Gillmer designs

[mikemosabe]

Thomas Gillmer''s Southern Cross 31 seems to have been made in Taiwan as the Roughwater and/or Aries. Does anyone know the differences? I know that the Southern Cross is U.S. built and are Airex cored but thats about all. Thanks!

[SailorMitch]

The Roughwater boats were knock-offs of Gillmer''s designs, and not constructed to his specifications. Gillmer has said they were made "out west" but that is the only clue from him as to origin. The SC 31 was a fiberglass version of Gillmer''s earlier Aries, which he designed for wood with Norwegian influences. Of course, someone could have made some fiberglass 31''s and called them Aries. It''s very hard to track down such "pirated" designs. Personally I''d avoid them.

The SC31 was available as either a kit or factory finished, so quality of models may vary. Interesting to note that some kit-built boats are of better quality than factory ones.

The July-August issue of Good Old Boat Magazine has an article on Tom Gillmer if you want to track that down. he''s quite an interesting fellow and one of the early pioneers for designs of fiberglass boats.