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I was just wondering if anybody out there has an opinion of Iain Oughtred's Grey Seal as seen in this years Wooden Boat small boat issue? ???

capnpablo

I have lots!  I have the plans and it will be our next boat in a few years.  This is  a strong proven design, kinda a slightly smaller "Folkboat".  Very seaworthy, self righting, self bailing cockpit and comfortable for it's size.  We will put an outboard in a well rather then the small inboard and I think strip plank it.  This is a real coastal cruiser for two and it has style.

Greetings,

Yes, the current issue of Small Boats covers the Grey Seal ...


http://www.woodenboat.com/wbmag/small-boats.html


Duckworks documents a build of a Grey Seal ...


http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/06/proj.../index.htm

... and the owner/builder says the gross weight for the boat and trailer is 6,500 lbs ...




The building method (by the designer) ...


http://www.woodenboatstore.com/prodinfo....=325%2D116


Wooden Boat Magazine issues #128, #129, and #130 form a three part series on the building of a Grey Seal ...


http://www.woodenboatstore.com/prodinfo....er=400-091

And the boys at Jordan Boats are in the process of making kits for most of Ian's other boats, and are just about done with a kit for the Grey Seal's little brother, the Wee Seal, so if you wanted to spend about $4000 and cut out a lot of building time, maybe you could convince them to hurry up and do the Grey Seal next ...
http://jordanboats.co.uk/JB/NAmerica.htm
http://jordanboats.co.uk/JB/what_is_in_the_kit.htm

Cheers,
Tom

Many thanks to you gentlemen for the info. For as much as I love the Vacationer, the Grey Seal seems to have all the characteristics that I wanted to "modify" into the Vac. (self righting, self draining cockpit, etc.). I am also pleased to hear that a well with an outboard was possible. What HP outboard is applicable in this case? Also, if you will excuse my ignorance, would it seem possible to go with a sprit and make it a gaff cutter? That seems, at this point, the only thing I would consider changing. Thx again! 


capnpablo

A cutter rig on a boat of this size is quite impractical. It also detracts from the boat's windward abilities, which are limited to begin with because of windage, appendage and rig type choices. Knowing that this would be the case, Iain did a nice job of shaping the buttocks aft to permit fairly good windward work (given the inherent limitations), it would be a sin to discount his efforts with cutter rigged headsails.

To be technical, the boat wouldn't be a cutter, but would be a sloop with double headsails. A cutter has the mast nearly amidship, while a sloop has the mast in the forward 1/3 of the LWL. If you just added a sprit and additional headsail, then your rig would wouldn't balance over her CLP any more and you'd have lee helm, which can be quite dangerous. In very light air (less then 5 knots) you would be able to use the second headsail, but it seems silly to carry this extra sail for such a limited range of sailing conditions.

You could always put a bowsprit out there for looks and impaling passing jet skies with.

Jet ski perforation is best left to projectiles, such as spear guns, though if you can arrange a spear gun assembly that can handle your bow sprit . . .

Greetings Ryerson and Paul,

Neither of you are thinking from a "systems" point of view.  If you want to deal with PWC, then you have to have equipment that was designed with this in mind, and not try to adapt existing hardware to perform double duty.

I refer you all to this article, titled ...

   The Ultimate PWC Repellent
   Advanced Tactical Weaponry for the Catamaran Sailor

... at http://www.west.net/~lpm/hobie/archives/...umor.shtml

Cheers,
Tom

Yet once again, Paul, you have been a font of information! I thank you for the tech info regarding dbl hds'l sloop. Fortunately the "Seal" is such a beautiful vessel she's a head turner as is. My query was purely an aesthetic one. I have to say that I am in complete agreement with the keeping it simple up front. I'd likely spill my rum runner messing with the extra sail, sheets and halyard! A double sin! Speaking of keeping it simple up front, I'm in favor of the spear gun as on The Mariner's tri in Waterworld. We know it'll take out a plane! (I do like the missile launcher, however, you wouldn't be able to hear them scream!) ;D

capnpablo

Hey paul, I love Robert Service, have most of his works