Aluminium sailboat designs under 30 feet.

[SubmarinerDan]

Hey Sailors,

Last year was a big year for me. I crossed the South Pacific in my boat COYOTE, a 1962 LeComte Medalist 33'. www.my.yb.tl/COYOTE/

After all of that sea time I realised what I did and didn't want in a boat. I am now considering building an aluminium sailboat that is no longer than 30'. Preferably cutter rigged. Possibly with a bow sprit. LOA is allowed to be over 30'.

Can anyone think of any designs that I can dream of while I go back to work for the next six months? I kind of like the Van De Stadt Vita 30 but I know there must be some other really nice ones out there, somewhere.

Thanks in advance,

Dan

[gjordan]

There was a 27 foot aluminum uncompleted hull on Craiglist recently. I dont recall if it was Portland or Seattle. You might poke around the internet to see if you can find the add, or put an add on Craigslist in the PNW and see if it is still for sale. I dont recall the price. _____Grant.

[antoha]

why aluminum? just curious...

medalists have hulls at least 3/4" thick below waterline, no core (a friend of mine has one; we have a NE38 built in late 60s also; and Art Karpf lives not far from us, he knows more about these than most people out there). i remember the first time they were hauling us for the winter, one of the (younger) guys started knocking on the hull sounding out for the bulkhead (to put poppits against), and his expression with "but it all sounds the same around here!".

bit tight on space, but the most 30 footers would be...

[antoha]

also if you could share what you liked and what you found lacking in the medalist. very interested to know, you're almost a sister ship!

i'm sure some points will be more relevant to ocean crossing than coastal cruising (huge cockpits with somewhat poor drainage, for one), so if you could make not of that too.

thank you so much in advance!

[Orion Jim]

If I were in your shoes I'd get Dudley Dix to guide me. He is a real gentleman and has vast knowledge and experience. He is a pleasure just to talk to.
Boat plans, yacht designs & boat kits from Dudley Dix Yacht Design & Boat Plans

[SubmarinerDan]

Why aluminium? Because other than below the water line it doesn't require paint. It's strong, water tight and you can weld things to it and grind others off.

When you're in the middle of the South Pacific the last thing you feel like doing is varnishing, painting or trying to caulk leaks. I'd rather be diving, surfing, sailing or getting drunk. Anything other than working on a boat.

The Medalist is a pretty boat. And the hull is tough. But she just isn't for me any longer. I sure have had a hell of a lot of fun in mine though. And I have sailed her a lot. California to Australia. We rode out some tough stuff in COYOTE and were never really scared. I have a blog if you wanna check it out. www.sailordan.wordpress.com I haven't updated the pics yet. But there are plenty of pics on there.

I'll check out Dudley Dix's site. Thanks for the tip. Nothing like a bit of boat porn to while away the time.

Cheers.

[antoha]

Thank you for the comments on the medalists. What do you mean by caulking the leaks though? Windows and hatches? If so, how would that be different in aluminum?

Lack of space and poor layout and big boom - typical for 60s boats, no?

Welding and filing things off - can't comment, I have found working with fiberglass easy enough, and would probably find doing minor glass repairs easier than welding.

Thanks again!


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