Duckworks/Small Craft Advisor
- Design Contest #7 -

Class IV Everglades Challenger

ENTRY #1

JUICER

1. Boat Description

Juicer is a boat designed specifically for an event called the Everglades Challenge, which is a cruising/camping race over 300 miles of coastal waters near Tampa, FL. The boat must be (a.) rowed or sailed, (b.) launched from a beach at low tide from the high water mark by the occupant, and (c.) contain all necessary supplies for the duration of the trip, except for re-supply, as allowed by the rules.

The design for Juicer was influenced a great deal by WIAKA, a sail/row/camp boat described in the book “Sailing Craft” by Frank Rosenow, and the Rangeley style boats described in the book “Building Classic Small Craft – Vol. 1” by John Gardner. The primary characteristics of the design are shallow draft, flat bottom, light and strong construction, easy movement through the water with oars or sail, protection of the occupant from the elements, moderate cargo capacity and prevention of swamping and capsizing.

The bow incorporates a canoe bow, with a plum stem and a “wave slicer” grip of ¼ inch stainless steel. This bow should help to ease the boat through the waves and give some tracking assistance while being rowed. The rest of the under body is a basic “U” shape leading to a tapered, semi-circular section aft. The hull is intended to be strip planked of 3/8 inch white pine, coated inside and out with epoxied fiberglass cloth. Frames and bulkheads are of ¼ inch hardwood plywood and ¾ inch white pine stock. The flat floor section amidships is reinforced, inside, with an extra layer of 1/8 inch hardwood plywood. The deck is 3/8 inch hardwood plywood, coated with epoxied fiberglass cloth. Foam flotation is provided in closed fore and aft sections.

The cockpit is moderately sized to feel comfortable and allow both rowing and sailing in comfort. A sliding bench with built-in seat provides support to both functions. A 5 inch high forward coaming and 2 ½ inch cockpit coaming should keep most water out of the cockpit, which can allow the occupant to sleep on the flat floor. The specific locations and heights of the seat and oar ports must be adjusted to suit the occupant.

A cockpit tent, with vinyl windows is provided for bad weather. It is mounted on bows (of aluminum tubing, wood, fiberglass or PVC conduit) and the “rollbar” assembly mounted behind the cockpit. This “rollbar” will give the cockpit tent firm mounting, provide storage for the tent bows when not in use, and provide mounting for a solar powered ventilating fan and a running light (a small motorcycle battery is provided). Turn button fasteners on the coaming complete the tent mounting. Oar ports with removable hatches are provided. Since boat trim, fore and aft, is important for this boat, an inclinometer and level should be installed and cargo shifted to maintain level trim.

The intended sailing rigs include a 120 square foot spritsail rig and a 100 square foot square rig with boom (for running), is set on a 8 foot cross spar. A 18 inch wide leeboard of ¾ inch plywood (coated with epoxied fiberglass) is provided. But the lack of sufficient ballast (occupant and cargo only), small beam and moderate stabilizing fin areas, mean this boat will be tender. This is the compromise chosen in light of the written reports of the Everglades Challenge, which mention the value of a “clean” underbody and good rowing performance.

For safety reasons (and a homage to the sunshine State), I would paint the boat “International Orange”, except for the off-white deck section forward of the cockpit (easier on the eyes), and include a band of reflective white and orange “truckers tape” just below the rubrail. A fabricated ski-nosed plywood “shoe” fitted under the stem grip would assist the required beach launching.

2. Boat Data

• LOD - 18 feet
• LOA - 19 feet 8 inches
• Max. Beam - 4 feet 3 inches
• Draft - 7 inches (30 inches with leeboard installed)
• Oars - 8 foot spruce
• Design weights - 800 lbs. total
  • Occupant 275 lbs.
  • Boat 250 lbs. (estimated)
  • Gear 275 lbs.
  • Food – 30 lbs.
  • Water – 80 lbs. (10 gal.)
  • Safety equipment - 40 lbs.
  • Sails/spars/line – 40 lbs
  • Food equipment - 30 lbs.
  • Cockpit tent and bows - 30 lbs
  • Oars/ oarlocks (2 sets) - 25 lbs..
• Spritsail rig – 72 square feet, boomless
• Square rig – 92 square feet, set on hoisted cross spar and deck mounted boom

3. Building Notes

1. Grip – Stainless steel. ¼ inch plate, inset into stem and bottom with epoxy and screws
2. Planking – pine strips, 3/8 inch, coated with epoxy and fiberglass cloth, inside and out.
3. Deck – 3/8 inch hardwood plywood, coated with epoxy and fiberglass cloth on outer surface. Painted inside
4. Movable, securely mounted water tanks, FDA approved polyethylene, under deck. These will be moved to adjust trim, fore and aft. Two 5 gallon units.
5. Forward coaming - ¾ inch hardwood plywood, coated with epoxy and fiberglass cloth on all exposed surfaces
6. Deck beams fabricated from ¾ inch hardwood plywood, 2 ½ inches deep, with ¾ stock on outer edges to mount beams to hull.
7. Forward coaming – see #5 above
8. 8 foot oars and oarlocks to suit pilot
9. Sliding bench – slides forward for rowing and sleeping, aft for sailing, resting and cooking.
10. Oar ports – location and size to suit pilot. Needs waterproof hatches to block openings in bad weather.
11. Side cockpit coamings - Hardwood plywood, 2 inches wide and 2 ½ inches deep. Holes provided to mount bows for cockpit tent. Sloping gutter routed where this piece meets forward coaming for drain.
12. Solar panels – Mounted both sides on swivel hinges at top, to allow panels to flip up and twist to adjust to the sun. Panels will charge small motorcycle battery mounted on board.
13. Ventilator fan – Computer “pancake” fan mounted on center vertical side of rollbar. Waterproof cover mounts in bad weather to block opening.
14. Headlights – High efficiency lights to light forward path, mounted on top of rollbar. Cockpit lights mounted under top of rollbar.
15. White running light with stainless steel protective cage.
16. Lightening hole – 6 inch diameter in ½ inch plywood, coated as noted
17. Transom – ¾ inch hardwood plywood, coated as noted.
18. Tiller assembly – fabricated from ½ inch hardwood plywood, coated as noted. Stainless steel cable, 1/8 inch, runs from tiller to quadrant operator.
19. Rudder cheek – ¾ inch hardwood plywood, coated as noted.
20. Rudder – ¾ inch hardwood plywood, coated with epoxy and fiberglass cloth, weighted to drop easily. 1/8 inch stainless steel cable runs to operator inside cockpit to raise/lower rudder.