20+ Footer - Building in Hawaii Options

[Jim Donovan]

Here are a few photos of my new 20+ footer (it's a few inches longer than 20 feet). Essentially a scaled version of my GP26 design, and without the GP class restructions I'm using carbon for the inner skins on the hull and deck. Built all the flat panel stuff first; frames, topsides panels, deck panels. Then built the cockpit and deck and hauled it up into the shop rafters. Been setting up the hull plug last week and nearly ready to fit the foam core for the outer hull laminate.

Attached File(s)

 Setting_up_Hull_Plug_1_copy.jpg ( 42.07K ) Number of downloads: 304
 Setting_up_Hull_Plug_3_copy.jpg ( 41.66K ) Number of downloads: 255
 Inner_Deck_Laminate_copy.jpg ( 56.03K ) Number of downloads: 287
 Cockpit_Carbon_copy.jpg ( 43.11K ) Number of downloads: 230
 Topside_Panel_copy.jpg ( 34.18K ) Number of downloads: 174
 Port_Deck_Bagged_copy.jpg ( 87.38K ) Number of downloads: 150
 Deck_Flipped_copy.jpg ( 38.22K ) Number of downloads: 171
 Final_Deck_Clear_coat_4_copy.jpg ( 30.23K ) Number of downloads: 257
 1st_Coat_Primer_Deck_copy.jpg ( 80.55K ) Number of downloads: 317

 

[Savage 17]

Looks good Jim. Please keep us posted.

Did you make any progress with finding a builder for the USA GP26? Last you posted you were talking with Betts?

[Jim Donovan]

The "hot" small keel boat class in Hawaii is the Cal 20, and I just can't sail one of those ever again
The concept of this 20 foot “cruiser/racer” is that it's a boat that 2 people can easily sail with the smaller spinnaker.

The rig is a broken Melges 24 spar that I need to fix. It'll be keel stepped, so I'll loose a couple feet of hoist.
I have a M24 spinnaker for the BIG kite - it'll also loose a couple feet of hoist and girth.
The rig set-up is a lot like the Melges 20 - fat-head main and no backstay, although I'm going with an adjustable forestay.
Want a fixed bowsprit, but realize I need to remove it for docking, Haven't quite figured out the best solution yet.

All-up weight is targeted at 570kg (using a M24 reshaped bulb), or 230 kg lighter than the Melges 24.


There are actually a few concensions to "cruising", that make the boat much more useful to take out for an afternoon "cruise";
The tail-feathers at the stern act as a swim platform, with a foot pump and shower thing at the transom -(portable bladder water tank as part of the "cruising" set-up.)
There's a structural bow tank with a platform that is just big enough for a berth.
The parrot gets a small dodger to hang out under.

Preliminary sail and deck plan attached

Attached File(s)

 6m_Sailplan.doc ( 49.5K ) Number of downloads: 472

 

[Jim Donovan]

Looks good Jim. Please keep us posted.

Did you make any progress with finding a builder for the USA GP26? Last you posted you were talking with Betts?

The GP26 fleet is growing steadily with a new build starting up in Europe, and hopefully there will be more interest in the US soon.
But the entire boat building industry has been slowed by the economic situation, so we'll have to wait a while until things start heating up again.

Jim would be very interested in building the GP26, but this will not happen until the are customers.

[Savage 17]

Jim,

Thanks for the info. Is the 20ft boat designed as kit boat? Like the i-550? The i-550 i can order pre cut-out panels and have them shipped to me for final assemble? Racer/Cruiser have a much bigger audience, first time I have ever seen it done with a 20ft.

GP-26 - I feel alot of people like the boat, but aren't going to spend the money on the boat until more are built and racing. How are more going to get built? I know great pricing always works. It is really a tough sale with the boat being a one -off like a MORC or IMS boat currently. The more information you can publish to the boarder audience the better chances of getting some interest.

[stealth]

Looks interesting Jim.
What is the measurement data?
Do keep us posted on the progress.

Looks good Jim. Please keep us posted.

Did you make any progress with finding a builder for the USA GP26? Last you posted you were talking with Betts?

The GP26 fleet is growing steadily with a new build starting up in Europe, and hopefully there will be more interest in the US soon.
But the entire boat building industry has been slowed by the economic situation, so we'll have to wait a while until things start heating up again.

Jim would be very interested in building the GP26, but this will not happen until the are customers.

[Snapper]

Jim,

What's the length of the fixed sprit and how are you planning to make it removable for docking/trailering?

Chris

[Jim Donovan]

Jim,

Thanks for the info. Is the 20ft boat designed as kit boat? Like the i-550? The i-550 i can order pre cut-out panels and have them shipped to me for final assemble? Racer/Cruiser have a much bigger audience, first time I have ever seen it done with a 20ft.

GP-26 - I feel alot of people like the boat, but aren't going to spend the money on the boat until more are built and racing. How are more going to get built? I know great pricing always works. It is really a tough sale with the boat being a one -off like a MORC or IMS boat currently. The more information you can publish to the boarder audience the better chances of getting some interest.

I'll have quite a nice hull plug that I'd be able to build a few hull bottom parts from, so a "kit" could be supplied with this part and as many of the other pre-made panels as someone required. The original concept of this design was to be a kit boat similar to the i550, but these panel built boats have compromised hull forms that have no appeal to me, and I couldn't rationalize spending the time and money for this.

I use the term "cruiser" very loosely; the boat is very powered up.
The rig is a couple feet taller than the Melges 20, with a larger big spinnaker (I will have a small spinnaker too).
The keel is about a foot deeper with a heavier bulb than the M20, but the all up displacement is only 50 kgs more, which the slightly longer hull easily accommodates.
I’ve drawn a single rudder, but have been thinking it would be better with twin rudders

I’ve concentrated more on actually building the boat than producing pretty drawings and renderings.
I have a lot more detailed working drawings that I will work to clean up and post.
But today I’m working towards getting some foam on the hull plug.

[Jim Donovan]

Looks interesting Jim.
What is the measurement data?
Do keep us posted on the progress.

Looks good Jim. Please keep us posted.

Did you make any progress with finding a builder for the USA GP26? Last you posted you were talking with Betts?

The GP26 fleet is growing steadily with a new build starting up in Europe, and hopefully there will be more interest in the US soon.
But the entire boat building industry has been slowed by the economic situation, so we'll have to wait a while until things start heating up again.

Jim would be very interested in building the GP26, but this will not happen until the are customers.

The sprit is about 3 1/2 feet long.
My latest concept has the aft end of the sprit fitting into a socket at the stem, with a small purchase in the sprit that will allow the bobstay to be tensioned after fitting the sprit.
To remove the sprit just uncleat this purchase to slacken the stay, then just pull the spit out and lay it on the foredeck.

[Jim Donovan]

Half the hull bottom core on the plug.

Attached File(s)

 Half_Hull_Bottom_Core.jpg ( 38.16K ) Number of downloads: 199

 

[Savage 17]

Jim,

Boat is moving along quickly!! Please keep us posted. Hopefully Kevin can start posting more regularly.

[Kestrahl]

Jim,

Thanks for the info. Is the 20ft boat designed as kit boat? Like the i-550? The i-550 i can order pre cut-out panels and have them shipped to me for final assemble? Racer/Cruiser have a much bigger audience, first time I have ever seen it done with a 20ft.

GP-26 - I feel alot of people like the boat, but aren't going to spend the money on the boat until more are built and racing. How are more going to get built? I know great pricing always works. It is really a tough sale with the boat being a one -off like a MORC or IMS boat currently. The more information you can publish to the boarder audience the better chances of getting some interest.

I'll have quite a nice hull plug that I'd be able to build a few hull bottom parts from, so a "kit" could be supplied with this part and as many of the other pre-made panels as someone required. The original concept of this design was to be a kit boat similar to the i550, but these panel built boats have compromised hull forms that have no appeal to me, and I couldn't rationalize spending the time and money for this.

I use the term "cruiser" very loosely; the boat is very powered up.
The rig is a couple feet taller than the Melges 20, with a larger big spinnaker (I will have a small spinnaker too).
The keel is about a foot deeper with a heavier bulb than the M20, but the all up displacement is only 50 kgs more, which the slightly longer hull easily accommodates.
I’ve drawn a single rudder, but have been thinking it would be better with twin rudders

I’ve concentrated more on actually building the boat than producing pretty drawings and renderings.
I have a lot more detailed working drawings that I will work to clean up and post.
But today I’m working towards getting some foam on the hull plug.

Good work on actually building the boat instead of pretty renderings!

I'd recommend making the prod as long as possible for much easier gybeing and sailing deep downwind.

[Thad]

Sweet design.
I agree with you position concerning the i550 - great concept, just not attractive enough with the flat sides and such to make me want to take the leap.
Now this design would certainly fit the bill.
Please keep the posts coming concerning the boat and the build.

[Munter]

Is it just me or have you decided against freeboard?

[The Advocate]

Is it just me or have you decided against freeboard?

I think that is just the hulll to the chine like the 26, and then there are topsides to go on.

[Jim Donovan]

Is it just me or have you decided against freeboard?

I think that is just the hulll to the chine like the 26, and then there are topsides to go on.

Exactly Advocate.

Here's a photo of a topside panel.

Where Kevin is building his GP26 in a female plug with topsides and botom laminated in a single hit, due to space limitations I've elected to go for a smaller hull bottom plug and attach the topside panels later.

Before I built the real boat I built a quick 1/5th scale model to confirm that my surface program was accurately developing the topside panel shape (see attachment).
The shape was perfect so I felt confident to go full size.

Attached File(s)

 Topside_Panel_copy.jpg ( 34.18K ) Number of downloads: 86
 Topside_Panel_Pattern_1.jpg ( 97.44K ) Number of downloads: 195

 

[Jim Donovan]

Hull bottom foam all on - 6 pieces total

Topside panels going on today - will glass outer hull bottom laminate directly to topside panel edge which is recessd a couple millimeteres to accept extra layers.

Attached File(s)

 Topside_panels_going_on_1.jpg ( 69.54K ) Number of downloads: 192

 

[Jim Donovan]

Hull bottom foam all on - 6 pieces total

Topside panels going on today - will glass outer hull bottom laminate directly to topside panel edge which is recessd a couple millimeteres to accept extra layers.

Most of the topside panel surface has already been faired and primed (white paint on panel).

[Savage 17]

Jim - Keep up the great work. You are going to have the hull completed in a month which is amazing!!!

[jkdubs808]

Looks good, Jim. Looks real good. Can't wait to see it on the water.

[Prouda my Pickle...]

Want a fixed bowsprit, but realize I need to remove it for docking, Haven't quite figured out the best solution yet.

Why not a deck tunnel thingy like the Ultimate 20, where you pull the sprit out from the deck? Keeps the interior dry that way. And you could go longer than 3.5 feet! Bigger kite=more fun.

Looks sweet.

[Jim Donovan]

Want a fixed bowsprit, but realize I need to remove it for docking, Haven't quite figured out the best solution yet.

Why not a deck tunnel thingy like the Ultimate 20, where you pull the sprit out from the deck? Keeps the interior dry that way. And you could go longer than 3.5 feet! Bigger kite=more fun.

Looks sweet.

My cocnept for the boat is to keep the deck absolutely clean - a kind of mini Wally (but no teak!).

If you have a look at the sailplan you will see the rig is quite far aft in the hull - this is achieved by careful control of the structural weights, allowimg the keel and rig to slide aft. So the distance from the mast to the sprit tip is quite long - about the same as the Melges 20. The rig is taller than the M20, but I prefer high aspect spinnakers for the higher wind speeds here in Hawaii - you don't have to bleed off as much sheet to depower.

Of course it's always possible to make the sprit longer. The length will be decided when I build it - probably will make it longer than planned with the idea that I can cut it off later (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Topsides panels glued in place today (that was easy) all rebates for laminate laps and keel reinforcement layers routered into core - outer keel reinforcement layers lamianted last thing tonight.

1/2 the outer skin goes on tomorrow.

Attached File(s)

 Rebates_in_Hull_Core.jpg ( 168.53K ) Number of downloads: 115

 

[Jim Donovan]

Laminated first half of hull bottom last night

Attached File(s)

 90s_on_Hull_Bottom.jpg ( 139.61K ) Number of downloads: 195
 Microballons_on_Hull_Bottom.jpg ( 97.82K ) Number of downloads: 183

 

[Jim Donovan]

Finished Laminating 2nd half of hull bottom yesterday, so hull exterior laminate complete.
Aready have microballoons on hull bottom and will finish first pass with a longboard this morning - all looks really good and should have less than 1mm average filler thickness.
Topsdie panels are already fairned and primed - did this on my long table before I disassembled it to stand up the hull bottom plug.


Next step is to build the hull cradle and roll the boat over.
I hadn't planned on attaching the topside panels before doing the bottom inner laminate, but it just seemed to make sense and the topside panels stablize the edge of the hull bottom.
Reaching over the topside panel to do the inner laminate my be a challenge - thinking of either tipping the hull and doing half at a time, or building a movable patform that'll let us get right over the hull for laminating.

Attached File(s)

 2nd_stage_Bottom_Lam_Bow.jpg ( 153.12K ) Number of downloads: 121
 2nd_stage_Bottom_Lam_Stern.jpg ( 144.03K ) Number of downloads: 150

 

[thumper]

Jim forgot to add that is will be a self-tacking jib. He's been sailing with me on my Ross780 and is sold that it's the way to go on a light boat, especially when 2 person cruising in Kaneohe Bay. You guys are right that the build is going fast. A few of us have jumped in on the larger Layup days (nights) but Jim has been pretty much at it alone.