Re: [bolger] Motor/sail for Florida Panhandle coast?

I'm sure this has been mentioned before, but images of Bruce Hallman's great 3D models of many Bolger designs are available on his Flickr pages. Here are ten images of Storm Petrel that really bring the design to life: https://www.flickr.com/photos/hallman/tags/stormpetrel/ Cheers, Matthew

Thanks, I hadn't thought of Jinni, but honestly I have so many boat plans I should probably just build one of the ones I've got. I have some non-Bolger plans as well including Michalak's IMB and a few Atkin designs. One option might be to go with Bolger's Storm Petrel with the shortened keel depth described by Steve Hansen (see http://www.belljar.net/bolgersp.htm). Does anyone know if he is still active? Cheers, Matthew

Bolger's two cents on Zephyr, paraphrased from a letter he sent me years ago: Even with it's designed 81 sq ft sail, Zephyr's is "a bit tiddly" because of it's narrow 3'8" beam. (I had asked about making it a 20' cat-ketch like Sea Pearl). You may not be happy if wind and chop get up.

If you're wanting to stick with a Bolger design, you might look at Jinni, his 15' campcrusing catyawl.

If you're open to other designers, look at Joe Dobler's Presto 16 --https://www.duckworks.com/joe-dobler-s/473.htm-- Mik Storer's Goat Island Skiff --https://www.duckworks.com/product-p/oz-goatislandskiff-id.htm-- or many of Jim Michalak's Bolger-inspired designs.

Can't vouch for its seaworthiness in Panhandle waters, but this boat is a quick build with impressive performance. Bought the plans. There's a 16 and a 20, efficient hull, low horsepower, stout build, will takes lot of abuse including emergency beaching in bad weather. Lumberyard Skiff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg-jWWkhaco

https://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-boat-show-photos/573948-lumberyard-skiff-old-wharf-dory-co.html

On Fri, Apr 19, 2019 at 10:51 AMowlnmole@...[bolger] <bolger@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
Thanks, Bill.

My initial thought is to get something like a used 15'-16' outboard center console (Carolina Skiff or similar) initially and then get to building one of the many plans sets I have, just not sure about water depth and what makes sense. I would want it to be a relatively quick project andI already have Micro, Storm Petrel, and Zephyr plans among others.

--Microdraws 1' 9",has a nice little V-berth, is the most capable but also the heaviest, most awkward to trailer, most expensive, longest build.

--Storm Petrel draws an inch less, has coffin-like accommodation, also capable, but lighter and cheaper and a quicker build though still awkward to trailer.

--Zephyr draws just inches with the daggerboard up, but has no shelter at all (I could rig a canvas cover or tent), least capable (fair weather fun) but it's lightest and cheapest and quickest to build and easiest to trailer.

Still ruminating....

We generally have nice weather around here....winter is when we get the crappy PNW like weather....cold fronts kinda tend to stall out or move slowly through this area...but year to year varies alot....sometimes we have long springs and falls with short winters and summers....sometimes the opposite.....and all the possible combinations of each of the 4.

If you are from somewhere up north...I can see where your mindset is "get out the weather"...around here...if the sailing weather is nice IMO you want to be out on the deck...why haul around alot of cabin you never use (the idea behind the Old Shoe design). Another consideration...most of time around here you are battling the heat and humdity....even at night....cabins just make that worse...if you can manage a tent like structure to keep you dry (for sleeping and the occasional rain storm) you'll be much cooler.

IMO if you are coming down here shortly...just BUY something that will sorta work....why be down here spending your time building when you could be sailing....especially if you are NOT planning on moving down here long term.

Most homebuilt boats appear to me to go for LESS than just the materials alone would cost....so unless your primary goal is TO BUILD...just buy something...do the mods you need and be done with it (and I say this as somebody who LIKES to build stuff).

Start surfing craigs list.....you'll find something that is cheap and appeals to you before you know it....and it might not even be something you had even thought of first go around....

take care

-----Original Message-----
From: owlnmole@... [bolger] <bolger@yahoogroups.com>
To: bolger <bolger@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Fri, Apr 19, 2019 9:51 am
Subject: Re: [bolger] Motor/sail for Florida Panhandle coast?

Thanks, Bill.

My initial thought is to get something like a used 15'-16' outboard center console (Carolina Skiff or similar) initially and then get to building one of the many plans sets I have, just not sure about water depth and what makes sense. I would want it to be a relatively quick project and I already have Micro, Storm Petrel, and Zephyr plans among others.

--Micro draws 1' 9", has a nice little V-berth, is the most capable but also the heaviest, most awkward to trailer, most expensive, longest build.

--Storm Petrel draws an inch less, has coffin-like accommodation, also capable, but lighter and cheaper and a quicker build though still awkward to trailer.

--Zephyr draws just inches with the daggerboard up, but has no shelter at all (I could rig a canvas cover or tent), least capable (fair weather fun) but it's lightest and cheapest and quickest to build and easiest to trailer.

Still ruminating....

Thanks, Bill.

--Micro draws 1' 9", has a nice little V-berth, is the most capable but also the heaviest, most awkward to trailer, most expensive, longest build.

--Storm Petrel draws an inch less, has coffin-like accommodation, also capable, but lighter and cheaper and a quicker build though still awkward to trailer.

Still ruminating....

Hi.

Had a nice longer response that the computer just ate...

Shorter version. The Florida 120 is coming up in middle May. They have a facebook page. Long weekend sail around the Pensacola area. Great place to sail if the weather cooperates. Maybe you could catch a ride with someone if you can get free for that time.

Panhandle is a great place to sail. Take a look at Google earth and look at all the large bays connected by protected waters.

I have a Bolger Oldshoe...only got it recently and only sailed about 2 dozen times so far. For our area I think it would be a nice day sailer/overnight camper. Large enough with a bit of mods/add ons one should be able to pitch a decent sized tent on her...or make some mods so that you can put up some poles/rods here and there and cover most of the boat with a tarp or the like...or pitch a tent on land for that matter. Weather around here is nice enough often enough that for short trips a tent will do. I done LOTS of camp tenting around here (non boat related though) and rarely has the weather been bad enough that being in a tent was major irritation.

The other obvious version to me would be the Micro.

take care

-----Original Message-----
From: owlnmole@... [bolger] <bolger@yahoogroups.com>
To: bolger <bolger@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Fri, Apr 19, 2019 4:10 am
Subject: [bolger] Motor/sail for Florida Panhandle coast?

There is a possibility that I might be heading to the Florida Panhandle area for work for a couple of years. Do we have any members living in or familiar with that area? Any suggestions on which Bolger designs for a modest, trailerable motor/sail boat, say 15'-20' or so with spartan overnight accommodations, would work well for the wind and water conditions down there? Cheers, Matthew