Turning a slow boat into a quick raceboat by optimising keel rig and hull. The Orange Boat Project: storerboatplans.com

From Slug into a quick Swan – The Orange Boat modded keel, rig and hull

The “Orange Boat” was unbelievably heavy and just about fell over if anyone stepped aboard and it is a keeboat! The vendor couldn’t sell it. So Ted bought it cheap and asked me what he could do. So we simplified and modded everything to state of the art but constrained to using “normal” materials to keep the cost down. Would it be competitive with quick trailer sailors, sports boats and the classic Restricted 22 class with their big sails. Seems small, light and simple can be very fast.

Mundoo 3 large solar electric cruising boat.

Example of Solar Electric Real World Use – Liveaboard Boat and Cartop Canoe

How useful are Solar and Electric boats anyhow? The large Solar Electric Mundoo 3 was one of the more interesting projects I’ve been involved in. It was the brainchild of Robert Ayliffe, then at Duck Flat Wooden Boats and Ted Dexter. This liveaboard boat was featured on the cover of WoodenBoat magazine at the time and was a tremendous success for the owners who found it fitted their needs perfectly.

5.5kg or 12lb balsa canoe. storerboatplans.com

How to Lightweight – Balsa Canoe strip planked 12lbs (5.5Kg)

A 12lb canoe. The idea was to build a Rushton Wee Lassie in balsa strip with very light glass. The boat ended up being fairly durable despite not being interested in durability. As far as I was concerned I was going to be happy if it lasted a couple of years before being chucked into a dumpster somewhere. But five years later it was still beautiful despite good use.

Goat Island Skiff sailing dinghy balance lug rig setup and tuning: storerboatplans.com

Rigging guide for Goat Island Skiff – Efficient lug sails

How do you rig your Goat Island Skiff or other balance lug rigged boat? This page will be useful for everyone, but specifically assist Goat owners in selection of rope, rope lengths and show all the rigging details. We have also found a number of cheaper ways of doing things from our experience in the Philippines. Halyard, downhaul, outhaul, lashings, rope fittings, rudders, centreboard.