I FIGURED IT OUT!!!!

January 15th, 2013

  The plans are in motion, and I'm drawing up the skeleton on Google Sketch-up so I can better get a feel for the guts and shape of the craft, (I've never been good at using it for boats but this time I'm going to combine my hand drawing with my Computer skills). Drake and Ryan are super excited, and Robert seem's indifferent but he'll hum a different tune once it's tangible.
   So far, the design is proving not terribly difficult. That may change when I make the model, but hopefully I've done enough drawings over the summer to make this one a piece of cake. Though a flat bottom could be done, if we plan on using it on the Atlantic, it will HAVE to be rounded and have at least a slight keel. So for inspiration, I'm using the cutaway from a Norse Knarr, a small merchant ship. It has a nearly flat bottom allowing for comfort, yet has a keel that can quickly slice through the water.
   One of the problems is our transportation system. With not having a trailer, we have to be able to take the boat on the back of a van. So we are having to find a way to get the size we want without making it too complicated to the point it won't float. Drake came up with a wonderful idea to make this bot big and still movable.

We build two boats.

Now this may sound crazy, but it could work. Like a Norse ship, if we made 2 symmetrical vessels we would be able to put them together and then have one large sailing vessel. Technically the whole thing would be 20' long, if we make both pieces 10' long, but individually neither has to be registered since they will each be their own vessel. In the event someone tries to boat out to us and tell us whats what, we merely pull the pins and float apart. This way we can also take only ONE out on the river should we only want a quick outing.

   I'm still working on the drawings and dimensions so I can't post a concept picture, but this way we can also build one end and then be able to replicate it. It will require both Ryan's and my own van to go on big adventures, but i believe this to be a unique and awesome solution.