I am looking for designs for a steel yacht capable of worldwide cruising and being handled by a couple. Your ideas on yacht design seem to be the same as mine, particularly those regarding the priorities of equipment, safety, layout, engine rooms and cutting down on the fancy junk.
I am a naval architect and master mariner and am stuck in China for the next four years building a series of cargo ships and tankers. I would like to occupy my spare time by building a yacht for what I hope will be my imminent retirement after 35 years of building ships. Thus the requirement for a steel design.
In China there is high quality and cheap steel available but limited skills in welding, I also have all the cutting and bending equipment available to me. I am thinking of a design of 75 to 80 feet overall, this is I think the limit that can be handled by a small crew, my wife is not a great sailor in terms of usefulness on deck, otherwise brilliant but just ballast on deck. I liked what I can see of your Locura, I am conservative, I like Beowulf but the rig is new to me. I was thinking of a staysail schooner? I would much appreciate your advice, ideas, design suggestions or even a suggestion for a complete design to fit my requirements. Many thanks and best regards, Paul
Hi Paul: Sounds like you have the bug to build yourself a boat! Steel might be a good material for China, if the skills don’t exist for aluminum. Our type of boats might not quite be what you’re after, however, as the increased weight of steel would be an issue, especially with the vertical center of gravity. However, there are lots of good designers out there, and if you make a clear set of design specs–and feel free to borrow from our Offshore Cruising Encyclopedia for ideas–a competent NA should get you pretty close to where you want to go. Good Luck, Steve Dashew
Posted by Steve Dashew (November 30, 1999)
