This past winter I got hooked on a small sportboat called the i550. It's a stitch and glue plywood screamer that is quickly growing world wide. The boat can be built from plans, kit or from full size patterns. I chose to loft my own since I had enough Okoume plywood to built the boat. There are class rules which are have plenty of room for error for the first time builder. There are two cabin length options and the designer has chosen to build his with a flush deck. Needless to say, I have pushed the envelope a tad and heavily modified mine, while keeping the boat class legal. I kind of wish they mandated a cabin but if someone was going to build a flush deck screamer, I had to do it as well.
The first boat, Tokyo Trash Baby is well known and has several fantastic Youtube videos which will certainly get one's attention. The boats do have an interior and if you don't mind cramped quarters, berths for a small family of four.
Full kits are somewhere near $2,500+- and plans, including official class hull #s are only $75. They claim build time is around 200 hrs, but I have at least that much time staring at the boat wondering what to do next. It has been a blast to build and the class involvement and contribution is second to none.
The boat is has a retractable bulbed keel and can be ramp launched with ease. Total sailing weight is 800 lbs. No restrictions on materials, but plywood is best. I had a tough time with the stitch and glue because of my background of hard plug construction, but got it done and feel prouder of that accomplishment than any boat to date.
Class website for any interested: http://www.i550.org/index.php
My boat (have not updated photos for a few weeks) : http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o145/Tynaje/222/
Tokyo Trash Baby video (several to choose) : http://video.google.com/videosearch...&q=tokyo trash baby&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#
Hull # 107 video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Iux...=view&catid=2&id=2931&feature=player_embedded
I don't think a person could get into any boat with this kind of performance, stability and fun for the buck. It can also be detuned a bit for family trailer fun, 107 has reduced sail area and rig height I believe.
Peter
The first boat, Tokyo Trash Baby is well known and has several fantastic Youtube videos which will certainly get one's attention. The boats do have an interior and if you don't mind cramped quarters, berths for a small family of four.
Full kits are somewhere near $2,500+- and plans, including official class hull #s are only $75. They claim build time is around 200 hrs, but I have at least that much time staring at the boat wondering what to do next. It has been a blast to build and the class involvement and contribution is second to none.
The boat is has a retractable bulbed keel and can be ramp launched with ease. Total sailing weight is 800 lbs. No restrictions on materials, but plywood is best. I had a tough time with the stitch and glue because of my background of hard plug construction, but got it done and feel prouder of that accomplishment than any boat to date.
Class website for any interested: http://www.i550.org/index.php
My boat (have not updated photos for a few weeks) : http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o145/Tynaje/222/
Tokyo Trash Baby video (several to choose) : http://video.google.com/videosearch...&q=tokyo trash baby&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#
Hull # 107 video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Iux...=view&catid=2&id=2931&feature=player_embedded
I don't think a person could get into any boat with this kind of performance, stability and fun for the buck. It can also be detuned a bit for family trailer fun, 107 has reduced sail area and rig height I believe.
Peter
