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sreynolds
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| Joined: | Thu Aug 10th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 1 |
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Posted: Fri Aug 11th, 2006 01:07 pm |
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| Does anybody have experience sailing the 21' Beachcomber-Alpha described in John Gardner's Building Classic Small Craft? Considering it as a multi-use boat, with addition of a low horsepower outboard in a well.
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Kim A
Member
| Joined: | Wed Apr 13th, 2005 |
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| Posts: | 1 |
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Posted: Tue Aug 15th, 2006 10:03 pm |
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| I can't comment specifically about the Beachcomber-Alpha, but perhaps some feedback on a comparable 16' swampscott dory (like mine)would be useful. It has some admirable qualities, but limitations also. As a multi-purpose row-sail-power boat, I like it a lot. With a 2hp Honda mounted through a hole in the transom, it goes at a comfortable speed at about 1/3 throttle; it doesn't need much power. It sails, but one shouldn't expect performance (speed, manueverability, pointing ability) comparable to a modern design of similar size. Mine shines best in rowing mode. With proper skills, one can keep it going at a good pace for hours with little effort. In all it's propulsion modes, it handles best when loaded down, and conversely it's less satisfying with a light load.
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davidmercer
Member
| Joined: | Fri Oct 6th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 1 |
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Posted: Mon Oct 9th, 2006 11:16 pm |
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| HI - I bought a partially built Beachcomber about nine years ago. It is epoxied Plywood lapstrake, backed by stringers and with no frames. I had fore and aft w/t tanks, gunwales and centerboard case installed by a boatbuilder. I built the centerboard, rudder, and installed side benches. I was inspired by the camp cruiser in Woodenboat # 163 - Dec. 2001 to rig it similarly as a fully battened gunter ketch in order to get the spars to fit inside the boat taking into account the w/t tanks. I have sprit booms and I built my sails hurriedly out of poly tarp material. They are rather crude, in fact I would go so far as to say my jib and mizzen are more of a liability than a help, especially to weather. That said, it does sail. I can get where I want to go more or less, but slowly. However, I can sense the true potential of the rig, and am eager to have proper Dacron sails. I've sailed in a Beachcomber with the big leg o' mutton of Gardener's design, and it's performance was spectacular, but exteme! I love the boat as does my family, the split rig makes it less of a hot rod and gives all crew member something to pull on. We do without an engine, and when the wind dies take to the oars. It rows beautifully, as it was intended to. As an all around boat, I feel it has no peer. Good looking, easy to row, easy to pull on a trailer, and it is very seaworthy, a little tender at first, but stiffens up quickly. After all it has quite a pedigree, those fishermen working off the beach for hundreds of years knew what was valuable. Attachment: Beachcomber Drawing.jpg (Downloaded 63 times)
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Brumenschenkel
Member
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Posted: Fri Feb 9th, 2007 04:54 pm |
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Hello,
I am replying a bit late to this message but thought you might like to hear from another Beachcomber owner. I launched my boat almost 12 years ago with very little sailing experience, I have found her to be a wonderful and forgiving teacher. A lively sailor and great rower, I can't imagine hanging an engine off her stern. I have had her completely full of camping gear and bodies which seemed to have little affect on her performance.
There are a number of things that I have modified or intend to , and many things I wish I had known during her construction. My sails are on tracks whic improves perforomance slightly but is an added expense. I cannot reef my sails , their shape makes the manouver problematic at best, add some extra ballast and pay attention. I have put the rail under and watched the green water roll over the gunwales in horror, but in retrospect we recovered quickly and wiith little fuss. The athwartship seating is also a pain sometimes and I continue to contemplate refitting with bench seats aft. I have also considered some flotation for peace of mind but have not acted on it. Josephine will have her first paint job since her building this spring, and I may alter the aft seating then.
The yoke steering takes abit getting used to and it has taken me a while to figure out the best arrangement for connecting the control lines. I tend to work in a vaccum so it takes me longer to figure these things out, a wise man would pick the brain of a boat builder. Alas the internet 12 years ago was not what it is today. I use rope and ring mast stays as I trailer alot and they are so fast to rig. The wire halyards seem like overkill to me. I would probably weigh the cost between plywood/ epoxy construction and semi traditional pine and rivets with a healthy dose of death grip 5200. My own boat is almost entirely mahogany because it was available to me through my employer for less than pine, and musch of the lumber was free. Don/'t skimp on materials it doesn't make sense, when you consider your time.
The lines of the Beachcomber are so sweet she is hard to resist, although there are more practical modern designs for camp cruising. I was actually set to build the sharpie Egret and changed my mind at the last minute when I found John Gardeners book in the Sommerville Library,photo copied the pages and never looked back. However with my wifes new enthusiasm for sailing and our love of camping we are looking toward a larger boat. A floating tent for four. Specificaly Ian oughtreds interpretation of the famous Egret which he has named Haiku. I am looking at selling my Beachcomber in another year, selling the motorcycle and going for it. Haiku is calling me. After years of dreamingof the next boat I have found one that fits all of my expectations, and she has the lineage of the Commofdores Egret to boot, full circle mate! Contact me directly if you want to chat on the Beachcomber.
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