My plan was to design and build a simple boat for a couple approaching
retirement age to live aboard and go cruising without the need for
additional paid crew.
If you lost the engine, if you lost the batteries, you could get to
safe harbor as long as you had wind.
As a result, simplicity and the "KISS" principle drove the design.
A lot of evenings were spent making various scale layouts
of the interior, trying various ideas to see what would work in this
boat, while also studying the plans Roberts provided.
Seems like hundreds of sketches were made and rejected before the
final layout was selected.
Some, but not all, of those ideas are as follows:
1) No matter how well two (2) people get along, each has to have some
"private space", from time to time. The interior layout as it exists,
will provide that opportunity.
2) With a two (2) person crew, no need for lots of bunks or multiple
heads, but a lot of storage space would be required for long term
living.
3) A generous stateroom, complete with a king size mattress, for use
while on the hook or at dock was important to me. You may have other
ideas. A support frame for a king size matress exists.
4) A good secure pilot berth, located amidships, for use while at sea,
to insure quality sleep is essential, in my opinion.
5) Since only one head would be required, it should be of adequate
size so as not to feel claustrofobic, and contain a comfortable
shower.
6) A hydraulic bow thruster would simplfy getting into and away from
dock with a crew of two. An installed bow thruster tube exists.
7) It's tough enough to cook while underway, an adequate, well
organized, and safe galley is a must.
8) Boats require lots of attention, so having a workshop was high on
my list of priorities.
The plan was to convert the work bench into a pilot berth while at sea
by adding a mattress and retaining straps.
9) Lots of 12 VDC house batteries. A large, well engineered house
battery package complete with an adequate recharging system goes a
long way towards eliminating the need for 120 VAC shore power. (See
ELECTRICS)
10) Have done enough cruising to accept the fact that the engine is
probably used at least 35% of the time, thus a good engine with easy
access was/is a must.
Coming from the Great Lakes, cold weather comfort was of great
concern.
A pilot house would solve that problem, but at what cost?
The cost would be reduced access to the engine, a cost I was not
willing to pay.
I felt a good engine with easy access was more important than cold
weather comfort, thus a center cockpit design was chosen, complete
with an overhead hatch.
The overhead hatch above the engine provides a means to drop in the
engine any time during construction as well as providing access to
install the king size mattress in the aft stateroom.
11) A large bimini over the cockpit was/is planned.
The plan was/is to generate at least 80% of electrical power from
solar panels, so a large bimini would provide not only protection from
the sun but lots of space for mounting solar panels.
12) A wind vane is a must have item on an off shore cruising boat, in
my opinion. Have known boats that have tried to use only electrical
autopilots. When an alterbator failed, the autopilot became useless,
and it required 4 days of hand steering to return to port.
A self contained servo type wind vane, complete with a small push-pull
electric auto pilot to control the vane down wind or when motoring
was/is planned.
A self contained servo type wind vane eliminates bringing lines, which
will stretch and introduce errors, back to the wheel located in the
cockpit. It also provides the emergency rudder all in one package.
13) A large, well insulated, refrigerator/freezer is required. Dual
cooling loops offer a lot of advantages.
14) Ventilation. Lots of overhead hatches are planned. Have yet to
meet the opening port light that didn't leak, thus only fixed ports
were planned. You may have other ideas.
15) Chain lockers. Dual chain lockers complete with drainage grates
exist.
16) Tankage. There should be multiple tanks for fluids along with a
means to inspect and clean them.
There are 12 fuel tanks providing about 700 gallons of capacity which
also provides lots "fuel polishing" capability. (See The TANKS)
There are 6 potable water tanks providing about 300 gallons of
capacity on board while also including "watermaker" capability at a
future date. (See The TANKS)
The fuel and potable water tankage plumbing distribution is such that
any tank can be pumped to any other tank thus allowing these liquids
to be used as high side liquid ballast during long passages.
All the parts are fabricated, only final assembly is required to
complete the plumbing distribution system of fuel and water tanks.
A custom 65 gal waste water tank exists.
A custom 15 gal gray water tank exists.
A custom 20 gal hydraulic oil tank exists.
Those are just some of my design ideas; however, there is plenty of
room for you to add/modify this list.
Back to, THE STORY
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