newcomer in hull

[chrismac]

Ive been lurking here a while picking up information. I have just taken early retirement and am intending to build a catamaran. I am drawn to the woods gypsy design, but have recently found the following 30ft design; www.thecoastalpassage.com/cheapcat.html (http://www.thecoastalpassage.com/cheapcat.html) Does anybody have any knowledge of this design? It certainly seems a very easy method of construction.

[Woodbrook]

Shouldn't that be "newcomer in hull's'" ;)

[ireaney]

Shouldn't that be "newcomer in hull's'" ;)
Darren
He may be from the North East of England a place on the coast called Hull ;), but probably not and you are probably right :(

[chrismac]

my mistake I should have put Hull,east yorkshire, england. For those of you who dont know, its a large port on the banks of the humber on the east coast.

[Talbot]

Welcome to this forum.

Which Australian kit are you considering?

Do you have plans for your useage of the boat?

Are you aware that Richard Woods is a contributor to this forum so would be ale to answer any specific queries about his design.

[Woodbrook]

Sorry guys, I was just messin' around. I've been living here in Canada for almost six years, but I'm an English lad; sometimes the opportunity to have a laugh just takes me.

I know Hull reasonably well, my brother-in-law is from there (although now in Australia).

Welcome to the forum Chris! I'm sure you'll find the answers you're looking for - Good luck

[chrismac]

Hi Talbot, sorry for the delay in writing. I had allready decided on building a woods gypsy but then saw the csc30 on the coastal passage website. It looks like a very easy form of construction although the beams seem rather small. I was wondering what other people thought of this design.

[Talbot]

I thought the beams were rather light, and there didnt seem a lot of resistance to torsion and to one hull moving forward compared to the other. Accomodation looked really sparse. I guess she would be fine as a coastal cruiser, but I think the Gypsy is a bit more capable and spacious.

Which is better for you would need a cost benefit analysis for your specific requirements.

[chrismac]

after weighing everything up I will build the gypsy. The plans are more detailed and it does look stronger than the csc31. Also it is a proven design. I just have to build a shed to get started.

[Talbot]

after weighing everything up I will build the gypsy. The plans are more detailed and it does look stronger than the csc31. Also it is a proven design. I just have to build a shed to get started.

Project plan should set specific milestones. You should include some time off and some reward at each of these milestones

[Woods Designs]

Thank you Chrismac for your interest in my Gypsy. As you say it is a well proven design, two have crossed the Pacific.

It is also possible to build it quickly and cheaply. I know, because I did.

In 1996 it took me around 900 hours to my first sail (grp foam sandwich flat panel hulls, ply decks and cuddy) and cost me around GBP5000 to that stage. But of course I had built boats before and always build 50ft boats (look at my FAQs page on my website if you don't know what that means)

I spent all the money I had at the time, so I know it wasn't more than that. But I did get lucky with the rig. I bought a mast for GBP50, all the standing rigging (new, cut to the wrong size by the riggers for a different boat) was GBP12, boom GBP20 at Beaulieu boat jumble, used 4 stroke 9.9 Yamaha for GBP600 etc. I did spend money on good sails though.

And I spent almost as much again on solar panel, generator, spinnaker, gps etc. And quite a bit more time, painting the interior, fitting electrics etc

The "cheap cat" you saw is much smaller than a Gypsy (open cuddy, small hulls). I don't like to criticize other people designs, but the plywood looks suspect in the first photo and I assume it has daggerboards as the keels are very small and un hydrodynamic.

Richard Woods in the Bahamas on his Romany (a 34ft Gypsy) still waiting for the gales to come

www.sailingcatamarans.com (http://www.sailingcatamarans.com)