Re: [bolger] Tropic Bird

Hi,

I had similar thoughts, but on reflection, neither
Tropic Bird nor Sweet Pea is primarily a sailing
design - more like rowing dories with a sail added as
an afterthought.

Both are slack-bilged, and probably not very resistant
to heeling forces. Being double-ended, they will
probably 'squat' rather than plane as the wind gets
up. In other words, I guess they'd be hard work to
sail.

The description of Tropic Bird in WoodenBoat is, like
most of their articles, very seductive. I reckon a
cold, hard look is needed before committing to
building a boat like this for use under sail.

Or are there any Sweet Pea owners out there who can
put me right?

Bill Samson

> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 03 Dec 2001 23:15:06 -0000
> From:dstebbins@...
> Subject: Tropic Bird beach cruiser
>
> Hi Everyone,
>
> I recently read an article in the latest issue of
> Woodenboat about
> beach cruising in an open boat something like a
> double ended surf
> dory. It's a nice looking boat and appears to be
> designed by someone
> who knows what he's doing. The thing I'm wondering
> about is that
> this boat (Tropic Bird) has a narrow bottom with
> strong flare in the
> sides: not at all like the beach cruisers that PCB
> has designed.
> (Prince William Sound Yawl, Owlet, Jinni) I know
> it's a big long
> debate, but does anyone have some comments on this?
> Does it all come
> down to personal preferance on healing vs. pounding
> and ability to
> carry sail?
>
> The intended use would be camp cruising the Apostle
> Islands on Lake
> Superior. (There's a fear of cold water involved)
> I've read that
> this has been done in PCB's Sweet Pea, which looks
> similar to Tropic
> Bird but smaller. I've often wondered what Sweet Pea
> would be like
> scaled up to 18'x 5'.
>
> Thanks,
> Dave in Wisconsin
>
>
>

________________________________________________________________
Nokia 5510 looks weird sounds great.
Go tohttp://uk.promotions.yahoo.com/nokia/discover and win it!
The competition ends 16 th of December 2001.