Oz PD Racer

[kormorant2]

I was wondering if anyone has built one of the OZ Pd Racers that Duckworks sells plans for. I decided to build something cheap and small as a first  " scratch built" boat so that I can learn how to sail with before committing to a multi thousand dollar pocket yacht. I am also interested in rigging the li'l brick with a gaff sail to gain experience for my future big boat. I am looking into using 3/8" lauan for the bottom because I am a 300lb guy and would feel more comfortable with a thicker bottom. Please feel free to give me any ideas you have or suggestions.

Thanks,

Joe aka kormorant2

[Charlie Jones]

The PD is a real blast. And you should see Shorty Penn- Ya think YOU are a big guy!!!! He's a BIG dude. So I wouldn't worry over much about that bottom- it isn't all that big to need more strength, but it wouldn't hurt it either- so go for it. Several of them have been built on Friday and raced on Saturday by the way ;D.

[Tony Pratt]

Hi Joe, I built a PD Racer last year for my girls and they loved it. If your worried about the bottom I used 1/2 inch ACX  plywood and never had a problem with it.  I put a small keel on it and that made it track real well plus it gave it support in the middle of the boat.  I had it out one weekend and me and a buddy sailed it in 20+ miles pre hour winds with no problem with both of us in it.

[Charlie Jones]

;D And then there was this one at the Duckworks Messabout last year. I posed beside it for scale ;D

[kormorant2]

Tony, that keel on your boat looks interesting. Is that the only stabilization, or did you use the daggerboard  also? I plan to sail my boat on a shallow lake in Southwest Louisiana. It is possible to wade 200 yards offshore and be in only 3 ft of water on it, of course the ship channel is  deeper but I will only cross it.

[Tony Pratt]

To your question yes the keel is the only stabilization on the boat with no daggerboard. one of the lakes we sail in is very shallow, the boat sail good even with 2 large adults in it and with the rudder fully down I only need about 3 feet of water to sail in.

[ScottWidmier]

One year I decided to enter the PD world championship that was being held at Magnolia Beach, TX.  Only two problems with this plan 1) I didn't have a PD racer and 2) it would be a very long drive.  So, I decided to fly out to my parents house in Houston, Tx, build a PD racer, strap it to the top of their van, sail the world championship, and then give it away.  Truly a vacation boat!  I ended up suceeding despite choosing the more complex side airbox design (a jpeg showing panel layout is at the yahoo site) and I placed third in the world championships.  I was rather skeptical of the puddle-duck design  and still have a few reservation but boy could she scoot!  Also, the beamy hull and side airboxes made her a very comfortable boat to sail seeming much larger than her 8' length.  The hull shape lends itself to the goals of the PD racer organization allowing endless variations from a camp/cruiser to a lean racing sled so I think Shorty designed well.  I would hate to be out in her with choppy seas with that big bow transom.  Also, she sucked up a lot of sheet of plywood (three) for her size and those broad flat surfaces (including the bottom) require more bracing than other types of boats.  Every boat is about compromises though and I did use up extra ply building those side airboxes.

If I were to build a disposable vacation boat again I would probably build a flat-bottomed skiff like David Beede's Summer Breeze.  A flat bottomed pointy bowed skiff goes together easier than a PD racer requiring less framing/supports IMHO.  The 12' Summer Breeze also only requires two sheets of plywood.  Most complex cut is the stem with its triangular cross section though I would do that piece before leaving home and stick it in my suitcase.  You then cut out two sides, midship frame, and a transom.  Attach the two sides splayed out to the stem, bend them around and attach them to the transom, then shove the midship frame in and move it around until the boat looks good.  Once all is fastened, flip it over, flop the other sheet of plywood down, scribe around the hull, then cut out what you scribed for the bottom.  The leftover scraps provide material to cover the forward 4' of bottom.  Other key ingredient is the skeg and you are done.