Re: Martha Jane on the Great Lakes
Dear Claude,
I think the Martha Jane is a good choice. As designed she is tender,
but can be ballasted "to taste" in addition to her designed water
ballast to make her stiffer. A big advantage for soloists over the
other designs mentioned is that she is naturally self-steering. You
cannot change the rig to advantage. It should take three or four
years for a rank amateur to build. Yes, quite roomy on a rainy day.
ED HAILE
I think the Martha Jane is a good choice. As designed she is tender,
but can be ballasted "to taste" in addition to her designed water
ballast to make her stiffer. A big advantage for soloists over the
other designs mentioned is that she is naturally self-steering. You
cannot change the rig to advantage. It should take three or four
years for a rank amateur to build. Yes, quite roomy on a rainy day.
ED HAILE
--- Inbolger@egroups.com, "Claude Conn" <claude@m...> wrote:
> Hi, Peter,
>
> I'm looking for thoughts from people as yourself to steer me in the
> right direction. ( ref: reply to Vince Chew.) I have a lot to
learn.
> Right now I don't have any investment in plans or materials, so I
can
> explore any alternatives. I have looked both the Long Micro and
> Chebacco and didn't abandon either one as an alternative. I liked
the
> MJ for the extra length and perceived extra interior room. Ease of
> construction was also a factor. This was also a factor in
preffering
> leeboards over a daggerboard and the desire for the shallowest
draft
> steered me away from a keel.
>
> I realize that MJ would be more a handfull for a solo sail, but I
was
> going to explore some other sail rigging.
>
> My other thought was how a boat of this style will handle the
weather
> here in the Great lakes. Winds come up quickly and the water gets
> pretty choppy.
>
> I am open to all ideas and, as I said before, I value your opinions.
>
> Thanks again,
> Claude
>
> -- Inbolger@egroups.com, "Peter Vanderwaart" <pvanderw@o...> wrote:
> >
> > > I'd like to build a sailboat in the 20 23 ft range to sail
solo,
> > > usually, around the Great Lakes, in particular lakes Huron and
> > > Michigan and later Lake Erie.
> >
> > For a 'sleep-aboard' boat, I would consider the Long Micro as an
> > alternative to the Martha Jane because she has fewer parts that
need
> > tending while underway: keel rather than leeboards, bermuda sprit
> > main rather than balanced lug main. She would be a little harder
to
> > trailer, but still in the doable range (similar to the 18'
inboard
> > ski boats we see on the ramps a lot).
> >
> > Chebacco is also an alternative, and a more challanging boat to
> > build. Easier to trailer but the mast doesn't have a pivoting
> > tabernacle. If you follow Chebacco News, you will know that
several
> > owners sail them solo.
> >
> > Peter
Hi, Peter,
I'm looking for thoughts from people as yourself to steer me in the
right direction. ( ref: reply to Vince Chew.) I have a lot to learn.
Right now I don't have any investment in plans or materials, so I can
explore any alternatives. I have looked both the Long Micro and
Chebacco and didn't abandon either one as an alternative. I liked the
MJ for the extra length and perceived extra interior room. Ease of
construction was also a factor. This was also a factor in preffering
leeboards over a daggerboard and the desire for the shallowest draft
steered me away from a keel.
I realize that MJ would be more a handfull for a solo sail, but I was
going to explore some other sail rigging.
My other thought was how a boat of this style will handle the weather
here in the Great lakes. Winds come up quickly and the water gets
pretty choppy.
I am open to all ideas and, as I said before, I value your opinions.
Thanks again,
Claude
-- Inbolger@egroups.com, "Peter Vanderwaart" <pvanderw@o...> wrote:
I'm looking for thoughts from people as yourself to steer me in the
right direction. ( ref: reply to Vince Chew.) I have a lot to learn.
Right now I don't have any investment in plans or materials, so I can
explore any alternatives. I have looked both the Long Micro and
Chebacco and didn't abandon either one as an alternative. I liked the
MJ for the extra length and perceived extra interior room. Ease of
construction was also a factor. This was also a factor in preffering
leeboards over a daggerboard and the desire for the shallowest draft
steered me away from a keel.
I realize that MJ would be more a handfull for a solo sail, but I was
going to explore some other sail rigging.
My other thought was how a boat of this style will handle the weather
here in the Great lakes. Winds come up quickly and the water gets
pretty choppy.
I am open to all ideas and, as I said before, I value your opinions.
Thanks again,
Claude
-- Inbolger@egroups.com, "Peter Vanderwaart" <pvanderw@o...> wrote:
>
> > I'd like to build a sailboat in the 20 23 ft range to sail solo,
> > usually, around the Great Lakes, in particular lakes Huron and
> > Michigan and later Lake Erie.
>
> For a 'sleep-aboard' boat, I would consider the Long Micro as an
> alternative to the Martha Jane because she has fewer parts that need
> tending while underway: keel rather than leeboards, bermuda sprit
> main rather than balanced lug main. She would be a little harder to
> trailer, but still in the doable range (similar to the 18' inboard
> ski boats we see on the ramps a lot).
>
> Chebacco is also an alternative, and a more challanging boat to
> build. Easier to trailer but the mast doesn't have a pivoting
> tabernacle. If you follow Chebacco News, you will know that several
> owners sail them solo.
>
> Peter
Hi, Vince.
Thanks for the reply. I've been out of town for a while and was not
able to get back till now.
First, I'm a rank amature in boat building and my sailing experience
is limited to 16 & 18 ft. Hobies and sunfish types. I am not even a
good wood worker (but I learn fast, I hope). I'n now building a
Bolger Nymph to learn a little about building and Epoxy. My next
project will be a 16 ft. skiff. If I survive them, I'll start on a
lakes sailer. The MJ looked like a good bet: a lot of room for it's
size, room for overnight sleeping, able to handle several guests for
day sailing, and several users say it may serve the intended purpose.
Yes, It,s heavy. But I had no intention of pulling it up onto a beach.
With it's shallow draft, I thought about just getting into wading
distance and anchoring. I probably will be doing more harbor hopping,
as my wife would not step into a boat smaller than QE2.
I'm looking for information and opinions right now, before I even buy
plans.
I don't even know if a boat of the style of the MJ would be suitable
for the Great Lakes.
By the way, I live in Atlanta, Mi and I sail out of Alpena or Rogers
City.
Thanks for the reply and thoughts.
Claude
Thanks for the reply. I've been out of town for a while and was not
able to get back till now.
First, I'm a rank amature in boat building and my sailing experience
is limited to 16 & 18 ft. Hobies and sunfish types. I am not even a
good wood worker (but I learn fast, I hope). I'n now building a
Bolger Nymph to learn a little about building and Epoxy. My next
project will be a 16 ft. skiff. If I survive them, I'll start on a
lakes sailer. The MJ looked like a good bet: a lot of room for it's
size, room for overnight sleeping, able to handle several guests for
day sailing, and several users say it may serve the intended purpose.
Yes, It,s heavy. But I had no intention of pulling it up onto a beach.
With it's shallow draft, I thought about just getting into wading
distance and anchoring. I probably will be doing more harbor hopping,
as my wife would not step into a boat smaller than QE2.
I'm looking for information and opinions right now, before I even buy
plans.
I don't even know if a boat of the style of the MJ would be suitable
for the Great Lakes.
By the way, I live in Atlanta, Mi and I sail out of Alpena or Rogers
City.
Thanks for the reply and thoughts.
Claude
--- Inbolger@egroups.com, "Vince Chew" <vachew@f...> wrote:
> Claude,
>
> I do most of my sailing on northern Lake Michigan. I believe that
> Martha Jane or any boat that size is too large for true beach
cruising
> on the Great Lakes. You must be able to pull the boat completely out
of
> the water and clear of the surf. Also, you should anticipate being
> trapped ashore sometimes for days at a time, because the lakes can
> quickly get too rough for launching anything except a kayak off the
> beach.
>
> If you are talking about trailer sailing, or harbor hopping, then
> Martha Jane would work well.
>
> Vince
>
> --- Inbolger@egroups.com, claude@m... wrote:
> > I'd like to build a sailboat in the 20 23 ft range to sail solo,
> > usually, around the Great Lakes, in particular lakes Huron and
> > Michigan and later Lake Erie. I intend to either camp aboard, or
> > sleep on a beach or at a state or county park. The boat also has
to
> > be trailerable. I would like to get some ideas if this boat is
> > suitable, Or are there other designs that would be better suited.
> >
> > I am new to boat building, retired and on a limited budget and
being
> > retired, fairly busy. I have been picking up hints on materials
and
> > such from you folks for a while, so I do trust your judgement.
> > Claude
> I'd like to build a sailboat in the 20 23 ft range to sail solo,For a 'sleep-aboard' boat, I would consider the Long Micro as an
> usually, around the Great Lakes, in particular lakes Huron and
> Michigan and later Lake Erie.
alternative to the Martha Jane because she has fewer parts that need
tending while underway: keel rather than leeboards, bermuda sprit
main rather than balanced lug main. She would be a little harder to
trailer, but still in the doable range (similar to the 18' inboard
ski boats we see on the ramps a lot).
Chebacco is also an alternative, and a more challanging boat to
build. Easier to trailer but the mast doesn't have a pivoting
tabernacle. If you follow Chebacco News, you will know that several
owners sail them solo.
Peter
Claude,
I do most of my sailing on northern Lake Michigan. I believe that
Martha Jane or any boat that size is too large for true beach cruising
on the Great Lakes. You must be able to pull the boat completely out of
the water and clear of the surf. Also, you should anticipate being
trapped ashore sometimes for days at a time, because the lakes can
quickly get too rough for launching anything except a kayak off the
beach.
If you are talking about trailer sailing, or harbor hopping, then
Martha Jane would work well.
Vince
I do most of my sailing on northern Lake Michigan. I believe that
Martha Jane or any boat that size is too large for true beach cruising
on the Great Lakes. You must be able to pull the boat completely out of
the water and clear of the surf. Also, you should anticipate being
trapped ashore sometimes for days at a time, because the lakes can
quickly get too rough for launching anything except a kayak off the
beach.
If you are talking about trailer sailing, or harbor hopping, then
Martha Jane would work well.
Vince
--- Inbolger@egroups.com, claude@m... wrote:
> I'd like to build a sailboat in the 20 23 ft range to sail solo,
> usually, around the Great Lakes, in particular lakes Huron and
> Michigan and later Lake Erie. I intend to either camp aboard, or
> sleep on a beach or at a state or county park. The boat also has to
> be trailerable. I would like to get some ideas if this boat is
> suitable, Or are there other designs that would be better suited.
>
> I am new to boat building, retired and on a limited budget and being
> retired, fairly busy. I have been picking up hints on materials and
> such from you folks for a while, so I do trust your judgement.
> Claude
I'd like to build a sailboat in the 20 23 ft range to sail solo,
usually, around the Great Lakes, in particular lakes Huron and
Michigan and later Lake Erie. I intend to either camp aboard, or
sleep on a beach or at a state or county park. The boat also has to
be trailerable. I would like to get some ideas if this boat is
suitable, Or are there other designs that would be better suited.
I am new to boat building, retired and on a limited budget and being
retired, fairly busy. I have been picking up hints on materials and
such from you folks for a while, so I do trust your judgement.
Claude
usually, around the Great Lakes, in particular lakes Huron and
Michigan and later Lake Erie. I intend to either camp aboard, or
sleep on a beach or at a state or county park. The boat also has to
be trailerable. I would like to get some ideas if this boat is
suitable, Or are there other designs that would be better suited.
I am new to boat building, retired and on a limited budget and being
retired, fairly busy. I have been picking up hints on materials and
such from you folks for a while, so I do trust your judgement.
Claude