Proafile v5.0 | Updated: Jul 28, 2010

Flotsam & Jetsam Proas

Proas Through the Ages

Posted by on 01/04 at 09:08 PM


My buddy Lee picked up this ancient artifact for me recently: How to Build 20 BOATS, a Fawcett 50 cent publication from 1943. It's reprinted material from Mechanix Illustrated, and it happens to include the PLYWOOD PROA by Hi Sibley. Aside from the historical value (nearly equivalent to King Tut's Tomb) I find it interesting that:

1. In all the years since then, plywood is still the preferred construction material for amateur boat construction. You'd think we'd be using Unobtainium by now.

2. The usual story about the growth of the multihull "movement" in the U.S. is that WWII servicemen returned from duty in the South Pacific where they had witnessed outriggers first hand, and then proceeded to create modern versions such as Woody Brown's Manu Kai. Does this article confirm that story, or does it imply an earlier origin?

3. The cover photo. I can't help but be drawn to this woman and her enigmatic grin. Like Mona Lisa, I keep imagining the real reason for that smile...



Remainder of proa article after the jump.

Comments

  • That’s a very interesting looking book Lee got for you.

    Is there any chance of reproducing further pages for the 1943 proa?

    Posted by Andy  on  01/05  at  11:57 AM
  • Hi Andy, not much more to see, but I scanned the remainder and included it in the article.

    Cheers, Michael

    Posted by  on  01/05  at  05:37 PM

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