Re: [bolger] Gipsy
Hi Joren. I built a Gypsy 16 years ago. I've gotten an enormous amount of
use and pleasure out of her, and she's still going strong. It's hard to
imagine a more versatile boat in terms of sailing and rowing capability. A sailboat
that you can row is wonderful for getting in and out of launching sites and
for getting home when the wind dies. She is very fast under oars and readily
gets up on plane when sailing. I take her out on Lake Minnetonka -- a very
large and busy lake in the Minneapolis suburbs that develops large swells and
wakes. She handles even the biggest waves with ease. I've also taken her on
several long camp-cruising trips, including a 65 mile trip down the Mississippi
and through Lake Pepin. I've also taken several trips with my kids with the
Gypsy and a couple of kayaks that I built. They all go about the same speed and
it's nice to trade off between rowing and paddling. If we encounter a strong
head wind, we tow the kayaks and tack back and forth into the wind.
I built the Gypsy with idea that it would be a second boat that would fit on
the trailer between the hulls of my catamaran so that the whole family could
get out on the water. I soon found that the Gypsy was so easy to rig and so
much fun to sail that I simply stopped using the catamaran.
If you are going to row the Gypsy, you really need some kind of a skeg. I
didn't want a permanent one for fear that it slow her sailing speed so I made a
very short alternative rudder that is locked straight ahead because it has a
small semi-circle of plywood resting against the transom. After the first
couple of years, I also replaced the leg-of-mutton sailing rig with a more
powerful sprit sail and small jib that can be stowed in the boat when rowing. It's a
little too much sail for an inexperienced sailor but it flies in even a light
breeze.
A couple of "aesthetic improvements" I made were to cut down the rear frame
so that it dips down in the middle instead of going straight across at the same
height as the sheer. I also turned the flanges on the mast partner so that
they go downward instead of upward. If you do this, be sure to glass it in
very securely. If you sail her hard the twisting forces along the gunwale and
where the tops of the frames attach are very powerful. I had to reinforce these
with epoxy and fiberglass a few times when glue joints popped.
I've only gotten swamped once in 16 years and that was on a jibe with a
heavy, inexperienced crew member who didn't realize that he needed to shift his
weight. I discovered then that the few pieces of styrofoam that Payson
recommends putting under the seats were not enough to float her high enough to
successfully bail her out.
I think the Gypsy is a great boat. You'll have fun if you decide to build it!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
use and pleasure out of her, and she's still going strong. It's hard to
imagine a more versatile boat in terms of sailing and rowing capability. A sailboat
that you can row is wonderful for getting in and out of launching sites and
for getting home when the wind dies. She is very fast under oars and readily
gets up on plane when sailing. I take her out on Lake Minnetonka -- a very
large and busy lake in the Minneapolis suburbs that develops large swells and
wakes. She handles even the biggest waves with ease. I've also taken her on
several long camp-cruising trips, including a 65 mile trip down the Mississippi
and through Lake Pepin. I've also taken several trips with my kids with the
Gypsy and a couple of kayaks that I built. They all go about the same speed and
it's nice to trade off between rowing and paddling. If we encounter a strong
head wind, we tow the kayaks and tack back and forth into the wind.
I built the Gypsy with idea that it would be a second boat that would fit on
the trailer between the hulls of my catamaran so that the whole family could
get out on the water. I soon found that the Gypsy was so easy to rig and so
much fun to sail that I simply stopped using the catamaran.
If you are going to row the Gypsy, you really need some kind of a skeg. I
didn't want a permanent one for fear that it slow her sailing speed so I made a
very short alternative rudder that is locked straight ahead because it has a
small semi-circle of plywood resting against the transom. After the first
couple of years, I also replaced the leg-of-mutton sailing rig with a more
powerful sprit sail and small jib that can be stowed in the boat when rowing. It's a
little too much sail for an inexperienced sailor but it flies in even a light
breeze.
A couple of "aesthetic improvements" I made were to cut down the rear frame
so that it dips down in the middle instead of going straight across at the same
height as the sheer. I also turned the flanges on the mast partner so that
they go downward instead of upward. If you do this, be sure to glass it in
very securely. If you sail her hard the twisting forces along the gunwale and
where the tops of the frames attach are very powerful. I had to reinforce these
with epoxy and fiberglass a few times when glue joints popped.
I've only gotten swamped once in 16 years and that was on a jibe with a
heavy, inexperienced crew member who didn't realize that he needed to shift his
weight. I discovered then that the few pieces of styrofoam that Payson
recommends putting under the seats were not enough to float her high enough to
successfully bail her out.
I think the Gypsy is a great boat. You'll have fun if you decide to build it!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Joren,
Here are three websites from people who have built Gypsy.
http://www.instantboats.com/gypsyleopard.htm
http://www.tcinternet.net/users/bjschwa/gypsy.htm
http://165.121.103.95/gypsy/Gypsy/index.html
The sites have lots of pictures which are very helpful and show some
modifications that have been made to improve the design in the eyes
of specific owners. You should certainly get the book "Build the New
Instant Boats" from Dynamite Payson
(http://www.instantboats.com/books.htm)which includes detailed
building instructions and a discussion of the book that is very
entertaining. Also if you do a search on this website you will find
many posts about the Gypsy talking about its pros and cons. It is a
very cool design and it seems like quite a few have been built.
I fell in love with this design as well, but then decided that it
didn't have the carrying capacity I would need. I am now dreaming
about building Bolger's Thomaston Galley. A somewhat similar design
although it has a V-botton and greater carrying capacity. You can
find pictures of it in a few books, but it is discussed in detail in
Phil Bolger's "Small Boats" and Payson's "Go Build Your Own Boat".
Just in case you need a boat with a bigger payload than the Gypsy.
Good luck and I hope you enjoy the boat.
Dan
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "Joren" <bankschroef_modave@h...>
wrote:
Here are three websites from people who have built Gypsy.
http://www.instantboats.com/gypsyleopard.htm
http://www.tcinternet.net/users/bjschwa/gypsy.htm
http://165.121.103.95/gypsy/Gypsy/index.html
The sites have lots of pictures which are very helpful and show some
modifications that have been made to improve the design in the eyes
of specific owners. You should certainly get the book "Build the New
Instant Boats" from Dynamite Payson
(http://www.instantboats.com/books.htm)which includes detailed
building instructions and a discussion of the book that is very
entertaining. Also if you do a search on this website you will find
many posts about the Gypsy talking about its pros and cons. It is a
very cool design and it seems like quite a few have been built.
I fell in love with this design as well, but then decided that it
didn't have the carrying capacity I would need. I am now dreaming
about building Bolger's Thomaston Galley. A somewhat similar design
although it has a V-botton and greater carrying capacity. You can
find pictures of it in a few books, but it is discussed in detail in
Phil Bolger's "Small Boats" and Payson's "Go Build Your Own Boat".
Just in case you need a boat with a bigger payload than the Gypsy.
Good luck and I hope you enjoy the boat.
Dan
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "Joren" <bankschroef_modave@h...>
wrote:
> Goodday to you all.
>
> My name is Joren, and i'm thinking of building^phil bolger's Gipsy.
> I was wondering if anyone here has built her yet, and if she's a
> good sailor.
> Im kinda looking for a nice fast boat, but the Dart dinghy seems a
> little small.
> If someone with info could please email me, i don't get on the
> internet very often.
> My emailaddress is Joren@e...
>
> Many greetings,
> Joren
Goodday to you all.
My name is Joren, and i'm thinking of building^phil bolger's Gipsy.
I was wondering if anyone here has built her yet, and if she's a
good sailor.
Im kinda looking for a nice fast boat, but the Dart dinghy seems a
little small.
If someone with info could please email me, i don't get on the
internet very often.
My emailaddress isJoren@...
Many greetings,
Joren
My name is Joren, and i'm thinking of building^phil bolger's Gipsy.
I was wondering if anyone here has built her yet, and if she's a
good sailor.
Im kinda looking for a nice fast boat, but the Dart dinghy seems a
little small.
If someone with info could please email me, i don't get on the
internet very often.
My emailaddress isJoren@...
Many greetings,
Joren