On Sat, 18 Dec 2004 16:04:05 -0600,
(MrCruise) wrote:

I've nearly decided on the "The Vacationer" from the stevenson projects
website. Of all the boats I looked at, this one seems like the one I can
build everything myself, this includes keel, mast, and even the sails.


There are several people who have built the Vacationer at my web site,
http://www.messing-about.com and a few who have added ballast. It
helps the boat tremendously, especially if added up in the forepeak.
There's also a few people who have taken the Pocket Cruiser and
stretched it to 124%, and it ends up being a very roomy boat. For the
amount of materials used, the PC is a more roomy boat (plumb bow, wide
transom and the cat rig means the mast is far forward for more room in
the cabin).

The Stevenson Projects boats are fun boats, and simple to build. You
can "camp out" in the cabin of the Vacationer OK, so with your
modified "sleeps 4" requirement, you can do OK with it.

Just remember that on any sail boat of this size, getting out to that
reef 7 miles away is going to take you over an hour at full speed
under sail (good wind, all that). Unlike a Hobie Cat, the Vacationer
will never exceed its hull speed of about 6 - 7 knots (well, it can,
but you will be "surfing down the face" and you don't want to go
there). Several of the builders have used electric outboards, and
they are OK if you are not trying to fight a current. They will push
the boat at about 3 - 4 knots, so if there's no wind, figure 2+ hours
out to the reef and back. If the gulf stream where you live is
stronger than that, you won't make headway against it. But a small 2
- 3hp gas outboard will push the Vacationer at hull speed and do
well.

The guys "down under" who sail these really push them to their limits,
dipping the rails in the water more on one sail than I do in a year of
sailing.
- - -
http://www.messing-about.com
Resources for the Boat Builder, Renovator and Small Boat Skipper