How to see Core Sound & Spindrift before ordering? in VA/MD/DC-area (USA)a

[thegools]

I am new to this forum, but have long considered building a small boat for daysailing and camping trips.  I love the idea of sleeping on an open boat (with tent) and sailing in areas with less-than-lake-like conditions (like the Chesepeake Bay, Albemarle/Pamilico Sounds, and East Coast (U.S.A) island hopping.

 

From what I see the Spindrift and Core Sounds may fit my bill. 

I like that a Spindrift (even the 12 footer) is light enough to cartop, but I wonder how sleeping aboard could work, and I wonder how it would do in the open waters I want to sail.

The Coresound 15 & 17 seem large enough to camp in, but I could not cartop.  I wonder how these fair in open water, & I wonder if I could sleep my self (6' 2") and my sons (age 9 & 7).

Of course I am curious how each sails and would love a chance to try them out before commiting to plans and building.

 

Is there anyone in my area with a Core Sound or Spindrift that I can see.  Being able to crew on one would be an added bonus.  Any help, sage advice from anyone would be appreciated?

 

Thanks,

 

Kirk

 

 

 

[Chick Ludwig]

A weekend spent t the B and B mess-about would answer most of your questions and give a chance to sail different boats. Check-it-out at: http://bandbyachtdesigns.com/

Scroll to the bottom of the home page.

[Ken_Potts]

Hi Kirk,

You're lucky to be close enough to get to that October mess-about that Chick mentioned. There's probably no better way to see, touch, and sail some of these boats than to attend this get-together.

If you want to sleep on board I suggest you consider a trailer boat rather than a car-topper. Pretty much any car will tow a CS20 and I bet it's easier to launch and retrieve a CS20 on a trailer than a Spindrift on a car-top (that's pure speculation on my part, though, as I haven't launched a Spindrift). I was able to load my CS17 with camping-gear, food, etc. in my driveway - On arrival at the boat ramp I could get everything rigged and ready to sail in under 11 minutes. Sailing a car-topper would require loading of everything into and onto the car before going to the ramp and having to carry, rig and load the boat there in the hot sun.

[Steve W]

Kirk, they are great boats, and the plans are awesome.

 

I'd bet money you could see both at the CBMM Mid Atlantic Small Craft Festival in St Michaels, in a week and a half. I'll have my 11N there, and I've only been there once before, but there were two CS17 and one CS20. Either way, its an awesome festival, and you get to see a lot of boats. I'm taking both my Sea Pearl 21 and my 11N. I'm going to do the Wye Island Camping trip and the 11N would be fine for just me, but I have two passengers.

 

If you go, look for the "Suzy J" 11N or my Sea Pearl 21, "WildCat".

 

Here are some pics from a trip to Maine this summer, with my kids on the Sea Pearl, just to give you an idea of how much fun sail camping can be:

 

https://picasaweb.google.com/107870814696788248788/SeaPearlsInMaine?authkey=Gv1sRgCO22nY7ntqfbmQE#

 

Personally, I'll give you some free advice from someone with three kids aged 11,13, and 15. By the time you build a bigger boat, your kids might not even want to go, because they will have moved onto other things. My daughter is now racing 420's and thinks even a Sunfish is boring. The boys only want to go out when the wind is over 10 knots. So if you are going to build, get going!

 

I'm thinking about building another Spindrift 11, but not the nesting version, to replace the sunfish we have. As for car topping, yes it can be done, but unloading the car after a day of sailing is kind of a buzz kill. I clear the garage for the summer and can back both boats in diagonally. I picked the used galvanized trailer up for 250 and built a rack to hold both boats. Much easier on the car and my back!

 

Take Care,

Steve