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.

More details are on my website

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.   

Olga 31

The Olga 28 has turned out to be a very popular design, but I've had reason to consider a slightly stretched version without the engine well. Some people have asked about a swim step, others wanted a slightly larger cockpit, or a bit bigger cabin. Beyond that, the outboard well works best for smaller outboards (say 60 hp); for larger engines, especially 4-strokes,  the transom cutout gets pretty big. The well also takes a big bite out of the bottom just where you want the planing area. 

With all that in mind I've done a couple of preliminary drawings for an Olga 31. The hull is unchanged except that it's extended by 3', and doesn't have a well. One version keeps the cockpit about the same size as the 28 and puts the outboard on the end of the swim step, or pod. The pod isn't an add-on but simply an extension of the hull that is cut down in height. The other version carries the hull out to a conventional transom, with the outboard mounted in a splash well.

The Olga 31 weighs a bit more than the 28 but gets quite a boost in buoyancy from the extra hull length. It allows for larger tanks as well as the option for a bit more interior space if that's desired. I think performance would be very similar.

Drawings haven't progressed beyond what I've posted here but are on the schedule for this winter.

Thanks to Paul Kessinger, and Ton Schoenmakers and Sytse Douna (all builders of the Olga 28) for discussing a transom mount Olga, which encouraged me to post these drawings.

Above and below, the pod version of the Olga 31

The Olga 31 transom version, with a stand-up head in the main cabin. 

Or use the original layout and have a bigger cockpit.   

      

 My website is moving. It is now live at www.woodenboatdesigns.com.  

Update on an Olga 28 in Germany

Friedbert Hennemuth, who has built a beautiful Olga 28 in Germany, has launched his boat, and posted updated photos on his website. More information and study plans ($10 via email)
are available here.

Quite a nice interior for a trailerable 28' boat!

 The cockpit cover provides a wonderful enclosed living space aft. 

This version has an inboard diesel, under the curved enclosure (below).

A view of the ample tankage.

More on the Olga 28

Olga 28 Tardis         Photo: John Kessinger

Thanks to Paul Kessinger, builder of Tardis (the first Olga 28 to be launched), I can share some performance figures. The information below is from Paul's excellent blog that details building and cruising on Tardis.


This graph shows fuel flow (FF) in gallons per hour, efficiency in nautical miles per gallon (NMG), and speed in knots (Kts). The x axis is engine RPM. Tardis is fitted with a 90 HP ETEC outboard.

The gray line (speed in knots Kts) shows a gradual increase to around 9 knots, and then a sharper increase with increasing RPM. The fuel burn increases steadily with RPM, while nautical miles per gallon declines very slowly after the initial drop in the 2000-3000 RPM range.

The steady increase in speed (Kts) vs RPM and fuel flow (FF) reflects the very smooth transition from displacement to planing speed. Its really not noticeable when you are aboard, and this graph gives the figures to support that.   

Olga 28 Tardis  slipping along in the East River (CT)
Photo: John Kessinger

Olga 28 Update

Paul and Molly Kessinger aboard Tardis at the show

The first Olga 28 to be completed (Tardis) was launched in Connecticut by Paul Kessinger in the spring of 2017. Paul entered Tardis in the WoodenBoat show at Mystic Seaport, and my partner Christine and I went back to meet Paul, and his wife Molly, enjoy their wonderful  hospitality, and see the boat. There was lots of interest from attendees, who were eager to hear about Paul's experience building Tardis. After the show we took Tardis for a spin down the coast. More details on that in my next post. For now some of Christine's photos:

Builder Paul Kessinger (on the left) and me (on the right) chatting aboard Tardis

The interior of Tardis, showing the raised sole
at the settee on the right, with storage below

Another view of the interior of Tardis. Paul opted for a separate helm seat,
which is very comfortable in use

Olga 28 Tardis going into the water after the end of the
Mystic Seaport  WoodenBoat Magazine show in 2017

The wake of the Olga 28 Tardis while running at about 14 knots. 

Beautiful Boats (continued). 

Beckon, a North Sea 29 built by Richard and Jane Beck, was launched in 2015 in Port Townsend. She is beautifully built and finished.

Beckon on a first sail in late 2015. Trimming a bit down by the bow (engine was not yet installed at that point).

And a few views from the deck on a sail in 2016, still working out a few details such as sheet leads.

Richard and Jane Beck (above, well bundled against the October chill, and below, in the beautifully finished cabin).

 Forward head/lockers

Beckon is a North Sea 29, built with a long cabin trunk

Beautiful boats!

I'm restarting this occasional blog with some posts of the beautiful work being done by the folks building my designs. 

We'll start with a Kahuna 32 that was launched this summer in North Carolina by Scott and Susan MacCready. I have not yet seen the boat, but Scott and Susan have done a beautiful job of building. Scott is now busy building the mast.

She has a midships galley, with main salon aft, a "pullman" style double berth with a chart table opposite, and head forward, as shown in the drawing below. As the photos show, the result is remarkably spacious for a 32' boat. 

Galley starboard  side

Galley starboard

Galley port side

 Main settee

Skylight above galley

 Chart table/desk

Chart table/desk

Double berth looks forward

Double berth looks aft, hatch above

All photos are courtesy of Scott and Susan, you can see more here, and here.