Re: surf dory
Bill:
A local builder Ed Foster has built a couple of these surf dory replicas
fairly similar to Tropic Bird but without the mizzen/full batten sails.
Of course they can't carry a lot of sail in a breeze but they are pretty
fine hulls so it doesn't take much to drive them... even if they don't
plane like a modern dinghy a long light narrow boat like the surf dory
is pretty easy to push to a hull speed of 2X the root of the
waterline. Reaching and running this is pretty effortless sailing,
maybe 8 knots in a good breeze with a modest easy to handle sail area
and the boat would handle like it was running on rails.
Tom K
A local builder Ed Foster has built a couple of these surf dory replicas
fairly similar to Tropic Bird but without the mizzen/full batten sails.
Of course they can't carry a lot of sail in a breeze but they are pretty
fine hulls so it doesn't take much to drive them... even if they don't
plane like a modern dinghy a long light narrow boat like the surf dory
is pretty easy to push to a hull speed of 2X the root of the
waterline. Reaching and running this is pretty effortless sailing,
maybe 8 knots in a good breeze with a modest easy to handle sail area
and the boat would handle like it was running on rails.
Tom K
> 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