Design #98 24ft Cutter ILA
These pages have construction and/or sailing photos of the boats from our shop.
This little boat was built for a sailor from Tomales Bay, just north of San Francisco. In summer the bay funnels the prevailing northwesterlies, making it a lively place to sail a small boat. After trying a number of dinghies the owner knew he wanted a boat beamy enough to make proper use of crew weight and capable of sailing well in strong winds.
"Surprise" is one we built for our own use in spare time over a period of five years. She is a small cutter of traditional model, full-keeled and in her proportions, fairly narrow and deep. She can sleep three, but is essentially a two person boat, laid out for comfortable coastal cruising.
A photo-series recording the construction of "Ila" in our shop.
Jennifer is a plywood boat, single chine, built on frames and stringers. Her unique feature is the engine location. She has a three-cylinder Perkins M30 diesel inboard, installed right forward under the double berth. This entails a long shaft train but permits unobstructed access to the wheelhouse from the cockpit. It also allowed us to build the engine into a sealed compartment with its own air supply in and out, thus greatly reducing engine noise levels.
The 24 ft. outboard cruiser "Wayward" was built in our shop by owner Bill Hayward in 2002. Construction is strip planked western red cedar sheathed inside and out with 17 oz biaxial glass cloth and epoxy resin.
Our plan files contain several designs in the 20 to 24 ft range for hulls suitable for steam or electric power.
This 22 ft fantail steam launch was built in our shop in 2001-2002. Power is a 2¾ hp steam engine turning an 18 in. x 30 in. propeller at 350 rpm.
Construction is double planked red cedar on bent oak frames, fully glued.
Lines plan for Design #123, 22 Foot Steam Launch
Boring for the stern tube.
The backbone is laminated yellow cedar with an oak worm shoe. The shaft log was assembled with a square pilot hole. The stern tube is glass and epoxy resin laid up over a copper liner and will be bonded in place. Here the boring bar has been set up ready to open up the pilot hole to tube diameter.
The hull construction is double planked red cedar on bent oak frames, to be built upside down. Here the building frame has been assembled and the temporary support structure for the beamshelves set up. The beamshelves, which are horizontal and sawn to shape, have been fitted to the curve of the sheer line. The first building mold is being set up.
Rim timber assembled and glued.
With the molds all set up, fashion pieces are fitted to the beamshelf in the stern to form the rim timber around the fantail.
The backbone has been lowered into place in the mold notches and fastened bow and stern. The rim timber has been dressed to shape and faired into the plank rabbet along the horn timber.
Ribbands and frames.
Ribbands notched into the molds completes the building jig. Ribbands attach to the rim timber and to the stem with jogged cleats to ensure correct alignment for the frames. The wide stringer is a permanent bilge stringer. In this picture framing has begun amidships.
Framing (July 2001)
The frames are Garry oak, 1 in. x 5/8 in. on 6 in. centres. Amidships they run in a single length from one side to the other. In way of the stem, shaft log and horn timber they are let into sockets chopped into the backbone. Here frame sockets are being chopped along the horn timber. July 2001.
Framing completed
Framing complete and faired for planking. Note frames boxed into backbone aft. Farther forward they run in a single length from sheer to sheer, with glued wedges at the garboard.
Planking in progress
Planking is two layers of red cedar laid fore and aft with seams staggered, set in epoxy glue. Fastenings are temporary screws through plywood buttons. Inner layer is 1/4" thick; the outer layer 1/2".
Planking complete
Before fairing, all holes left by fasteners are filled with pin plugs set in epoxy.
Turning the hull over
Design #123 hull and deck package ready for delivery to Bellingham WA. Installation of machinery and finish work will be carried out by the owner. 
Another view of the boat ready for delivery.
This is a scaled down rowing boat sized for children ages 5 to 10 years. A first boat ......
Share 
