Home built Daysailers

[Stryker72]

Lately I have had the urge to build a small daysailer, about 14-18' or so. There are many plans available, but what is the quality of these boats (providing they are built correctly)? Do plywood boats holdup? Is anyone sailing a home build boat?

Because of the lake I sail it gets pretty mucked up and weedy by the peir I am looking for a centerboard with a draft less than 9" when the CB is raised.

Some of the plans I have been looking at are:

Selway-Fisher Petit Brise


Selway-Fisher Highlander 16


Selway-Fisher Lynx 14


Hartley 14

[sailingdog]

Many of the stitch-and-glue plywood boats are excellent little boats, and relatively easy to make. Properly built, they're also fairly low maintenance, far lower than a wooden boat would be. One good magazine for you to look at is Small Craft Advisor. They have a lot of articles on just these same kind of boats, although their focus isn't strictly on sailing.

While I'm not sailing on a home-built, I have many friends who do. The sailing characteristics of the boats really depend a lot on the design, the build quality and you... since your body weight is a significant portion of the ballast.

[gershel]

Sailingdog is right about stitch & glue boats, check out this site.

http://www.clcboats.com/products.php...3d525169320a7/

[Sailormann]

I think that it's about the best way to learn and think you should go for it. Maybe a kit would be a litle easier if you've never done it before ???

Check out:

http://www.glen-l.com/

http://www.rainbowboats.com/postnuke/index.php

http://www.bateau.com/proddetail.php?prod=AD14

[sailingdog]

another good site is boatbuilder.org.

[JohnRPollard]

We built that little 11.5' sailing pram in the "avatar" photo you see above next to my name. Stitch and glue, plywood/fibreglass/epoxy composite. Smaller than what you're thinking about, but similar construction concept. Plywood/'glass is a great material for small boat construction. However, the weight eventually does add up and if you go a whole lot larger than what we built you are no longer in the car-toppable realm, if that's what you're after when you say "daysailer". I like the looks of the designs you posted above, but I think most of them would require a trailer.

I second the suggestion to consider a kit if you don't have a lot of experience or tools. Make sure you have plenty of space for the build. Don't forget you'll need to flip the hull several times during construction and will need clearance on all sides (including above) to do this. Good luck to you.

[sailingdog]

In Small Craft Advisor this month, they have a good article about plywood stitch and glue boats... and how they can often be lighter than their fiberglass counterparts. They've got a 15' 5" sailboat that is about the same weight as a smaller fiberglass Laser sailing dinghy, but can handle four adults.

[Faster]

I can testify as to the Hartley designs... nice stable forgiving boats with a centerboard that satisfies your shoal draft requirements. Don't think they are stitch & glue designs, though.

As to the quality - these are just designs. The final overall quality is going to be up to the builder.... YOU!

[paulk]

A Norwalk Island Sharpie also fits with your shallow draft/easy construction needs. Their designer, Bruce Kirby, is better known for the Laser and several other boats. He often has good ideas.
http://www.norwalkislandssharpie.org/