Pages

Thursday, June 13, 2024

34' Cutter    

I spent the summer of 2022 cruising in Alaska, and this new design reflects features that are ideal for exploring such waters. This is a stout but simple boat, intended for a workboat finish. She's substantial, displacing over 22,000 lbs, which means she can accommodate the stores, gear and tankage needed for cruising in remote areas, and living aboard for long periods. She's designed to be easy to work under sail, with a cutter rig, wide side decks, high bulwarks, and an uncluttered foredeck. The pilothouse provides welcome shelter in cold or wet conditions, while her cabin will be a welcome haven when you've dropped the hook.


Construction is straightforward: strip planking over laminated frames. The keel is a steel box that holds both the ballast and the primary fuel tank. It makes for an incredibly strong structure.




The long-promised OLGA 31 is available, with a choice of a swim step or long cockpit.


 

An extended cabin is possible, with an aft head. Suggested power is a 115 HP outboard.


 Full details are  on my website.



Hess 32' Cutter
 

A few years ago Steven Brouwer, of Hunter Bay Woodworking on Lopez Island asked me if I could design an interior for the 32' Lyle Hess cutter he is building, as he wanted something different than the layout drawn by Hess. Steven was drawn to the interior I drew for my 32’ Kahuna design. However, the hull shapes of the two designs differ sufficiently that a new interior was needed. The layout Steven and Molly settled on, while common for boats of this size, is quite a departure from most Hess cutters, and features a long cabin trunk rather than the trademark short house employed by Hess. The changes result in a very comfortable interior that highlights Steven’s superb craftsmanship.

The design alterations extend to the rig, where we opted for rectangular box spars in place of the round mast and boom, and reduced the mast rake; she will be rigged with a loose-footed, full-battened main from Port Townsend Sails. Rigging will be 1x19 wire, using Hi-Mod compression fittings. Steven is making the tangs in his shop from silicon bronze.  At this point the interior and the systems are largely complete, along with deck, cabin, and bulwarks. The mast has been glued up, and Steven is focusing on hardware, hatches, and various other details, with a projected launch in 2025.

There are more photos and drawings on my website.