Boatbuilding

17 October 2023     13 comments

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…

 Reports  New Designs  Boatbuilding  Proas

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

14 October 2023     2 comments

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…

 Reports  Boatbuilding  Proas  Research

Centre section bulkheads extended upwards to support a foredeck which is needed to support each mast.

06 October 2023     3 comments

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…

 Reports  Boatbuilding  Proas  Research

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

06 November 2022     3 comments

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…

 Reports  Boatbuilding  Proas

23 December 2021     2 comments

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%.

 

 New Designs  Boatbuilding  Catamarans

18 July 2021     11 comments

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…

 Just Launched  Boatbuilding  Proas

Proasis Launch

14 October 2020     4 comments

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…

 Boatbuilding  Catamarans  Rigs

Minimus II

19 September 2020     3 comments

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…

 Reports  Boatbuilding  Proas

Waan Aelon in Majel

25 April 2020     2 comments

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…

 Boatbuilding  Proas

La MANGUE BLEUE

25 April 2020     5 comments

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…

 Just Launched  Boatbuilding  Proas

Mini Cargo Ferry