Proas

15 October 2024     0 comments

Madness For Sale

Pacific Proa MADNESS is for sale.

The seller says: This boat is a coastal cruiser capable of speeds in excess of 20kts and effortlessly matches or exceeds wind speed in most conditions. MADNESS was professionally built by Chesapeake Light Craft (CLC) and Sea Island Boatworks under the designer John Harris’s supervision. Completed and painted with Awlgrip in 2011. This is the prototype and Hull #1 for CLC’s line of Pacific Proa…

 Dock Ranger  Proas

Proa Madness

07 July 2024     10 comments

QB and the Texas 200

Skip Johnson sends in a report of the launch of his new proa QB, and running of the 2024 Texas 200. See the previous QB article here.

It’s been almost a month since QB (Questing Beast) and I ventured out on this year’s Texas 200; now that I’ve caught up with some of the other things in life it’s time to say something about the adventure from a proa perspective, I’d already written something for the Texas 200 website.

First off we…

 Reports  Just Launched  Proas

QB Questing Beast

16 April 2024     3 comments

Book Release: The Proa

Othmar Karschulin and Dr. Manfred Meier have released a book devoted to our favorite subject! The Proa, the outrigger boat from past to present. Over 200 pages of proa, all proa and nothing but proa. The book is well researched and lavishly illustrated with photos and diagrams. Contents include:

A review of traditional Pacific canoes is followed by a report on the modern revival of canoe building in Oceania. This is followed by a…

 Proas

The Proa. The outrigger boat from past to present

04 February 2024     15 comments

A Mystery Proa

The first post of 2024 brings us a mystery! Google maps satellite image of coordinates 46.953458,-122.647452 in Yelm WA, US, reveals an object of curious size and configuration. At 110’ in length, it appears to be a gigantic proa!

Low-res images notwithstanding, we see a copy (more or less), of a traditional Pacific proa such as the Fijian ndrua or Samoan alia. However the streamlined “pod” shape of the akas (cross beams) certainly…

 Reports  Proas

22 December 2023     0 comments

Proasis Shunts

Good proa shunting video, care of the Proasis Project. Cool rudders!

Much thanks to Henrik Richter-Alten for the submission.

 

 Proas

Proasis

09 December 2023     1 comments

Speed Sailing at Weymouth 1972

Plenty of interesting boats in this short video from the wayback machine. Weymouth Harbour hosted this speed sailing regatta in 1972 that features some very early foilers and proas. CROSSBOW (designed by Rod Macalpine-Downie) lead the field with a new World Record speed of 26.3 knots.

At 0:45 we get a few seconds of an unnamed cruising proa. It appears to be an Atlantic type, sloop rigged. Does anyone have any more info on the mystery…

 History  Proas

Mystery proa at Weymouth Speedweek 1972

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.

21 September 2023     9 comments

Sgian Ghlas - the Cold Water Proa

SGIAN GHLAS (Grey Knife in Gaelic) is a new 24’ foam cored fiberglass proa submitted by Topher Dawson of Ullapool Scotland.

At first glance I thought it was the second silliest proa design I’d ever seen! Like someone had accidentally beached their dory on the back of a small submarine or a Narwhal? However, Topher Dawson is perfectly serious about his new proa, and as I studied the odd craft and read his reasoning for it, I found…

 Reports  New Designs  Proas