[bolger] Bolger catboats summary (long)
A week or so ago I posted question about Bolger tradional catboat
designs. You'll remember I was looking for a traditional catboat for
family daysailing from a trailer and maybe some mininmal cruising.
Thanks to many people, including Dave Thibodeau for his MAIB index and
Bob Hicks for sending me some copies of articles, I have been able to
put together the following summary:
[Book references are page numbers, BWAOM=Boats with an Open Mind, MAIB
references are volume-issue-page.]
(no number, circa 1955)
Mouser (aka Garfield)
16'0"x6'6"
Description: A straight-stem, v-bottom wood cat of traditional planked
or mixed planked/plywood construction with an unusual
wedge-of-pie-shaped centerboard removeable through the top of the trunk.
Verdict: Beyond me in terms of skills and time.
More info: Different Boats 84-88, MAIB 1-12-3
#7 (#530)
Charlie's Catboat (aka Newfoundlander)
29'x8'3"
Description: A big, carvel planked, full-keel cruiser, cat-rigged with
a reaching jib.
Verdict: Not at all what I'm looking for.
More info: BWAOM 161-165, MAIB 9-8-23
#237
Lynx
14'8"x6'11"
Description: Gorgeous full-keel pocket cruiser, bent-frame carvel,
1000 hours for a professional.
Verdict: A work of art, way out of my league.
More info: Different Boats 89-98
#535
Plywood Catboat
15'6"x6'6"
Description: A neat, low, tack-n-tape daysailing catboat, almost fully
decked, designed for SBJ, prototype built by Gary Blankenship in
Florida. (Are you out there, Gary?)
Verdict: Looks like great fun, but not the family daysailer/minimal
cruiser that I want.
More info: MAIB 12-10-28, SBJ ?
#536 Cruising Catboat (aka Leeboard Catboat)
21'10"x7'9"
Description: Kind of a chopped-off Jessie Cooper, inboard engine, 2800
lbs lead ballast, etc.
Verdict: NOT what I had in mind!
More info: BWAOM 358-364, MAIB 12-5-28, Woodenboat ?
#594
Spartina
15'4"x7'
Description: Beautiful clinker plywood update of 1921 design, cat or
sloop rig.
Verdict: A lovely daysailer, but not for me, and beyond my skills.
More info: BWAOM 106-110, MAIB 11-5-28
There is another boat called, I think, Cynthia J. If I remember
correctly it's a Micro-sized catboat but for some reason I didn't like
it. Since it's not from one of the books in my collection (I saw it at
the library) and not the subject of an MAIB article, I can't say more.
Anyone want to add the info?
There are also some smaller designs (Instant Catboat/Bobcat, Tiny
Catboat, etc.) that are clearly not what I want for a family boat with
minimal cruising ability.
AND THE WINNER IS...
#589
Catfish Beach Cruiser
15'2"x6'6"
Description: Deep tack-n-tape catboat with a hollow, flooding
full-keel, and space for a portable toilet forward under a canvas spray
hood.
Verdict: Eureka!
More info: MAIB 11-8-21 or call "Dynamite" Payson
I will post Payson's comments in MAIB as a separate message and photo,
and I will try to put up the hard-to-find articles/photos in a Catboats
folder as time permits.
Regards,
Matthew "How long until I have a Catfish website?" Long
http://www.gis.net/~owlnmole/Pages/brick.html
designs. You'll remember I was looking for a traditional catboat for
family daysailing from a trailer and maybe some mininmal cruising.
Thanks to many people, including Dave Thibodeau for his MAIB index and
Bob Hicks for sending me some copies of articles, I have been able to
put together the following summary:
[Book references are page numbers, BWAOM=Boats with an Open Mind, MAIB
references are volume-issue-page.]
(no number, circa 1955)
Mouser (aka Garfield)
16'0"x6'6"
Description: A straight-stem, v-bottom wood cat of traditional planked
or mixed planked/plywood construction with an unusual
wedge-of-pie-shaped centerboard removeable through the top of the trunk.
Verdict: Beyond me in terms of skills and time.
More info: Different Boats 84-88, MAIB 1-12-3
#7 (#530)
Charlie's Catboat (aka Newfoundlander)
29'x8'3"
Description: A big, carvel planked, full-keel cruiser, cat-rigged with
a reaching jib.
Verdict: Not at all what I'm looking for.
More info: BWAOM 161-165, MAIB 9-8-23
#237
Lynx
14'8"x6'11"
Description: Gorgeous full-keel pocket cruiser, bent-frame carvel,
1000 hours for a professional.
Verdict: A work of art, way out of my league.
More info: Different Boats 89-98
#535
Plywood Catboat
15'6"x6'6"
Description: A neat, low, tack-n-tape daysailing catboat, almost fully
decked, designed for SBJ, prototype built by Gary Blankenship in
Florida. (Are you out there, Gary?)
Verdict: Looks like great fun, but not the family daysailer/minimal
cruiser that I want.
More info: MAIB 12-10-28, SBJ ?
#536 Cruising Catboat (aka Leeboard Catboat)
21'10"x7'9"
Description: Kind of a chopped-off Jessie Cooper, inboard engine, 2800
lbs lead ballast, etc.
Verdict: NOT what I had in mind!
More info: BWAOM 358-364, MAIB 12-5-28, Woodenboat ?
#594
Spartina
15'4"x7'
Description: Beautiful clinker plywood update of 1921 design, cat or
sloop rig.
Verdict: A lovely daysailer, but not for me, and beyond my skills.
More info: BWAOM 106-110, MAIB 11-5-28
There is another boat called, I think, Cynthia J. If I remember
correctly it's a Micro-sized catboat but for some reason I didn't like
it. Since it's not from one of the books in my collection (I saw it at
the library) and not the subject of an MAIB article, I can't say more.
Anyone want to add the info?
There are also some smaller designs (Instant Catboat/Bobcat, Tiny
Catboat, etc.) that are clearly not what I want for a family boat with
minimal cruising ability.
AND THE WINNER IS...
#589
Catfish Beach Cruiser
15'2"x6'6"
Description: Deep tack-n-tape catboat with a hollow, flooding
full-keel, and space for a portable toilet forward under a canvas spray
hood.
Verdict: Eureka!
More info: MAIB 11-8-21 or call "Dynamite" Payson
I will post Payson's comments in MAIB as a separate message and photo,
and I will try to put up the hard-to-find articles/photos in a Catboats
folder as time permits.
Regards,
Matthew "How long until I have a Catfish website?" Long
http://www.gis.net/~owlnmole/Pages/brick.html