RE: [bolger] Chebacco Info
I'm sure Bill will respond, and if not you should ask him, but here are my
comments. Note that I've not sailed my Chebacco yet, only motored -- sails
are still coming along (slowly).
No bridge deck on the plans. You could easily add one, but don't count on
quarter berths unless you modify the cockpit seats and foot well -- there's
not enough space there. (I am adding a rail at just below seat height, to
hold the floorboards, turning the whole cockpit area into a level 6 x 7 foot
sleeping platform, under a boom tent or tarp.) Cabin space as designed is
generous for two to sleep, but that's about it.
The centreboard goes down through a shallow keel. An off centreboard would
be difficult to add -- to get it out to the side of the foot well would
probably put it through the chine. I would also intrude into one of the
"berths" in the cabin.
The mast is just ahead of a bulkhead -- if you leave out the limber holes in
this, it should keep water out of the living area. The bulkhead makes a
forward storage area, but there is no access from deck as designed, only
from the cabin. I have an eight pound anchor that fits under the cockpit
floorboards with a small cutaway in the floorboards. I've made the cover
over the mast slot so it should be very leak resistant, as the slot extends
over the living area, but I plan to use a removable boot as well. Lots more
storage under the seats and rear deck. (A bridge deck could provide more
storage in the cabin.)
The design calls for a short shaft. I shortened the supports for the mizzen
step to leave room for the gas tank, which sits on a rubber mat. If it
slides to leeward, I'll add some foam blocks to keep it centred.
Jamie Orr
-----Original Message-----
From: LEA, PHILLIP B [mailto:plea@...]
Sent: Friday, June 09, 2000 10:31 AM
To: 'bolger'
Subject: [bolger] Chebacco Info
I am evaluating designs for our next boat and Chebacco is at the top of the
list. I have read Bill Samson's excellent newsletters but am looking for
more information. Would someone knowledgeable of this design please answer
some questions.
Is there a bridge deck, or is one detailed in the plans? Chebacco appears
to have a relatively long cockpit and short cabin. IMHO, a bridge deck with
quarter berths would seem to me to give back some cabin space. Comments?
Off-centerboard? How does the interior arrangement work?
I've read comments about the box keel. Is it empty, ballasted, a great
place to store 1 gallon (4 liter) water jugs, or keep the battery(ies)? Is
there any ballast at all?
Does the mast go into the cabin or into a separate forward compartment?
Does the mast need a boot?
If there is no forward compartment, where do you store ground tackle?
Is a long shaft outboard necessary, i.e., can one use a short shaft? (read
this as "tell me I can use the motor I own.")
Where is the gas tank secured?
Would any experienced designer or sailor care to conjecture on sailing
abilities, such as speed, stability, windward ability, heavy / light air
performance of these three lovely boats: Charles Wittolz's GOOD OMEN (17-1
x 7-10 x 4-3, 220 sq.ft., centerboard, deadrise, Cape Cod gaff cat, 500#
ballast); Sam Devlin's WINTER WREN 2 (18-8 x 6-10 x 3, 176 sq.ft.,
off-centerboard, ¾ masthead sloop, 685# ballast); and Chebacco? Sorry have
not done the metric conversions for the more enlightened civilizations.
Who will bang the drum for Bolger?
Phil Lea
Russellville, Arkansas
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Get a NextCard Visa, in 30 seconds!
1. Fill in the brief application
2. Receive approval decision within 30 seconds
3. Get rates as low as 2.9% Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR
http://click.egroups.com/1/5198/10/_/3457/_/960571760/
------------------------------------------------------------------------
comments. Note that I've not sailed my Chebacco yet, only motored -- sails
are still coming along (slowly).
No bridge deck on the plans. You could easily add one, but don't count on
quarter berths unless you modify the cockpit seats and foot well -- there's
not enough space there. (I am adding a rail at just below seat height, to
hold the floorboards, turning the whole cockpit area into a level 6 x 7 foot
sleeping platform, under a boom tent or tarp.) Cabin space as designed is
generous for two to sleep, but that's about it.
The centreboard goes down through a shallow keel. An off centreboard would
be difficult to add -- to get it out to the side of the foot well would
probably put it through the chine. I would also intrude into one of the
"berths" in the cabin.
The mast is just ahead of a bulkhead -- if you leave out the limber holes in
this, it should keep water out of the living area. The bulkhead makes a
forward storage area, but there is no access from deck as designed, only
from the cabin. I have an eight pound anchor that fits under the cockpit
floorboards with a small cutaway in the floorboards. I've made the cover
over the mast slot so it should be very leak resistant, as the slot extends
over the living area, but I plan to use a removable boot as well. Lots more
storage under the seats and rear deck. (A bridge deck could provide more
storage in the cabin.)
The design calls for a short shaft. I shortened the supports for the mizzen
step to leave room for the gas tank, which sits on a rubber mat. If it
slides to leeward, I'll add some foam blocks to keep it centred.
Jamie Orr
-----Original Message-----
From: LEA, PHILLIP B [mailto:plea@...]
Sent: Friday, June 09, 2000 10:31 AM
To: 'bolger'
Subject: [bolger] Chebacco Info
I am evaluating designs for our next boat and Chebacco is at the top of the
list. I have read Bill Samson's excellent newsletters but am looking for
more information. Would someone knowledgeable of this design please answer
some questions.
Is there a bridge deck, or is one detailed in the plans? Chebacco appears
to have a relatively long cockpit and short cabin. IMHO, a bridge deck with
quarter berths would seem to me to give back some cabin space. Comments?
Off-centerboard? How does the interior arrangement work?
I've read comments about the box keel. Is it empty, ballasted, a great
place to store 1 gallon (4 liter) water jugs, or keep the battery(ies)? Is
there any ballast at all?
Does the mast go into the cabin or into a separate forward compartment?
Does the mast need a boot?
If there is no forward compartment, where do you store ground tackle?
Is a long shaft outboard necessary, i.e., can one use a short shaft? (read
this as "tell me I can use the motor I own.")
Where is the gas tank secured?
Would any experienced designer or sailor care to conjecture on sailing
abilities, such as speed, stability, windward ability, heavy / light air
performance of these three lovely boats: Charles Wittolz's GOOD OMEN (17-1
x 7-10 x 4-3, 220 sq.ft., centerboard, deadrise, Cape Cod gaff cat, 500#
ballast); Sam Devlin's WINTER WREN 2 (18-8 x 6-10 x 3, 176 sq.ft.,
off-centerboard, ¾ masthead sloop, 685# ballast); and Chebacco? Sorry have
not done the metric conversions for the more enlightened civilizations.
Who will bang the drum for Bolger?
Phil Lea
Russellville, Arkansas
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Get a NextCard Visa, in 30 seconds!
1. Fill in the brief application
2. Receive approval decision within 30 seconds
3. Get rates as low as 2.9% Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR
http://click.egroups.com/1/5198/10/_/3457/_/960571760/
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ive been sailing a chebacco 20 for 4 years. It is an interesting boat
to sail, not always easy. Im still experimenting. Ive seen experienced
sailors completely befuddled by the rig, unable to get out of irons,
tangled in the lines, and looking foolish.
It is a light boat, very sensitive to the amount of sail set, how it is
set, trim fore and aft, and even depth of cb. It accelerates and
decelerates quickly. It also pounds when beating into seas greater than
2 feet or so. It needs reefing early, but is very stable, lot of volume.
Ive only once buried a rail, and that in gale conditions. I sail in an
area with lots of slightly longer fiberglass sloops. They are all faster
when beating upwind. Chebacco is faster off the wind, when everything is
set up for the conditions. It is best in winds 15 kt and under. It can
self-steer fairly well.
It lives on a moor, but I can launch and recover it myself, and can
step/unstep the mast alone.
The cockpit could be modified to increase the cabin. As per the plans,
the cabin is like sleeping in a puptent. On overnight trips I will
usually beach it and camp ashore. Generally all of the portable gear
gets stowed in the cabin. There is lots of room everywhere to store
anything a daysailor or short-cruiser would need. Four people are
comfortable daysailing, two if overnighting aboard.
Ive added a 3 ft bowsprit. It doesnt help me point, but lets me get up
more sail in light winds, and gives me more lines to adjust.
The chebacco keel is too small to store anything, mine is solid. I dont
worry about taking the ground.
Cheers;
Fraser Howell
to sail, not always easy. Im still experimenting. Ive seen experienced
sailors completely befuddled by the rig, unable to get out of irons,
tangled in the lines, and looking foolish.
It is a light boat, very sensitive to the amount of sail set, how it is
set, trim fore and aft, and even depth of cb. It accelerates and
decelerates quickly. It also pounds when beating into seas greater than
2 feet or so. It needs reefing early, but is very stable, lot of volume.
Ive only once buried a rail, and that in gale conditions. I sail in an
area with lots of slightly longer fiberglass sloops. They are all faster
when beating upwind. Chebacco is faster off the wind, when everything is
set up for the conditions. It is best in winds 15 kt and under. It can
self-steer fairly well.
It lives on a moor, but I can launch and recover it myself, and can
step/unstep the mast alone.
The cockpit could be modified to increase the cabin. As per the plans,
the cabin is like sleeping in a puptent. On overnight trips I will
usually beach it and camp ashore. Generally all of the portable gear
gets stowed in the cabin. There is lots of room everywhere to store
anything a daysailor or short-cruiser would need. Four people are
comfortable daysailing, two if overnighting aboard.
Ive added a 3 ft bowsprit. It doesnt help me point, but lets me get up
more sail in light winds, and gives me more lines to adjust.
The chebacco keel is too small to store anything, mine is solid. I dont
worry about taking the ground.
Cheers;
Fraser Howell