Walkabout Sailing

[@MrRotundifolia1]

I've watched this video many times and now I'm building my own Walkabout. Thanks and greetings from Holland.

[@RodMcLaren]

Great video. Very entertaining, and equally important, offering informed comments on the features of this wonderful design. Have you considered doing more videos? You definitely have a talent for it and it would be great to see more of your beautiful boat in action.

[@martynlong928]

Thanks Rod. Move over Scorsese ! I have since made it possible to attach the boom to the mast at the front, which frees up space to use a jib. All in an attempt to beat some of the local bermuda rigs. Unfortunately, all I can blame now is my crap steering... Do you have a boat ?

[@RodMcLaren]

@@martynlong928 Yes, look out Scorcese - sounds like you have lots of material to work with - modifications to your rigging, showing the locals how sailing is really done, etc. :-) Yes, I do have a boat - a Mana 24 catamaran (James Wharram) I built a couple years back. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZO4ZoSNp7ukh7c I thought that would be it for boat building for me but then I came across John Welsford's designs and that has me wondering it I could do another boat... He has so many great designs.

[@martynlong928]

@@RodMcLaren That looks a great boat. Bet it is a lot of fun ! Marine ply, epoxy and cable ties are definitely the way to go! Never seen tabs and wedges before - such a good idea. We are of a very similar age, and I don't know if I would envisage another build, BUT, small boats tend to get used more than big ones. A couple of years ago I saw a boat very similar to yours in the isle of Wight and helped the owner get it off a drying berth and into the outgoing tide. I near as damn it got on board with him, but I would have left my wife stranded !

[@RodMcLaren]

@@martynlong928 Here is my latest video of the boat. It helps to be reminded of its many good features. I need to focus on the green grass on my side of the fence instead of admiring and yearning for what is growing on the other side. :-) I do need to remember my age and be satisfied with what I have. Still, I can admire other beautiful boats like yours and do so from afar. Best wishes. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJ-ukICYppx0fJI

[@WRPUS471]

I like the demo commentary.

[@martynlong928]

Thanks. No sailing recently though. Since I made the video I've got better balancing the sails - I've also made it so that I can add a jib and give some of the conventional boats a run for their money upwind.

[@simeon3always]

Great video! I'm enjoying my Welsford SCAMP after a year of building. Walkabout study plans were in hand until the SCAMP came along :-)

[@magneo5130]

I love this video too! I have watched it a bunch of times! A video showing performance in heavier wind would be great! Can be a bit windy here on the Norwegian west coast...

[@martynlong928]

Hallo MagneO - thanks for that. I've sailed the boat in force 6 - did about 8.5 knots with a gust. Anything more than that and it seems to just want to head up to wind, even without the mizzen - dunno why. I've sailed quite a bit in the sea as well, but nothing like the Norwegian west coat - bet it gets 'interesting' there. In some places I gather the winds can come down the mountains and go off in all sorts of directions ! The beauty of a balanced lug rig is that the centre of the sail is low down, so I hardly have to move to balance the boat, and I've never capsized (yet). The sail can also pivot completely round the mast (no shrouds), so you can always spill wind. I must do a sea video once the situation changes. However, once you get to the point where the waves are starting to break, it all gets too dangerous for boats of this size.

[@magneo5130]

@@martynlong928 Thanks for your prompt reply!

[@scottsouder6450]

Nice job the boat looks great! I built a Michalak boat with a leeboard and have to say I like the boat being wide open in the center. That is also why I just ordered plans for Walkabout. A bit more of a build challenge but wide open center of the boat. In my experience so far there is no difference at all in any performance of sailing so why not have more room inside the boat. I am not sure I like a dagger board but he has a supplemental sheet now I guess for a centerboard which is still offset (so I guess it isn't really a centerboard). That makes me feel better about getting shallow or rocks, occasional stumps etc. Oh well, thanks for posting the video.

[@martynlong928]

+Scott Souder Thanks for the positive comments. I also really like the boat being open - some boats are quite large but you are crammed in. I agree about the dagger board - I built one in, but then blanked it off to go for the leeboard, which is easy to manage and maintain. I certainly keep hitting the bottom a lot, and have just put in a cheap depth sounder which has been really successful. Hope you make it with the build - I have a few boats and really prefer this one to the others. Good for a range of waters and conditions and very comfortable.

[@pauljohnston9446]

Scott Souder lol it's an OFFCENTERBOARD ,,, must be a kiwi thing. got to say his designs ( Welsford ) hit you where ya live , if I had the money I would have a half dozen of his boats , and I would love.a cross between Tread Lightly ( cabin and sail plan ) and Pilgrim ( hull and then adjust the sizes of the sails and cabin to pilgrim ) .... sweet dreams

[@SteveLiebig]

Mate--you mention the leeboard kicked up partway from a rub in the shallows. What about the centreboard? Did it not strike in the shallows also? Beautiful but and a terrific video--many thanks for showing us a fine, final product!

[@AndyJarman]

No centre board.

[@Springer5]

Hi. What happened to the video? I'm just starting building one of these and came back for another look at this one (inspiration!) to remind myself of how it could look if I do it right.

[@martynlong928]

+springer5 Dunno, it's working ok for me.... Hope your build goes well. I've just moved the rowing position further forwards so that it's easier to row when another person is onboard. Handy when you want somebody to row while you are also sailing - sometimes I have to go back against an increasing tide, and the wind is not strong enough.

[@Springer5]

Hi. Thanks for posting this. Thinking of building one myself. Looks great. Why the leeboard? Does the centreboard have some problems? Thanks

[@MrArthropode]

springer5 Hi, I would recommend a self-build - although such boats take some time, this is enjoyable in itself. The final boat is quite versatile - row/sail, inland or coastal, stable, takes a few people, and easy to manage single handed. I started off with a daggerboard, then changed my mind and went for a leeboard as the simplest option. You could put in a centreboard of course (this is in the plans), but I am now a convert to leeboards - you can see what is going on, and they don't have a slot to jam. A centreboard also takes up a lot of seating space inside the boat.All the best with whatever you do.

[@Springer5]

Hi Martyn. Strange! I tried it again today and all is working now. Probably a computer problem at my end of something. Anyway, she looks as great as I remembered her. Just gathering materials to start the build. Only problem is my other half has recently seen Welsford's 'Houdini' and is trying to pursued me to swap to that. For me though, Walkabout just has such beautiful lines (maybe I should build the walkabout for me, and then a Houdini for her - haha) Interesting about your new rowing position. Sounds good. Do you sometimes find that the Walkabout is slightly underpowered in lighter airs against a stronger current (compared with other similar sized boats); hence the need to setup the boat to row and sail at the same time more often? She is primarily a rowing boat according to JW and has a small(ish) sail area for her size, especially when tacking against a current in very light airs?? Thanks for your reply.

[@martynlong928]

+springer5 Hi again, The Houdini looks to be a great boat. Much more of sailing boat though, and I would imagine you would be using an outboard if you have a current against you. It’s shorter than the Walkabout, and speed is determined by boat length. It also has only one sail, so Houdini doesn’t get the benefits of a mizzen - this means Walkabout can easily head into wind while you do other things. It also sails well without a rudder by balancing the two sails. I’m sure you can row the Houdini, but it is broader (1.8m versus 1.5m), which will make it feel a bit awkward and tricky to get oar length right. I also row a Wayfarer sometimes, and it is a bit of a tub. The Walkabout has quite a bit less sail (7.5 sq m versus 10.7 sq m). Remember though that you need 4 times the power to double the speed. Probably because it’s narrow, the Walkabout will go well above hull speed with a force 3 wind, and also because it’s narrow and has good shape, it picks up quickly with light winds. Overall, I would be surprised if there is much difference in speed between the two boats. I have a tricky return when sea sailing. The wind is usually against me, with the tide going out, with increasing speed. It is also up a channel, with loads of moored boats - a bit of a ‘threading the needle’ job. This is good fun though, and you always have the immediate and reliable backup of just rowing. Outboards sometimes don’t start just when you need them! If you are close reaching into a 2 knot current, you probably need to be sailing at more than 3 knots, to make any progress at all. The walkabout rows at 3 knots (hard work of course), but you are making direct progress, and I keep up with dumpy tenders with outboards. Sometimes I leave the masts/sails behind and just row about. Nice and peaceful (you can get closer to seals without a big flapping sail), and you can drift about and explore places easily. I do get left behind by other boats going into the wind, but they all have a Bermuda rig and are racing boats. I can however sometimes catch up with larger racing boats when beam/ broad reaching. I have never come close to capsizing the walkabout, as the sail is relatively small and low down, and I also reef early. Full sail with a force 4 is great fun though. The only time it is uncomfortable is going into short waves, when the flat bottom will pound a bit. I suppose it comes down to whether you want a good looking boat, which rows well and also sails pretty well. I am of course completely biased!All the best whatever you do.

[@Springer5]

+Martyn Long Martyn. Thanks very much for taking the time to provide that useful info. I appreciate it very much. Lots to learn. Tbh I think I always knew that walkabout was the right boat for me and I'm pretty certain that's what I'll be starting to build this spring now that I have the workshop finally cleared and ready to go. It's a cracking boat for sure. I've never really been a fan of outboards and I think your right that Houdini would probably need one at some point. Rowing is reliable, uncomplicated and doesn't require a big smelly heap of petrol cans (or batteries! ) taking up space in the boat. All pluses for me. Looking forward to getting started now. One again I appreciate thoughts from someone who's had experience of using one for a while now. Cheers, Neal

[@MrSPARTAN117ian]

plz stop with the annoying comments

[@MrArthropode]

MrSPARTAN117ian Er, plz stop making annoying comments about my annoying comments......