The 2017 Everglades Challenge.
The design
Most people know about the Everglades Challenge by now. Every winter, the RAID-class dash from Tampa to Key Largo, Florida, gathers paddlers and sailors from all around the country; I’ve had an eye on it for the longest time. 2017 it was going to be. We were finally settled just north of Tampa, with a running design shop, a CNC-table and a big stack of plywood.
First decision: what type of boat to design? Multi or mono, big or small, single or split rig, modern or traditional? After a little research I settle on a monohull, cat ketch rig, as small as practically possible. Since every design is a compromise, I decide early where I’ll give and where I will not: I want a small cruiser with excellent stability, comfortable at anchor, and that moves. Every other design characteristics will revolve around and be secondary to those primary ones. The result is RoG, “River of Grass” (see details in SCA #103, plan study section). I followed what I called the Honda-Civic-concept: With their limited size, compact cars are extensively studied to maximize comfort, freedom of movement and spaciousness in relation to the human body. This would translate well to a microcruiser, so I took a few steps outside the box, most notably the convertible forward table/V-berth. Large enough for a full-size map, it allows the sailor to sit facing forward, and also doubles as a comfortable sleeping platform. A bonus would be not to have to bum-rotate awkwardly in-and-out of a quarter berth.
The build
Esta historia es de la edición July/August Issue #106 de Small Craft Advisor.
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Esta historia es de la edición July/August Issue #106 de Small Craft Advisor.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
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A HEAD FOR RUBATO
I dislike port-a-potties. I'm not too fond of poop in any form, really, being non-scatological by nature.
THE ARTFUL SAILOR
Ain' nothin' new about using sails as nautical billboards. The ancients painted all sorts of signs and symbols on their sails.
Twin Keels
OUT WIHUEIRIJE with Howard Rice
Cedar Key 2022 Windy Boat Meet
Cartop Cruising
A New Trailer
THE BIGHTS
PLAN STUDY: Fancy Free
If you're looking for a simple and inexpensive cruising sailboat with traditional character, our FANCY FREE should fill the bill. The sharpie-dory hull with flat-bottom, hard-chine form is ideal for the amateur.
BOAT REVIEW: Rhodes 22 Revisited)
Overlooked by the masses, admired by owners—there are good reasons the Rhodes 22 has been in production for over a quarter century.
Another Favorite Mod
The always creative Tom Luque sent us details on one of his favorite modifications
BLOODY TUESDAY
“Although the author if indeed he even used his real name) calls this story fiction, we arent so sure. You be the judge. Eds
CRUISING ISLE ROYALE
I sle“ Royale on Lake Superior is one of my favorite places to cruise. Established as a National Park in 1931, Isle Royale is located about 20 miles off the North Shore of Lake Superior near the Minnesota/Canadian border.