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A Mystery Proa

 Reports  Proas

The first post of 2024 brings us a mystery! Google maps satellite image of coordinates 46.953458,-122.647452 in Yelm WA, US, reveals an object of curious size and configuration. At 110’ in length, it appears to be a gigantic proa!

Low-res images notwithstanding, we see a copy (more or less), of a traditional Pacific proa such as the Fijian ndrua or Samoan alia. However the streamlined “pod” shape of the akas (cross beams) certainly…

04 February 2024     10 comments.

QB - a 21’ cruising schooner proa

 Reports  New Designs  Boatbuilding  Proas

Skip Johnson is building another proa! An avid contributor to the old Proafile forum(RIP), Skip has built some truly radical proas in his day. Toning down the rad half a notch for his latest, QB is a well-proportioned pocket cruiser, using a novel construction method of Gpet sheet foam core and fiberglass. Much thanks for the building report, Skip! -Editor

QB Design and Construction Report

By Skip Johnson

QB aka “Questing Beast” from…

A 1:12 size model in corrugated cardboard, illustration board, the old gold standard isn't readily available here in the hills of Oklahoma.

17 October 2023     13 comments.

The Dawson Proa Construction Method Part 2

 Reports  Boatbuilding  Proas  Research

Part 2 of Topher Dawson’s report on constructing his proa SGIAN GHLAS.
See Part 1. -Editor

Main Hull Construction Sequence - Part 2

See photos above.

  • Side/seat joints filled, glassed, rounded, glassed.
  • Centre section bulkheads extended upwards to support a foredeck which is needed to support each mast.
  • Seat back panels modeled with a skeleton structure of plastic conduit pipe.
  • Panels made of 25mm foam and glassed.
  • Panels laid on seats…
Centre section bulkheads extended upwards to support a foredeck which is needed to support each mast.

14 October 2023     1 comments.

The Dawson Proa Construction Method Part 1

 Reports  Boatbuilding  Proas  Research

Topher Dawson sends a report on his method of construction for SGIAN GHLAS, the proa featured in the previous article. It is as delightfully creative and sensible as the design itself. This is Part 1 of 2. -Editor

24’ Proa Construction Details

By Topher Dawson

Urethane foam core (Tricast 5) or other cores, with glass and polyester resin, makes for a strong, stiff and light panel. Nomex, carbon and epoxy would be stronger, stiffer and…

Lay out three panels of 25mm foam 8ft by 2ft and hot glue them together with butt joints.

06 October 2023     2 comments.

Sgian Ghlas - the Cold Water Proa

 Reports  New Designs  Proas

SGIAN GHLAS (Grey Knife in Gaelic) is a new 24’ foam cored fiberglass proa submitted by Topher Dawson of Ullapool Scotland.

At first glance I thought it was the second silliest proa design I’d ever seen! Like someone had accidentally beached their dory on the back of a small submarine or a Narwhal? However, Topher Dawson is perfectly serious about his new proa, and as I studied the odd craft and read his reasoning for it, I found…

21 September 2023     9 comments.

The Proa Sidecar

 Reports  Proas  Rigs

It was a great pleasure last week to open an email from Robert Zabukovec, who proceeded to share his experience sailing an astounding proa of his own design: SIDECAR. Why astounding you may ask? Proafile gets a lot of “unusual” sailboat ideas sent along over the years and I like to think I’ve seen it all, but this is the first time I’ve seen a shunting biplane proa rig. The unusual rig works well and the canoe is beautifully…

Sidecar

19 January 2023     25 comments.

Daikon - the Raid Proa

 Reports  Boatbuilding  Proas

Blair Cowan reports on progress building and sailing his 21’ lug rigged schooner proa. The construction took one year, from May 2021 to May 2022. He has sailed the boat all season and plans to sail the Texas 200 in 2023 and next year’s Everglades Challenge. Blair writes:

DAIKON - The raidboat proa. A shunting outrigger canoe built for inland lake sailing and coastal adventure camping. The 21’ self-bailing Ojibwe-Chippewa inspired…

06 November 2022     3 comments.

Madness Rides Again

 Reports  Proas

The new owner of MADNESS has submitted some recent pics and videos of the 31’ proa doing his thing on Chesapeake Bay. MADNESS is a plywood and epoxy Pacific Proa design of John C. Harris. The plans are available here at CLC Boats. He says:

Proa MADNESS has been back in the water for 1 year and logged approx. 300 NM.
Max speed so far has been 17 kts with average speed being 8 to 10.

The video has some great footage of the lee pod…

Proa Madness

17 August 2021     2 comments.

Waan Aelon in Majel

 Reports  Boatbuilding  Proas

Jo and Rob of the sailing yacht Double Trouble post an interesting video about WAM (not the 80’s band) but Waan Aelon in Majel, a canoe and boat building school in Majuro, Marshall Islands. The idea is to provide a way for islanders to get off the petrol habit. Gas powered launches supply the islands now, and it is ruinously expensive, thus the interest in alternatives. Henrik Richter-Alten and Rob Denney are conducting a 3 month…

Waan Aelon in Majel

19 September 2020     3 comments.

Alu Proa Build in Belgium

 Reports  Boatbuilding  Proas

I was pleased to find this email from Ewaut Van Wassenhove in my inbox:

It was a while ago but through your website I came across plans for Madness by Chesepeake Light Craft and now I’m building a scaled up version of the plans in aluminum in Belgium.

I’m super stoked about the design and I’m making an effort to make weekly updates on YouTube about the whole build.

I recently made a YouTube explainer video or an effort to explain…

18 January 2020     4 comments.