Decisons

[Hightides Fran]

So having completed the 'training' boat - an Iain Oughtred Humble Bee, which some of you will have seen at Beale last year, I have now completed enough chores to be allowed to do the next one!
I was originally going to build an IO Tammie Norrie (and already have the plans), but feel the urge to do something larger.
I'm after a family-ish daysailor, clinker ply, enough for 4 adults sailing occasionally, (two and a child regularly) but easily single handable and think my choices have boiled down to the IO Penny Fee or the SF Able.
I have looked at lots of other designs of the 15'/16' size, but think these two are seem to work for me - well one of them anyway...
What might I have not thought about to make the final decision?

Thanks

Fran

[Port-Na-Storm]

Hi Fran,
Now that the clamour of replies has died down...................

Congratulations on building up the brownie points, I'm just coming out of a six month epic slog doing home improvements and have been allowed back into the garage for a while.

Its interesting that quite a few of the folk who hang around this forum actually build a smaller boat second time around, they've found that in truth they mainly sail alone and a small boat is much easier to manage. I do accept that if you start with a Humble Bee then the only way is up.

Things to think about;
You said the boat should be easy to handle single-handed, I presume that includes launch and recovery which is when you will really notice the difference in size.  I have seen John Sharp's Able close up and it really is quite a big boat, much much bigger than the Tammie Norrie. I haven't seen a Penny Fee but I'd imagine it lies somewhere in between the Tammie and the Able.

What are you going to tow it with, have you factored in the cost of the trailer?

How long will it take you to build it, (really) and will all these people still be around to sail with you when its finished.  



The Tammie is a very nice boat and would be perfect for Two and a Child, and Single Handing. Personally I'd go for the Balanced Lug with Mizzen option, much more room in the boat and simpler to build and rig.  
I'd tell your friends to get their own boat. And remember you'll have to think what your next-again boat will be which leaves room to go even bigger.
Have fun whatever you decide, and let us know.
Cheers Graham

[Hightides Fran]

Thanks Graham,
 You raise an interesting point about build time and who's a round. The HB took about 2 years to build, and I was expecting something like double that for the next one, which then means that after 4 (5 maybe 6) years the child will (effectively) be another adult...
And trailering - they really don't come cheap - even second hand I was surprised, but there's plenty of build time to save up for that - oh and the sails.
I like the idea of the lug yawl, the HB has a lug rig, nice and easy to rig - still waiting for the weather to improve enough for me to try sailing her yet though.
Finally, it also comes down to budget as well, I already have the TM plans - so no more expense there and it requires considerably less wood (and glue) to make. quick budgeting suggest I can get all the wood for the TM including building frame and moulds for less than the price of just the plywood for the Able.
But the Penny Fee...

And I must remember to spellcheck after a couple of glasses of wine!

Regards

Fran

[Paul H (admin)]

Fran,

Graham is spot on about building a boat you can manage single-handed. I built a "people carrier" when the kids were young, but several years on she is being converted to a "sports model".

-Paul

[David Bewick]

I am , of course, biased but Francois Vivier's Aber is a great boat for single handed use and the occasional passenger or two.  It took me six years to make my up mind what to build.  Tammie Norrie was a favourite for a long time but I have no regrets about my final choice.

David.

[Port-Na-Storm]

I think I wrote somewhere that after the plans, the ply and some epoxy all the big expenditure comes at the end of a build. Sails and Trailer are expensive and good chandlery can be eye-wateringly expensive. If you think you might need an outboard then that's another big outlay.

Clinker ply uses much less epoxy than any other build method, balanced lug rigs use much less fittings than most others, and a boat of around 14ft can easily be propelled without an engine, and towed behind the smallest of cars.

It shouldn't take you much longer to build than the Humble Bee, roughly the same number of components, they're just bigger.
Crack on!
Graham