Wa’apa Builder intro
Hello,
I’m (slowly) building a Wa’apa. I’m exited about it’s modularity, and relatively quick build schedule (that is when I stop letting life get in the way). I have the frames done, and now that I have moved will get it finished up after I set up shop in my garage.
The plan is to build it as a 24’ proa, using the Gary Dierking’s book as a guide for all the rigging. I plan to keep it pretty stock, with the exception of using Gary’s Ama Nui. The Ama Nui is built in the same manner as the plywood Ama, just a bit bigger. Actually, I think it is very similar to the ama on his Te Wa. I will use the boat with my wife and friends in the Tampa Bay area, maybe some trips to the 10,000 Islands or Florida Keys. Mostly day sailing, with some fishing, scallop diving and overnight spoil island camping trips.
Beyond that, I would like to build and try out the T2, either in strip plank or (if I could give it a stiff enough backbone) in fuselage Skin on Frame like the kayaks from Yostwerks.com. With that one, I’d like to try the Gibbons/Dierking rig.
Unfortunately, most of the Wa’apa builds seem to be set up as tacking outriggers. I have only seen 1 set up in the 16’ shunting configuration.
I have build a few stitch and glue boats, and used some plans provided by another member (Skip) to build a fun little Easy B cedar strip canoe. I really like strip built boats and that process now. Before that I had a 28’ San Juan monohull. I grew up sailing in the Tampa/St Pete/Clearwater area on a O’day Javelin, but not much on multihulls.
Recently, all the press on John Harris’ Madness has gotten me stoked to get started building and get out of my pra-armchair and see what it is really like. I would like one day to have a larger day sailer/cruiser along those lines. Also a big fan of the P52, Mbuli, and some of the enlarged T2s that are being blogged and cruised. Even though it is not a Proa, I am waiting impatiently for Evergreen plans as I think that boat would be a great fit for my family’s sailing.
Welcome Flsail and thank you for intro and info on your plans for sailing. I have noticed, too, that most wa’apas are set up as tackers. I guess Gary having his own in that configuration would have an influence. It would be interesting to hear from owners why they have chosen to go the tacking outrigger route.
I’m building a tacking 16’ Wa’apa because the sailing bits are simpler than on a shunting version. Like you, mine is taking *ahem* longer than anticipated. I want to get sailing asap!
Once I have the tacking version dialed, I might experiment with shunting—but it means making two dagger rudders (each of which is more complex than making a lee board and gary’s kick up rudder). I did make sure to make my safety ama double ended, in case I decide to try shunting. But getting on the water with my kid before she’s too old to care about getting on the water with me is my goal.
But in case its not clear from all of the failed proa experiments out there, making an efficient set up within the constraint of reversibility is NOT easy. That’s what makes Russ Brown’s boats all the more amazing.
I know. I built an experimental proa ten years ago. It worked really well, but was still far behind the development curve from its tacking brethren.
http://proafile.com/archive/article/palindrome_a_land_proa
Best,
Chris
Thanks Chris,
I am a bit apprehensive about all the fiddly sailing bits, but I’m so intrigued after lurking the proa forums for so long, I have to try it. That is where the modular design of the Wa’apa shines. I know if I am not happy with my proa set up I can just reconfigure as a tacker at 16’ or 24’ but still have the option to try shunting again.
To start with, I think I will use the suggested steering oar. I understand it is not great for long sails, but where I plan to start out launching from Sutherland Bayou and sailing in St Joseph’s sound I should be ok to start. The hard part will be managing the expectations of my passengers who only know tacking craft.
http://maps.google.com/?ll=28.070769,-82.791595&spn=0.077552,0.169086
When I want to play with rudders what I think I will start out with is to make 4 outboard brackets. In the book Gary makes a point of one being indispensable, even if you don’t have a motor. So the idea would be to mount on on each iako. For the other two, I would extend the crossbar out at the bow(s) and mount there. I would then make 2 kick up rudders, and have 4 possible mounting points to play with.
Thanks
Jon
I like the idea of mounting the rudders on the aka—like Gary’s outboard motor mount. I’ve been thinking about bonding a smaller version of that on mine—but without the provision for an outboard.
Kick up rudders are nice. And in conjunction with a leeboard for variable CLR it could work. You pop up the old rudder, pop down the new, sail off and adjust the leeboard.
If I were going to try any externally mounted proa rudders, I think I’d want to try the kind of set up James Brett used—locking one tiller and being able to slide that up and down. Its two elements to deal with instead of three. But maybe that’s just making it harder on myself. You’d probably need to resolve the torques acting on the bottom pintle with some kind of strut to the hull—where you can resolve it with a piece of rope on gary’s design, where the rudders only go in one direction.
I’d love to see what you come up with!
best,
chris
Chris, I checked out your land palindrome. That must have been a hoot, indeed. The beauty of three wheeled vehicles is that they have no torsional forces to have to deal with. The steering wheels seem to have some ‘trail’ behind the castor angle as in motorcycle fork geometry. Is this so and how did the ‘rear’ wheel track in reverse?
Looking forward to hearing how you go with your rudders, Jon.
cheers
Hey James,
It was (and still is) a hoot. You can check out footage of it here.
The palindrome footage starts at 2:31.
The interesting about a proa on tires is that there is pneumatic trail, which is relative to the direction you are moving. So it reverses when you shunt—automatically! If only rudders did that, right?
Best,
Chris
Here’s my Wa’apa as of last weekend, with my boat building buddy inside. One more epoxy coat on the bottom and topsides to go. Amas are built but need final sanding and epoxy coat. I’m laminating the first aka after lunch.
As I like to say, not done, but not not done.
chris
hi Chris, Thanks for the link. I hadn’t heard of pneumatic trail before but i can see how it works. It is handy, indeed, that it automatically shifts to the rear of the contact patch. Good luck with your akas!
cheers
Thanks for the pictures Chris, more motivation. I’m building a tool stand in my shop (pretty cool in its own right google UTS or Ultimate Tool stand)
Most of the cuts are done for that, should be assembled in the next couple weeks. Then back to work on the Wa’apa - bottom, sides and gunnels I think will be first. Then iakos, Ama Nui. I may start diving into the sailing bits too, as those can be fun discrete projects like steering oars, the mast and yards, leeboard and all the rest.
The last 2 years I have taken a 3 day kayak trip to the Everglades, 10,000 islands. This year I would like to have the Wa’apa done, and be there to watch the Watertribers go by 😉
Jon