Colvin Gazelle Project

[RRS Lake MI]

Hello, i am new to the form. I bought a gazelle haul about 5 years ago and am looking for other owners for some advice. Please let me know if any of you are out there! Thanks

[Celestialsailor]

Buy Colvins book...Steel Boat building.

[RRS Lake MI]

Hello Celestialsailor, thanks for the reply. I have the book and am actually reading it now. What I would really like to do is find someone that has a Gazelle who would let me come put and take a look at it. I feel it would help me immensely to see a completed example. Like they say, a picture is worth a thousand words...

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by RRS Lake MI

Hello Celestialsailor, thanks for the reply. I have the book and am actually reading it now. What I would really like to do is find someone that has a Gazelle who would let me come put and take a look at it. I feel it would help me immensely to see a completed example. Like they say, a picture is worth a thousand words...

I agree totally with your approach. Unfortunately a Gazelle is a rarity now-a-days. I have built 2 steel sailboats and owned one other briefly. Steel had a big following in the 70's and 80's. Good luck on your endeavor.

[James S]

Welcome to the forum RRS Lake MI

[RRS Lake MI]

Thanks

[capn tom]

Hi! I have a Gazelle that I use as a small tour boat in Philadelphia. You can always visit us to see a finished boat, although no boat is ever really finished! I had a guy from Scotland visit to see the Junk rig in action. He's building a boat and wants to Junk rig it. I had a local guy visit to see our framing. He's building his own steel hull at home. You can learn more about us at AmericanSailingTours.com.
Cap'n Tom

[RRS Lake MI]

Thanks Capt Tom. Good resourse, I am sure that I will be out at some point. I'll be in touch.

[srankin]

My Gazelle is at the moment in Guaymas, mx. It is a great little ship and has been customized considerably. Bu'Kwiis is rigged as a unstayed ketch now. She has a pilot house and all the trimmings. If you google her, I'm sure there will be pictures coming up.

[Cheechako]

Always like that Gazelle design. There are a few around, see one every now and then.

[RRS Lake MI]

I've made progress with my online research. My hull was built without transverse frames which through me for a loop for a while. I need to install the transverse frames and the rest should be straight forward. I didn't think it was possible to build without frames but T. Colvin explained that some pro yards do it that way.

[Cheechako]

I've seen aluminum boats built with no athwartships frame either. Metal is pretty strong! Fiberglass boats dont have frames... why should metal?

[RRS Lake MI]

We'll T.C. Said they put the frames later. He said frames are not optional. Just that pro yards have a different build method that allows them to do that. Let's them move frames around a bit for alternate interior arrangements too.

[Cheechako]

I imagine they are to keep from oil canning, although putting frames in after the hull is welded would likely be after any oil canning has occurred...? or maybe a boat without frames yet that doesnt have any oil canning is a sign that it was welded by a real pro! I guess bulkheads are essentially frames. Are there any longitudinals in the boat?
We'd all like to see some pics of your boat!
Alot of pics here: http://www.svtaz.org/boats/Bukwiis/

[RRS Lake MI]

Yes, logitudinals per design, I believe 8" oc on bottom and 12" on sides. Hull built very fair, very well done.