After a couple of years owning and extensively sailing our 12′ Westphal catboat on Biscayne Bay, we decided we needed a larger day sailor. Unfortunately, the classic day sailor market is pretty limited in South Florida and as we couldn’t find anything we liked, the answer obvious: build one.
I’ve been building this auk for the last five years in my garage. The idea was that I would learn how to build a boat with this one and then move onto something a little larger, but I am not too sure how my wife will take to the news that I’m starting another one.
Paul Marshall of Granite Falls, Washington, was very proud on September 1, 2013, when he launched his Yankee Tender after 30 years of (as he says) working on it in "fits and starts." She is the 12′6″ × 4′6″ design from WoodenBoat based on an Asa Thompson skiff design.
The GYPSY 28 was the Woods Designs’ own cruising boat for five very successful years. It was designed as an easy-to-build budget ocean cruiser and many are now sailing in all corners of the world.
The LINNET is a seaworthy rowing boat that has been specifically designed for sea use. Accordingly it does not have outriggers or a sliding seat while a small daggerboard is fitted to help prevent being blown sideways by the wind. A good load carrier, LINNET can be rowed by 1-3 people.
The Skoota 28 is a 28 ft plywood demountable coastal cruising power catamaran for a couple. Ideal for the European canals, the PNW or the Great Loop. It will demount for transport on a flat bed lorry/truck or could even be towed by a large car but should not be considered “trailable”.
The Sunflash IV is a soft riding luxury runabout designed as the pinnacle of the thoroughly proven and popular Sunflash series.
Designed as a cat schooner; both sails have big round poles at their leading edges. Considering the performance potential of this hull, this rig is appropriate. The stayless rig is clean and will be cheap to build with solid fir poles.