Building a 12' Catboat

[mgoller]

Hey All,
I miss my Sunfish and have always admired the lines of Catboats.  I have a great book I bought way back when in Boston titled "Catboats".  I originally wanted a Catboat but wound up falling for the Com-Pac 16 and now 19.
My kids are 7 and 9 and I want to make them a Catboat the size of a Beetle Cat, but customized from what I have learned about fun, comfort and fooling around as a kid.
It is coming along, it is 12' X 6' by 9" draft.  The cockpit is 7' with a small canvas cabin cover.  Gaff rig - 94 sf, with a centerboard that doesn't encroach on the seating and footwell.
Plywood construction with some nicer woods for rub rail and cockpit coaming.
The bottom is pretty flat like the Sunfish and the turn of the bilge is hard with a softened edge like the Sunfish at the water line.
The mast will plug into a tube through the deck like the sunfish.  There will be hard points for a long bow sprit for when we're ready for the spinnaker.
Fiberglass covered, sanded smooth - painted white except for the dark stained and finished woods.
The reason I want to do this is to introduce my kids to sailing in a boat they can jump off of and board back on.  The CP19 is way out of the water.
I also want a boat I can beach by hand and sail on nicer days in the fall and spring when the 19 isn't launched yet.
The other nice thing about a Cat boat is the single sail rig - great for teaching sailing!
The cockpit in this design is as large as the CP16 with some under deck storage.  It will be foam filled forward for flotation.
I'll keep everyone posted.  I'll call it the CB-12. 
Any experienced boat builders are welcomed to 'Chine in' on this stitch and glue madness.

[TroyVB]

Hi Marcus,

It's that time of year I guess.  The sailing is done and the projects begun.
Have a ball with the building, it is a great activity and gives a real sense of acomplishment.  I built a D4 dinghy from internet plans as a tender for our Catalina 27.  Sold the 27.  Can't bring myself to part with the little yellow D4 we named "A little daydream" 

I sailed it last summer once.  Nice day, little wind, just ghosted along... 

Sorry I lost myself there for a moment.  Have fun, your children will love their own boat.

Did you design it yourself or were the plans in the book?

[mgoller]

Hi Troy,
Glad to see your name pop up alot on the forum.  I feel like we're buddies since we spent a little time together.
The 12 footer is something I've been working on for awhile.  I have looked at plans and haven't liked any.  I have built a couple of big! models to see if I can elliminate the hard chine inherent in plywood construction.  Anyway, I'll post some photos soon.
It looks like a cross between a racing catboat and a ComPac 16. 
And, guess what?  I was working on the finishing touches yesterday on something I had promised you.  Just in time for winter daydreaming.  I have your address so next week you'll have it.
Merry Christmas!

[TroyVB]

Marcus,
I was wondering if you had a chance to finish the video.  I was just thinking yesterday about that 2 day sail on the Bay.  Need something like that to keep me going.  It's super busy this time of year.  Looking forward to reliving the cruise.