Princess 22: an inquiring mind wants to know!

[brian watkins]

As a retired sailor with big dreams and little means, I'm looking for a small cruiser to have adventures with. I am quite interested in the Princess 22. My "mission requirements" include decent sailing ability, value for money, and a draft/rig dropping ability to facilitate poking into out of the way places the rest of the sailing crowd doesn't normally get to. I am in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon). I would primarily be cruising alone or with one other. I have some sailing and boating experience, and am a cautious mariner.

My inspirations include Arthur Ransome, Joseph Conrad and Erskine Childers.

I would really appreciate comments from anyone building or owning a Princess, or comments in general about B & B's designs.

Sincerely,

Brian W.

P.S. For B & B: the enthusiasm of your customers as reflected in the posts I have seen in this forum are a very good reference for your business. Good for you!

[Travis Votaw]

Brian, you've probably seen the posts that Charlie Jones has made regarding the Princess 22 he's building for me. It's maybe 2/3 complete - he hopes to finish by years' end - depends on how much other work he has to get done to stay in business.

I haven't sailed one yet, but have read enough about cat ketches, and owned a 17 footer, to know that I wanted a bigger one. I, too, like to sail the shallow water. Graham says she will go to weather in a little over a foot of water with board up - at least enough to get me to the beach.

I talked to the fellow that had the design done originally, and he is very pleased with his boat.

I'm anxious to be able to try it out, as you might imagine. Masts will be very easy to raise with the fixed tabernacles - just raise em and pin em.

Maybe Graham can give us a report on the way she sails.

[Designer]

Hi Brian,

I guess as no one else has jumped in here, I will. I have certainly sailed the Princess myself, although not nearly as extensively as Chick, her owner - and computerphobe! So, I will have to add his e-voice to my own experience. I'm pleased that she sails well in a zephyr and yet does not overwhelm or frighten in a fresh breeze. She handles nicely and motors well.

I guess you might consider me a prejudiced party, as the designer, so let me just relate my own philosphy here, which hopefully will help you. I never design a boat unless I believe I can make a substantial improvement on any existing design of the general type. So you will not see my designs apeing a "traditonal" design theory. I think boats like cars - or computers for that matter - have evolved and continue to improve. I am very concerned that a boat should function fully for whatever the design parameters are. To this end, I am not wont to add frou-frou to a design just for the sake of ornamentation or to resemble some other boat designed 100 years ago. Further, I hate to sail a boat that is not quick and agile...so my boats tend to perform well....which is part of the function in my mind. Just because a boat is meant for "cruising" or a "family boat" does not require that it be a stodgy, slow dog. In my philosophy, there is no mutual exclusivity between the function and the performance here. Obviously when I design a real race boat, speed then becomes it's main "function" and "comfort" other than that which enhances crew performance, is not a major consideration. Boats which I would not say were appropriate to the average family sailor....just as I discourage most people from having the rig Brent Sparks has on his Core Sound boat - because he is an extremely experienced racing sailor - and wanted the nnnth degree of speed for higher level competitve purposes (check that string if you haven't read it).

Lastly (but still one of the three major design factors) I approach the styling. But because I put the function and performance ahead of style, I never sacrifice those to a style point. A case in point...you may notice my boats don't have the sharp rise in the buttocks that a lot of people associate with traditional boats. I've had clients ask for more, because it's "pretty"; but again since it decreases speed and performance - I'm insistant that it not be given a priority. I also tend to design boat with the greatest efficiency a bit toward the higher end of the speed range (per the design type), and am willing to sacrifice something at the lower speed range. This gives not just better performance at the upper end but also better handling. Hopefully, the results are function, performance AND aesthetics.

Once I have mapped out the above parameters, I work hard to make the boat as "buildable" as possible. Since I am also a shipwright, I think I have a slight advantage over some designers who never worry about the

"hands on " development of the design. I refuse to "design down" to a perceived building ability - I'd rather find a way to build it that is accessible even to the amateur with minimal experience. Then, when they have expended the expense of materials, and moreover, their precious labor - they have beautiful, valuable boat to show for it - a real investment, not a box. A vessel they will not "grow out of".

I like you was inspired by the stories of the sea...and the romance - so I hope I have not put you off by my philosophy....I guess my business is packaging the romance into a modern craft - with beauty and the best of the function we have available today.