Articles

Echo class trimaran ‘MOBY’ by Dick Newick

 Dock Ranger  Trimarans

A nearly complete 38’ Echo class trimaran by Richard Newick has become available in NSW Australia. Deceased Qantas First Officer and boat builder Graham Murray’s family must liquidate the project. Built of foam sandwich with carbon reinforcement, the boat was lengthened to 38’ during construction.

The listing also includes fittings and equipment, all new: outboard motor, mast, boom, rudder, tiller, winches, sails, hatch covers,…

Newick Echo class trimaran

11 February 2018     2 comments.

The Case for the Cargo Proa

 Proas

Inspired by tales of the early American schooner trade (er… smuggling), I recently sat down to draw a multihull version of an inter-island or coastal cargo schooner. Monohull traders have been done a thousand times, but maybe something interesting might be had by an examination of the multihull.

My ideal cargo multihull would be manageable by a small crew, perhaps as few as 3 or 4. It would operate wherever the trade-winds provide…

Righting arm comparisons

06 January 2018     6 comments.

Praocargo the Cargo Proa

 New Designs  Proas

Praocargo 12m model on Vimeo. Cargo vessel could be the role the proa configuration will claim as its own.

Shipping may be the most energy-efficient mode of cargo transport, but small ships transporting less than 4% of world cargo contribute 26% of all shipping emissions.

Advances in racing technology give us the tools to design a boat that is fast, light, and able to sail close to the wind, allowing us to open up sailing trade…

60m cargo proa proposal

28 December 2017     6 comments.

A Modular Touring Walap

 New Designs  Proas

Jan Stute and Siegfried Wagner have designed and built a modular camp-cruiser proa that was recently exhibited at Hanseboot in Hamburg. The design is based on a classic Pacific island sailing canoe, or walap, including a crab claw sail and deep-V asymmetrical hull, though realized in modern plywood and epoxy. The hull comes apart into three sections to make storage and transport more flexible.

We like the optional canoe dinghy, which…

modular camp-cruiser proa

26 November 2017     4 comments.

VOR Proa Foiler

 New Designs  Hydrofoils  Proas  Racing

Harryproa has been busy of late. Here’s a nicely modeled proposal for the new VOR Inshore Foiler races. It is, naturally, a proa in configuration, but that is where the similarity to a Pacific sailing canoe ends. The fully foiling triscaph may be vapor-ware at the moment, but considering the obvious thought that went into the proposal from shipping logistics to VIP guest seating we hope this one makes it to prototype stage. Read Rob…

VOR racing proa concept

26 November 2017     0 comments.

A Practical Proa

 New Designs  Proas

French designer Jérôme Delaunay has completed plans for a 9.9m (32’-6”) cruising proa named VAKA 990. It is a “pacific” type that includes four berths, a WC and some storage. The proa features a free-standing schooner rig of 37.25 m2 (400 sq. ft.) and central daggerboard in the main hull. Steering is via outboard mounted (Viking-style) rudders fore and aft. The central accommodations pod extends out to leeward to function as…

Vaka 990

07 October 2017     0 comments.

Proa Construction in Greece

 Reports  Boatbuilding  Proas

Alex Calothis has submitted his progress on a proa build in Greece.

I grew up in Athens and learnt to sail on optimists when I was about 8, and I have loved sailing ever since.

My father built a 6m catamaran around that time, and it was very fast, but would not turn very easily - long narrow hulls with very little rocker. We often had to perform a three point turn to get her around!! Still, she was a lot of fun. Later he bought a…

Proa construction in Greece

31 August 2017     0 comments.

Beauty Matters: the boats of David Trubridge

 Designers

Celebrated New Zealand artist and designer David Trubridge has turned his creative attention back to boats, where it all began. Trubridge studied naval architecture in his native England, and sailed his small family on a journey that took them to the Caribbean and Polynesia, working their way from place to place, eventually landing and settling in New Zealand. His wooden furniture and lighting designs are now exhibited and sold in…

12 August 2017     0 comments.