introducing
the. . .
Rugosa
20’ ketch
(FIRST
SKETCHES)
DOWNLOAD
PDF:
Rugosa
ketch sailplan
DOWNLOAD
PDF:
Rugosa
sloop sailplan
Specifications
LOA 20’ (6.1 m)
LWL 18’-3” (5.56 m)
Beam 6’ (1.83 m)
Draft 2’ (.61 m)
Displacement 2,500 lbs. (1,134 kg)
SAIL
AREA
Sloop 198 sq.ft. (18.39 sq.m)
Ketch 192 sq.ft (17.84 sq.m)
About the design process
Our
boats are not designed on a computer. These first quick
sketches capture the idea and soul of a new boat, then they
are refined in preliminary drawings as the design
discussion continues. The hull takes shape on a lines
drawing and as John carves a half-model for the design, and
many of her lines are taken from it. All the drawings for
our plans are hand-drawn; John finds that drawing by hand
allows him to bring the boat in his mind fully to life on
paper. A builder of many years of experience, John puts
many practical and buildable details in the plans.
______________________________________
The
origins of Rugosa:
a little ketch inspired by L. Francis Herreshoff’s
Rozinante
This
newly sketched design came out of recent discussions that
combined considerable affection for L. Francis Herreshoff’s
Rozinante, the lovely and well-known 28’ canoe yawl, with
the desire for a smaller cousin that would be easier to
trailer and also sail (and moor) in enclosed, shallow
inland waters when she wasn’t enjoying a free run in deep,
open waters offshore. Rugosa draws almost two feet less
than the Rozinante, a critical difference in places where
waters thin out at low tide or close to shore.
Six or seven years ago Ben Fuller (director of Maine’s
Penobscot Marine Museum and a skilled small boat sailor)
wrote in Maine Boats, Homes, and Harbors magazine about the
qualities he believed would be present in a good boat
designed for cruise/camping from island to island along the
Maine coast. In his article, he also issued a call for new
designs.
I sent in proposal sketches for three designs that offered
different approaches to the ideal. One of them was for a
smaller version of the Rozinante.
In designing a sailer for the Maine Island Trail, I thought
about the Maine’s strong tides and the breezy conditions we
get on many afternoons. . .and also about places with
skinny water: over mud, sand, and rocks. I also thought
about a boat that, although it couldn't be pulled up on a
beach, it could at least snuggle up to the beach for easy
unloading and loading, then be pulled back out into deeper
water with an outhaul to an anchor. Also, there is
enough pressure on camp sites on many islands that being
able to camp on the boat at times would be a good idea. I
thought that a 20' version of Rozinante, with a shoal
draft, would be perfect.
However, the magazine chose to publish another of my
designs, so the drawings for my little Rozi—called
Rugosa–have lanquished in a file. Rugosa is named for the
salt spray rose, a hardy lovely capable flower that thrives
along the shore in salt air.
Earlier this fall, I got to talking with a customer and
others about different designs for daysailers that would be
ideal for coastal exploring and perhaps a little camping. I
pulled out the Rugosa sketches, updated them and drew two
sail plans, a sloop and a ketch. The original had a 5' beam
that I widened to 6', the same as our Somes Sound 12 1/2.
Rugosa weighs in at 2,500 lbs., a little less than half the
weight of a typical Rozinante. She has a long fin keel, and
a separate skeg in front of the rudder that will make her
more manueverable while protecting the rudder. Also note in
the sections that the lead keel has a reverse flare to the
bottom that helps reduce leeway and gets the center of
gravity lower. This keel shape will be a big help when the
time comes to pull the centerboard up when venturing about
in the shallows. Although this design gives the keel more
surface area than some other alternatives, I think this is
small compared to its advantages. This keel shape will also
be easier to pattern or mold than more rounded designs,
making it more efficient to make the lead keel.
Besides the fact that the original Rozinante has a ketch
rig, there are several advantages to this rig. The
sail plan is broken up into three sails instead of two so
the center of effort is lower and offers better stability
on a shoal draft boat. The mizzen is small so you won't
have to fuss with it much. I’ll also make the boat balance
under jib and mizzen so you can drop the main in a squall
and still sail, or so you can motor up to the dock with the
sail-assist of the jib and mizzen, the main having been
dropped and tied with a couple of sail ties so the cockpit
is clear for easier steering and handling lines as you work
in close quarters.
The mizzen mast steps on the aft deck—so the tiller can
swing freely underneath—and is held up with four shrouds.
This is an arrangement that Doug Hylan worked out on a
Rozinante that he built. I sailed on this boat when I
worked for him—and this tiller arrangement functions very
nicely and is a big improvement.
Both rigs have reasonably sized, easy-to-handle sails, and
will sail (and look) great. The sloop rig is simpler and
will likely sail to windward a little (a little) better.
But, the ketch rig is our favorite!
The Rugosa’s cockpit is comfortably sized: not too large,
not too small. Just right. Her cabin is big enough for her
crew to get out of the weather or take a nap (especially
fine if you have kid crew who need a restorative once in
awhile.) There is room for a portapotty or other modestly
sized seat of ease. Note that the hatch on Rugosa is not a
sliding one, but a low profile design. Our thought is that
the hatch could be raised to give enough head room for
someone to sit upright on the throne; folding canvas sides
attached to the hatch would provide a relaxing amount of
privacy.
A boom tent or similar arrangement would make camp cruising
comfortable and fun. We’ve also discussed giving Rugosa
legs so she can be beached on the hard, for a bit of a swim
off a beach, or exploring (and running, for the younger
crew) on sand (or mud, what grand fun!) flats. Or a little
clamming for dinner . . . .
Like the rose she is named for, Rugosa is elegantly simple,
perfectly suited to life along the coast and easy to take
care of.
"Your
design has all the beauty and elegance of Rozinante, but a
personality of its own. And I love the name Rugosa!
I love Rosa rugosa, the beach rose (we had huge
hedges of it in front of the beach house in Gloucester my
parents owned when I was growing up). There's a
subtle homage to Rozinante in the r's and s's, and a
fitness to the lapstrake hull construction. There are many
admirers of Rozinante out there, but few comparable boats
that a home builder can aspire to. I think you have a
best seller on your hands!”
We’d love to
hear what you think!
Send us an email . . . .