Re: Motorsailor desired, for Ray Electric and sail power, shoal draft - suggestions?
Hi John,
Take a look at Bolger's Summer Ease (sometimes mistakenly called
Summer Breeze) design. It's in the bolger_study_plans_only group
Files section. I have often dreamed about building this one with
electric power, since the batteries could replace some or all of the
water ballast, using the volume under the seats. I have the plans,
but not close at hand, so just going from memory, I believe the
water ballast is around 800 lbs or so.
It's not an instant boat, but it wouldn't be very hard to loft and
jig. It has a huge hold for camping gear (or even a portable
toilet), and a nice centerline motor mount. Displacement is shown
as 2500 lbs, which should provide plenty of capacity for four and
their gear. Bolger told me that none have been built that he knows
of. If it were me, I'd draw a balanced lug mainsail for it to make
the mainmast shorter. Had I been aware of this boat 10 years ago, I
would probably have built one by now.
Jon Kolb
www.kolbsadventures.com/boatbuilding_index.htm
> I'm considering a motorsailor to replace my Ray...snip...
> Electric Explorer. I very much like the Ray motor, and
> electric power in general, but a 60 mile range between
> 115VAC outlets is too limiting. I need a sailing rig
> but I'm concerned that the weight and clutter of both
> sail and electric power may be a bit much for my Sea
> Pearl hull, particularly with 4 aboard. I've found
> some possibilities but I'd be interested in
> suggestions and advice.
Take a look at Bolger's Summer Ease (sometimes mistakenly called
Summer Breeze) design. It's in the bolger_study_plans_only group
Files section. I have often dreamed about building this one with
electric power, since the batteries could replace some or all of the
water ballast, using the volume under the seats. I have the plans,
but not close at hand, so just going from memory, I believe the
water ballast is around 800 lbs or so.
It's not an instant boat, but it wouldn't be very hard to loft and
jig. It has a huge hold for camping gear (or even a portable
toilet), and a nice centerline motor mount. Displacement is shown
as 2500 lbs, which should provide plenty of capacity for four and
their gear. Bolger told me that none have been built that he knows
of. If it were me, I'd draw a balanced lug mainsail for it to make
the mainmast shorter. Had I been aware of this boat 10 years ago, I
would probably have built one by now.
Jon Kolb
www.kolbsadventures.com/boatbuilding_index.htm
I'm considering a motorsailor to replace my Ray
Electric Explorer. I very much like the Ray motor, and
electric power in general, but a 60 mile range between
115VAC outlets is too limiting. I need a sailing rig
but I'm concerned that the weight and clutter of both
sail and electric power may be a bit much for my Sea
Pearl hull, particularly with 4 aboard. I've found
some possibilities but I'd be interested in
suggestions and advice.
Necessary attributes: shallow draft, non-planing, use
a Ray electric motor with 8 golf cart batteries
(ballast?) (about 630# system weight) as primary
power, simple unstayed sail rig as secondary power,
trailerable, good for spartan camp cruising. It will
be used on southern US rivers, bays and coast, close
in. No blue water at all but it ought to be able to
handle modestly lousy seas along the coastline. I'm
interested in exploring the remaining wild coastline
of Florida; the Apalachee Bay, Ten Thousand Islands
area, that sort of thing.
Birdwatcher, William D Jochems, Pete's Boat and
Jewelbox seem to be in the general ballpark, if not
exactly the right thing. Pete's boat seemed
interesting (roomy, Birdwatcher cabin) but I'm not
sure of it's 5mph efficiency or how it would sail and
handle a forced beach landing thru 2 or 3' seas. I'd
like Egret-like capabilities for that sort of thing,
if possible, but in a smaller boat.
Any suggestions, comments, questions or boats I may
have missed?
Thanks for any help.
John Clay
____________________________________________________________________________________
Be a better friend, newshound, and
know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ
Electric Explorer. I very much like the Ray motor, and
electric power in general, but a 60 mile range between
115VAC outlets is too limiting. I need a sailing rig
but I'm concerned that the weight and clutter of both
sail and electric power may be a bit much for my Sea
Pearl hull, particularly with 4 aboard. I've found
some possibilities but I'd be interested in
suggestions and advice.
Necessary attributes: shallow draft, non-planing, use
a Ray electric motor with 8 golf cart batteries
(ballast?) (about 630# system weight) as primary
power, simple unstayed sail rig as secondary power,
trailerable, good for spartan camp cruising. It will
be used on southern US rivers, bays and coast, close
in. No blue water at all but it ought to be able to
handle modestly lousy seas along the coastline. I'm
interested in exploring the remaining wild coastline
of Florida; the Apalachee Bay, Ten Thousand Islands
area, that sort of thing.
Birdwatcher, William D Jochems, Pete's Boat and
Jewelbox seem to be in the general ballpark, if not
exactly the right thing. Pete's boat seemed
interesting (roomy, Birdwatcher cabin) but I'm not
sure of it's 5mph efficiency or how it would sail and
handle a forced beach landing thru 2 or 3' seas. I'd
like Egret-like capabilities for that sort of thing,
if possible, but in a smaller boat.
Any suggestions, comments, questions or boats I may
have missed?
Thanks for any help.
John Clay
____________________________________________________________________________________
Be a better friend, newshound, and
know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ