DSK wrote in message


Backyard Renegade wrote:

The weight is essential to a boat of this shape and size performing
properly. Like a Dory, you do not want to substitute lighter materials
for traditional designs...

Baloney. The only vehicle that benefits from added weight is a steamroller.
Lighter sailboats are faster all around, and are better handling, and in small
sizes the difference in roll/picth/heave acceleration (or 'the comfort index'
if you like) is trivial. As for rowing, if lighter wasn't better then they
would be adding lead to racing shells, canoes, and kayaks, which so far does
not seem to be a trend.

It has to do with the particular shape, use, and stability of a
particular design. Many canoes, shells etc.. are designed to be light,
Wherrys, and dories were not... Sorry to ruin your day.


I refer you to Bolger's legendary "Gloucester Gull" dory, one of the early
modernizations of traditional small boat design.

Yes, it is a nice boat, I have built a few, here is one of them:
http://smallboats.com/boats_ggull.htm

But still, some boats are designed to be more stable with the
origional weight and displacement, the wherry is one of those boats...
Scotty from SmallBoats.com



Fresh Breezes- Doug King