Mark Smaalders Yacht Designs

More on the Simplicity 42

2010-04-06T10:38:00.000-07:00

Here's the latest, a pilothouse version.

And an alternative arrangement plan for the standard version.

I'm also considering an interior ballast option.

Simplicity 42

2010-03-29T06:56:00.000-07:00

This design is finally evolving, and has changed from the early version. The intent remains the same: a simple, practical and reliable ocean cruising boat. Watertight bulkheads fore and aft make her effectively unsinkable. Simplicity is intended as a comfortable liveaboard/long-distance cruising boat, which gives maximum space and comfort for minimum investment and labor. The boat's major features all stem her shoal draft: that has dictated the rig (center of effort as low as possible); the hull form (maximum form stability but sufficient depth and displacement to maintain good reserve stability); and the raised deck (important for both strength and stability).

The hull form is a simple modified v hull, with a flat center section (2.5' wide amidships, which tapers in width fore and aft); the chine between the bilge panels and topside panels is below the waterline for the entire length. There is a wide, shallow ballast keel that bolts to this flat, and on which the boat will sit when beached. Hull depth is 30", while overall draft at the skeg is 36". The centerboard is a simple, triangular shaped board.

Simplicity particulars

LOA: 42'

LWL: 37.5'

Beam: 12.5'

Draft: 3'

Disp: 21,750 lbs,

Ballast: 8000 lbs

Disp/Length ratio: 182

Sail Area

Gaff rig: 818 sq ft (lowers) SA/Disp ratio: 16.99. Sail area with topsail: 940

Simplicity full batten rig (see below): 890 sq ft (main, jib & staysail) SA/Disp ratio: 18.5

My initial thoughts on the Simplicity rig were to rig her as a ketch, and that may be an option, but a cutter works out well, and the single stick keeps costs down. The full batten rig features a heavily roached mainsail laced to the mast; the mast is hollow, and designed to need little support from the rigging. Battens are easily fashioned from PVC and douglas fir, and lacing the sails to the masts eliminates any problems with raising and lowering the sail, making expensive luff hardware unnecessary. The gaff rig shown above was a later addition, and uses a very similar mast. It will have more sail area when flying the topsail.

She features a raised deck to maximize on stability and interior/deck space, for strength, and for ease of construction. All hull panels are plywood, over plywood bulkheads and frames. Construction is straightforward, using the permanent bulkheads, frames and other interior fittings as molds. Builders have the option of using a traditional chine or using epoxy coving and biaxial tape ("liquid joinery" style); bulkheads and interior joinery can also be secured with cleats or epoxy and tape. The deck is laminated plywood over fore and aft beams.

Power will be about 35 hp, swinging a folding prop.

The concept is based loosely on designs by Ralph Munroe, who lived in Florida beginning in the 1880's. He produced a series of very able, fast, shoal draft boats, the most famous of which was the Presto. Also among his designs were the 52' shoal draft cruising yachts Carib and Alice.

Plans are being prepared. Send me an email (see my website for contact details) to inquire.

The full batten rig for Simplicity is being tested by Bob Wise on his dismasted Cal 34. Here's what she'll look like.

Bob is building the rig over the next few weeks. Read all about it at his blog.

East Coast Kahunas

2009-12-24T10:54:00.000-08:00

Three boats are currently building to the Kahuna design on the East Coast -- in Maine, New York and North Carolina.

Scott MacCready's Kahuna in Blue Hill, Maine:

More photos from Scott are online at the WoodenBoat Forum.

In New York, Paul Thompson is working on the cabin and deck:

And in North Carolina Cecil Borel is building a long cabin version:

Here's the bulwark hardware:

NS 29 in Blegium

2009-10-06T15:38:00.000-07:00

Jan Saey, who lives in Belgium, originally commissioned the North Sea 29 design. These photos show several stages of construction. Jan hopes to right the hull soon.

2009-09-13T20:06:00.000-07:00

A North Sea 29 is taking shape in Montana. She's being built by Richard and Jane Beck, whom I had the pleasure of meeting at the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival this weekend. I haven't seen the boat yet, but she looks great in the photos. Richard is a cabinet maker by trade, so I'm sure the workmanship will be superb. They have started a blog of the building.

2009-09-11T21:22:00.000-07:00

One of my Wynfall designs was built in Portugal a few years ago (see above) by Martin Lund, who subsequently sailed her across the Atlantic to Brazil, and then north to the Caribbean. She has now been sold, an the new owner has started a blog about his sailing adventures aboard Katla.

Sailing aboard Kadimah, a Kahuna built in Australia by Jeff Ingham

2008-11-11T11:00:00.000-08:00

I'm just back from an oversea trip that included a stop in Gosford, Australia (about an hour north of Sydney), where I sailed for two days with Jeff Ingham, builder and owner of Kadimah, the first Kahuna to be launched.

Kadimah

Kadimah at her mooring

Jeff at the helm

As you can see from the photos, Jeff did a superb job in building the boat, which is all the more remarkable because his vision is seriously impaired, due to an accident early in the building (** please remember to always wear your safety glasses**). My thanks to Jeff and his friends for their very warm hospitality.

Performance and handling
Kadimah handled very well -- stiff, weatherly, with impressive speed in light airs. After motoring out the winding channels leading south from Gosford to Broken Bay, we headed offshore some 10 miles or so. The swell was 1.5 to 2 meters. Winds were generally 8-10 knots, rising to 12 or so on occasion.

In these conditions Kadimah sailed at 5 knots to windward, 6 on a close reach, and 6-7 knots on the return, broad reaching with the swell.

We were carrying main, staysail, and jib, with the topsail up for a portion of the sail (it needed some adjustment to set properly, which we couldn't do underway).

Kadimah from the dinghy

Laminated gaff jaws

Kadimah happily maintained her course (within a 10 degree range) with the tiller lashed to windward.

Jeff has sailed inshore in 25 knots under full main and staysail, and said she performed very well.

Deck layout
Jeff varied the cockpit arrangement slightly, with the seats below the deck so that they will be level when cushions are used. The result is very comfortable. He also enlarged the main cabin trunk (2 m wide in place of 6') and forward trunk (to 1 m by 2 m, instead of 3' x 6'). These changes result in somewhat more room below; there remains ample room on deck.

Cabin layout
Jeff has opted to place the head forward, followed by a double berth to stb and storage and desk to port, and main cabin with aft galley. Some interior details still need to be finished, but the layout is very comfortable, with ample space. Jeff is very pleased with the integral water tanks below the cabin sole; the bilge channel had some water in it, from a dripping shaft seal, but contained this very effectively.

Spacious forward head

Desk in forward cabin (taken during construction)

Galley