under her cockpit floor gives privacy, and there’s an excellent layout for the saloon with wrap-around seating and an offset folding table. Almost 6’ headroom adds to the sense of space.  Plenty of light enters the cabin through the side windows and forward hatch; even the separate heads has its own port. A 9hp Yanmar diesel engine located aft of the companionway can propel the yacht at 5 knots , and in this day and age an engine is essential for getting in and out of marinas.

Links

Sunset 27 for Sale £19,750

http://www.clarkeandcarter.co.uk/boats-for-sale/2000-sunset-27-5141868

MG Spring – designed by Tony Castro in 1986

http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=3618

MG Spring Cruiser Racer Yacht

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/mg-spring-25-cruiser-racer-yacht.html

Some boats designed by Tony Castro

http://sailboatdata.com/view_designer.asp?DESIGNER_ID=43

Tony Castro

http://www.tonycastro.co.uk/the-man.html

Tony Castro

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Castro_(yacht_designer)  

Boats Seen at Burnham – Part 3 – Beneteau First 211

  

This is a highly attractive ‘pocket rocket’, a term used by Yachtsnet in their data section. (See first link below.) If one is looking for a boat with exciting performance and at the same time the ability to coastal cruise, this little job may be the answer.

A lot of thought has gone into making her a practical yacht in terms of ergonomics, i.e., her efficient functional properties.  She has slab reefing for the mainsail and a furling, non-overlapping jib for easy tacking and control of sail area. With a fantastic ballast ratio and a deep keel providing lateral and directional stability, she should make to windward better than many yachts of her size. She has the added advantage of being able to dry out level on her raised keel and dual rudders. Dual transom hung rudders allow for the placing of an outboard motor on the centreline where it is most efficient and it can be used on both tacks when motor-sailing - though I doubt this situation will be required, except under special circumstances.

She is a highly practical small yacht for a crew of two, each of whom can sleep in the main cabin on berths either side, that extend into the quarters. There’s room for two children up forward in a double ‘v’ berth. Not everyone will like the chemical toilet under the companionway step, but there it is easily accessed, unlike many small yachts that have their chemical loos tucked away under the forward ‘v’ berth. The self-draining cockpit has sensible seating with good back support and lockers underneath for warps, fenders, etc.

Links

Beneteau First 211 Yachtsnet Archive Details (Excellent Photos)

http://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/archives/beneteau-first-211/beneteau-first-211.htm

First 211

http://www.finot.com/bateaux/batproduction/beneteau/first211/first211_ang.htm

Beneteau First 21 Solent Class

http://www.beneteau21.co.uk/

First 211 Owners Manual

http://www.costabravagirona.net/manuals/first211_manual_complet.pdf

Beneteau First 211 for Sale £13,995

http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/Racing-for-sale/beneteau-first-211/92085#pFrJhf5i6hX82kmR.97

2001 Beneteau First 211 for Sale £12,150

http://beneteau.apolloduck.co.uk/boats.phtml?id=1723

Boats Seen at Burnham – Part 2 – Cape Cutter 19

I’ve already looked at this Cape Cutter 19,* but that was in September, 2011. Here she is again in the same spot at Burnham Yacht Harbour. She still looks good, as can be seen from the photographs.

Links

*Cape Cutter 19

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/cape-cutter-19.html

Cape Cutter 19

http://www.capecutter19.com/

Cape Cutter 19 Association

http://www.capecutter19.org/

Cape Cutter 19

http://www.honnormarine.co.uk/CapeCutter19/CapeCutter19.htm

Yachting Monthly Test Review – Cape Cutter

http://www.capecutter19.com/reviews.htm

Cape Cutter 19 - ‘Halcion’

http://www.capecutter19.org.uk/

Cape Cutter 19 Forum

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?329415-Cape-cutter-19

Rigging a Cape Cutter (Video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyAf9kCW48Y

Adventures of a Cape Cutter in Stockholm (Video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEh1qBxDbX0

Cape Cutter 19 at Kielder Water (Video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX4yHclyybw

Cape Cutter 19 does France 2011 (Video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0rc3L2_soY

Cape Cutter 19s – Mylor 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MuSK11nqXQ

Cape Cutter 19 for Sale £22,000

http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/Classic-sailing-boats-for-sale/honnor-marine-cape-cutter-19/95207#ZxHOJwC8HEc7uhCY.97

Cape Cutter 19 for Sale - Euros 15,000

http://dailyboats.com/boat/60835-cape-cutter-19-for-sale