GINGER
Specifications: 16' loa, 66" beam, 750 lbs. displacement, 98 square feet of sail area. Primarily a day sailor, Ginger can be constructed with a fixed lead keel, or centerboard.
GINGER
GINGER
GINGER is a stable, modern, high performance sailboat that also has a traditional varnished wood exterior. She is designed to be built by an amateur boat builder who has some experience with wood strip construction, and would like to tackle a project a little more complex than a canoe. Wood strips are an ideal material for a builder with limited facilities. They can be formed into compound curves with ease, which adds to the beauty of the boat, and makes it look like a much harder project then it really is. Very few specialized tools are needed, and the required woodworking skills are not to difficult to master. The hull is sheathed (inside and outside) with fiberglass, for strength, and then varnished above the waterline for a bright finish. This combination of wood and fiberglass results in a boat with a pleasant, traditional appearance, and the advantages of low maintenance, light weight, and strength.
While not a simple weekend project, GINGER is designed to go together quickly. No lofting is required, and plywood is used for the seat backs and cockpit sole. The hull has flat sections aft for good speed and stability. The cockpit is self bailing, and there is plenty of room for up to four adults. The rig is a traditional mast head sloop, supported by a forestay and two shrouds. This is a nice size and rig for a family to handle, and should hold its own against other 15 foot day sailors. While most builders will prefer the standard centerboard configuration, other keel options are possible, including a lead ballasted fixed keel, or twin water ballasted keels. Contact me for details on these keel options if one of them interests you.
The interior arrangement consists of a fore deck (with a storage area), wide deck seats, and a self draining cockpit. The seats also provide flotation, and help stiffen the hull. Seven partial ribs are glassed into the hull. They support the cockpit sole, seats, deck, and mast step. Stringers are set into these ribs for additional support and stiffness.