Mr_Krabs

So, with Tom's comment about waiting on the router, and this little hint, does that mean you will soon be offering CNC precut full kits of lapwing and other designs?

bump any lapwing news? :?:

Thanks for your insight folks, From the specs on the site, it's a big weight hit to move up to a CS15 from a s12, a move from 120# to 300#. Not having seen the plans, only pics, I'd guess that some of that exponential weight increase is in heavier scantlings, structure for the mizzen, and decking. A BRS almost fits the bill, maybe in "lightweight" trim, but I'm attracted to the more advanced hull form of the spindrift/CS series. I like the lack of a deck on the BRS and it fits my inland lake protected water projected use. Ray, thanks for the thoughts on the tradeoffs of the designs, the flotation and utility of the fore and aft seating is one of the really attractive design elements of the S/CS series and keeps bringing me back, that weight tradoff would be worth it to me. One that might not be worth it is the additional weight for the mizzen setup with step and partners and gear and all the rest, another reason my preference is toward the spindrift cat rig. Don't get me wrong, I sail a cat ketch now and appreciate the utility of the rig, but I'm focusing on simplicity and weight on this concept. The thought of building a CS15, (or the delicious looking upcoming Lapwing ) without decking but with the traditional Byrnes fore and aft seating arrangement appeals to me, and I'd be interested to hear what Graham would have to say about the effects of doing that on weight and integrity. As far as the safety aspect of the lack of decking on the GIS goes, I'm an inland lake sailor would only expect to be out in fair weather on protected waters with this boat.

Arlen's questions about why there's no 12N led to some discussion about whether the spindrift would be big enough for "big guys" and the suggestion that maybe 14 feet would better carry the load. I've been looking around a bit for a sort of "maxi-cartopper" sail/motor/row expedition skiff/dinghy and have come up with some parameters. I think a larger spindrift would fit these well. Weight, 150lbs +/- should be workable with a rod inserted into my yakima racks and lifted one end at a time. I regularly portage my 85 lb canoe solo, slinging it up and carrying it with no problem. Speaking of cartopping, rolling it over without too much damage would require maybe a metal half round trim piece placed strategically. The boat would mostly live on a trailer, so cartopping wouldn't have to be easy, just possible. Looking at the weight differences of the sizes of spindrifts, I would guess an S14 would come in near there. Capacity, 2+2 adults and children for a day sail at the lake, 2 big guys and gear for a week of camping on shore. I think the cockpit layout of the spindrift has a definite advantage on seating and storage over the other designs I've looked at, but like arlen, I'm not sure that a S-12 would be big enough. Sail/row/motor, in that order. The spindrift is a proven design that does all of these well. I think so far, lacking a spindrift 14 design the ones that come closest are the Goat Island Skiff by Michael Storer, with length 15'6" beam 5ft SA 105 weight 125 and capacity 4pp/700lbs http://members.ozemail.com.au/~storerm/GIS/GISplan.html It seems to be a bit heavily canvassed for me, though looks like lots of fun! and the Karl Stambaugh design Bay Skiff 15 with LOA 15'-0" Beam 4'-3" SA 67 and weight 150. Karl describes the capacity as 2+2, which sounds like what I want. It's on cmdboats.com which doesn't seem to be working this morning. It seems a bit undercanvassed for my inland lake sailing. What do you think of the suitability of the spindrift design for going larger, but still maintaining most of it's current scantlings. In other words could it be made bigger without needing to become proportionally heavier? Does it seem to you to fit the criteria that I'm looking for? Thanks for your thoughts, Mr_Krabs