DESIGNS:    Moderate displacement ocean sailing designs range from 25’ to 125’. This family of vessels is based on a 125’ cargo schooner. 

The smallest at 25’, JULIA, is a very fine ocean sailing vessel accommodating two in comfort with room for a galley, chart table, etc. She does not have full standing headroom. When she was designed, my client, who was about 6’5, and his girl friend, who was about 6’2”, said they could not afford anything they could stand up in but they wanted something in which they could comfortably sit without the necessity of ever having to stand up.  I said that this was perfectly feasible and possible since, after all, once on deck they did have full headroom. In the mid 1960’s I delivered her complete, with diesel engine, ready for sea, including dinghy and outboard, for $10,000. 

The smallest of these designs that has full headroom is the 34’ SAUGEEN WITCH, and many of these have been built by professionals and owner/builders.  I built five of these in steel in my yard, one of which was modified to use round bottom construction. All the others were V bottom single chine hulls. This particular design has been used for extended ocean voyaging, including the Arctic regions of Norway, Iceland and Greenland, German rivers, Vancouver to Hawaii and back, as well as other areas of the world. No matter which of the numerous rigs that have been used on this design, which include Bahamian sloop, gaff ketch, jib-headed ketch, gaff schooner, and Chinese lug schooner, she has always balanced out and was easy to trim for self-steering. They make good passages and are excellent heavy weather sailers. Several have circumnavigated.

While in-betweens have been built by stretching the frame spacing, the next popular size was the 41-footer, known as ADERYN MOR. She is usually built as a gaff ketch or a gaff schooner. Also noted for her passage-making ability and seaworthiness, she has quite a bit of interior room.  The original was built in New Zealand by her owner; I also built one in my yard and, on trial runs, I could find no fault with her nor make any suggestions for improvement.

The next jump in size was to a three-master named GYPSY at 66’.  She was a very powerful sailing hull.  The original was done for yachting purposes, and was the last time I drew in portholes below the sheer line.  The desirability for a flush deck necessitated this feature. Several of these hulls have been built. The one for the Bering Sea fisheries was rigged as a two-master with a large pilot house about where the mizzenmast is. She is noted for her seakindliness and ease of handling. She has been in the fisheries for about 20 years now. Most retain the three-masted gaff rig. Recently, a 75’ version was built using these plans but adding 9’ more in the midships area to gain greater cargo capacity.  This vessel was staysail rigged.  I had virtually nothing to do with this modification as it was accomplished by the owner and builder.

The KATHRYN B at 79’ was designed for charter work.  She is a very handsome hull and is an excellent ocean passagemaker and, at the same time, has proven profitable in her charter business. She charters in Maine during the summer, on the Chesapeake during the spring and fall, and in the Caribbean during the winter. Construction of GYPSY and KATHRYN B is straightforward and easy to accomplish by professional builders..

DESIGNS