QB - a 21’ cruising schooner proa
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…
The Dawson Proa Construction Method Part 2
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…
The Dawson Proa Construction Method Part 1
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…
Daikon - the Raid Proa
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…
Not Your Average Condomaran
Independent Catamaran and the new IC36. I have to say this boat is pretty trick (is that even still a word?) but it should be for the €400,000 asking price. Demountable, container friendly, stylish and fast, the way cats really can be. I gotta admit that they had me with the Eames chairs. I also gotta admit that Eames did not design their chairs to become icons of cool for the 1%.
The Proasis Project
Henrik Richter-Alten has submitted a new proa development project to Proafile called Proasis. His team has recently completed the launch and a successful test sail. Henrik explains:
“I’ve started the Proasis Project together with Christian Arriens, a good friend of mine. We are both involved in the Low Carbon Sea Transport Project at WAM*. My contribution was the WAM Catamaran design, he did the recently launched solar-electric…
Minimus II Sea Trials
Minimus II is an interesting design project that is now undergoing sea trials off the Oregon coast. Designed by David Omick and Pearl Mast for comfortable, if minimal, ocean transport for two in the trade winds, the boat is also carefully and creatively designed to make a minimal dent in the wallet. While the 4-masted junk rig may be considered a bit over the top, there is a reason for the madness, and I admire their willingness to try…
Waan Aelon in Majel
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…
Proa Build in New Caledonia
Franck Meidinger is building a proa in New Caledonia. La MANGUE BLEUE appears to be a large cruising Pacific proa, intending to employ a crab claw schooner rig! He says:
I’m currently building a proa in New Caledonia. The hull is completed by now and I’m longing for the (COVID 19) lockdown to stop in order to launch. I could work on the rig (eventually crab claw) if I had some materiel but shops are closed. Not even allowed to harvest…
Mini Cargo Ferry Prototype
Mini Cargo Ferry prototyping and development in the Marshall Islands, by Harry Proa. This is the first step on the road to getting the zero emissions 24m cargo ferry built and hauling passengers and freight.
The mini cargo ferry was designed in response to a need to replace the outboard powered fibreglass skiffs which are ubiquitous in the Pacific. These boats are expensive to run, difficult to maintain and have almost completely…
