Greetings all.
As some of you might know from the Introduction section, we are Martin & Sandy, from South-Africa. We are busy planning and designing a sailboat ourselves. We have decided a junk rig would work the best for us, and that’s why we joined JRA. (Who wouldn’t want to junk their boat? Easy to handle and maintain, and looks hot too!)
The Sea Witch
As per title you can see our boat is a Polynesian outrigger (canoe) inspired trimaran. We got the idea while searching the internet for our boat (the boat we didn’t find or couldn’t afford). We came across a picture of a boat called Aurora Delfin II. She was built by a surfer named Thomas Ritchie and his family. Okay she is built as a powerboat, not a sailboat, we will not hold that against her. There weren’t any plans or much info, other then she is a 40 footer, but the picture and videos was enough to get the wheels in motion for us. (If you are interested you can find more info, the little there is, on this boat on Reefrider.net or look at Aurora Delfin on YOUTUBE)
This toke us down a whole new path, one we didn’t consider. Rather than just looking at sailboat, we started looking at canoes too. We came across one free canoe plan from Bateau2 which gave us the long narrow floor plan we started to envision. Then we found the bayou skiff plan on Uncle John’s General Store site, this gave the increasing beam shape we looked for. We also had a few back and forth mails with Uncle John, he helped a lot.
The design
We know that we will have limited resources and even fewer funds. So the design and build needed to be simple, fast, use mostly things we could find in our small town, and…cheap. With the K.I.S.S (keep it simple sailor/stupid) philosophy, much like the junk rig itself, we started drawing lines on a whiteboard. We toke the two canoe plans we had, mashing them together, and changing the scale a bit.
The result, a ply over frame design, covered with fiberglass, with 11 (six-sided) bulkheads. Starting at the bow(stem), the bulkheads increasing in size till bulkhead 6, from there deceasing to the stern again. This gives us a narrow double ended shape. Bulkheads are 750mm apart (this is from center of bulkhead to center of next bulkhead) with the stem and stern extending by just under 1m from the last bulkheads. This gives the drawn waterline length (of the main hull) 9.5 meter, a beam of 1.6m, and a draft of 300mm. (True draft would most likely be closer 500mm, water length 9.85m and beam 1.77m)
The internal layout is also simple. Each section/area lies between four bulkheads. 1-4 The Head; 4-7 The Settee; 7-10 The Galley. Okay for those that followed all this so far might see there is only 1 bulkhead , number 11, left and still no cabin. Well 10-11 is walking space, and the aft cabin (1.9m in length x1.9 in beam x 1.2 in height box shape) with the cockpit on top of this cabin, will be attached on bulkhead 11(400mm above the drawn water line). This places the Cockpit floor at 1.7m above the drawn waterline, plus a 1.85m high hard top above the cockpit.
The Aras or outriggers is a 50% the size of the main hull, minus the cabin top. They will be at a 20degree lift from the drawn water line allowing, the boat to heel at max 20degrees. The will also be close to mail hull, about 1.6 m from max beam (making total beam of boat 5.85m). This will give the boat a narrow look when seen from bow or stern. At this stage thinking of using U-channel to attach the aras to the main hull. (Planning and Ideas still been thrown around) A support frame, most likely also of metal, will be inside the main hull to attach the aras to.
We have a basic drawing of the boat, done in MS Excel that we would insert here (as soon as we figure out how to insert picture in post). David suggested we use FreeShip and we are busy modeling it with the software. Progress is slow as we need to learn to software, plus we are still moving house too. Hopefully soon we will have a better picture for you. Thanks David for the advise.
The Junk Rig
Now we can start with the Junk rig. The reason we joined JRA. So we are thinking we can place the mast(standard round tube) anywhere from Bulkhead 1-6. Bulkhead 6 is dead center of boats water line. If mast is placed at bulkhead 1 this will gives us a maximum length of 7.5m.
We have a few sail plans open to us. Using Wikipedia picture of junk rig sail plans, we will talk about these options.
1. The Cat
This is a single elongated (longer then in Height) sail with mast at bulkhead 1 stretching all the way back to cockpit.
Pro’s are. Cheaper to make and maintain. Fewest lines in cockpit
Con’s are. More weight to lift on halyard. Fewer sail options. On a run the end of sail will extend beyond the out riggers
2. The Yawl
Like the Cat Slightly smaller mainsail and the mizzen mast in front of cockpit on bulkhead 10.
Pro’s are. More Sail options during sailing. Lighter Halyard on main as mainsail is slightly smaller. And one can use the heavy reefed mizzen sail as a type of anchor riding sail. (small sail on stern of boat to help keep the bow into the wind while at anchor)
Con’s are. More cost as there are now two mast and more battens. More lines in cockpit. Driving force move slightly aft but not much we think
3. The Schooner
This is the rig we first drew when we talked about adding a junk rig. This is a small foremast mast at bulkhead 1 and the larger mainmast at Bulkhead 5.
Pro’s are: Lighter mainsail halyard then the cat. Smaller sails to make, and handle off the rig. Driving force moves forward. Again more sail options because of the multi sails configuration. Mast sizes can be same for both foremast and mainmast just length differ.
Con’s are: Like yawl , more costs, more mast, more battens, more sails, and more lines used and in cockpit. The foremast halyard heavier than one would have on a yawl due to sail size.
4. The Ketch
Much like the Schooner except the mainmast is now in front (bulkhead 1) and the mizzen mast behind (bulkheads 7)
Pro’s are: Same as the Schooner except the drive force moves more aft.
Con’s are: Again same as the Schooner.
5. Twin Sails
This one is not in the picture but is one to consider. Two masts and sails of same size. Masts at bulkhead 1 and 6.
Pro’s are: Sails and masts are same, so just a case of two of each. Only need to design one sail. Drive force also moves forward but not as much as schooners. Both halyards pulls the same weight. Again more sail options due to multi sails. On a dead run sails are spread evenly port to starboard. And lastly we can, if needed, move the sails between the masts without any worry as they are the same
Con’s are: Same as with any of the other multi mast sail plan, cost, lines and control
6. The Ship
A Triple masted sail plan. Looks like a mash up between a schooner and yawl.
Pro’s are. Smaller sails than a schooner. Increased sail area. Smaller masts. Lighter halyards. And loads of sail options.
Con’s are: Highest cost. Three sails to design and maintain. Three masts of different sizes end length. And lines and lines and lines. Oh and more control lines too.
So there are the 6 options. Our hearts lean towards the Schooner. Our heads towards the Twin Sails. And our pocket the Cat or Yawl.
Sorry for the extremely long post, but the more info one has, the better decision one can make. We are of course open to suggestions and input. That is why we are here at JRA