Loaner Boat Specifications
Hull Configuration16" high hull
Having sailed 24", 18", 16", and 12", this seems to be the best middle compromise for sailing in the waters around Magnolia Beach. It will have a large enough bow transom to bounce off waves instead of diving, but be low enough so you can sit on the sides and hike out.
Offset Centerboard
A single, large centerboard will be mounted in a trunk, on the inside of the starboard air tank. It shall have a weight at it's tip to make the board drop on it's own. A pendant line and cleat will be used to allow it to drop all the way, or partially down so you can adjust the CLR to match your sail(s).
I gotta tell you, I love the offset centerboard. It works just as good as a centered one, but hidden in the side air tank, it leaves the center of the cockpit completely open so you have plenty of room to move around while tacking quickly, take passengers with you, lounge around etc.
7" Thick Shoebox Type Airboxes If the boat gets knocked over in the race, they can be righted and won't have any water inside.
Spray Rails
2 spray rails going all the way across the bow deck, as shown in the drawing. You may drill 1/4" holes in these rails to mount your hardware.
Mast Sleeves
2 Mast sleeves are mounted in the deck, one at 12" from the bow, and the other at 24" from the bow. These sleeves are rectangular in shape with a drain hole in the bottom which drains the water to the interior of the hull. The sleeves will accomodate a 2.75" square.
Bow Sprit
A removable bow sprit shall be provided with each boat. It is a simple 1.5" square stick which bolts onto the bow deck, and extends 18" beyond the bow transom. An eye is mounted on the tip of it, which runs to the bottom of the bow transom, to provide tension and support.
Hiking Strap
Each hull will have a 2" strap run fore to aft in the center of the hull. It will be attached at the stern where the transom meets the bottom, and mounted forward at the base of the mast sleeve.
Accessory Rails Inside & Outside Of Airboxes Out of towners can bring their own sets of blocks & cleats. The rails (gunnels) will have simple 1/4" holes along them, so borrowers can bolt cleats onto the rails. Holes can be drilled just about anywhere along the inside or outside rails. Also someone might bring a set of hiking wings or something else - which can be mounted to the rails.
An accessory rail will also be on the inside of the stern transom, so you may bolt on equipment there too.
Michalak RudderA Michalak rudder is supplied with each boat, the stock is one sides (not sandwich type) with the blade bolted onto the side. The provided rudder blade shall have a lead sink weight to make the blade drop by itself, and is simply a 1x9 board with the corners rounded. You may bring your own rudder blade if you want. (and your own rudder stock too, if you want)
TillerThe provided tiller is 22" overall length, of that only 18" is in the boat. There is a 1/4" hole at the end of the tiller so you may add a cleat or other accessory like a hiking stick. Additional 1/4" holes may be drilled in the tiller. There is no hiking stick provided, you may bring your own.
Spars Provided (with each boat)
16' mast - 2.75" at the base that is straight up 30%, then tapers to 1.5" at the top.
It is a simple 2x4 mast as specified at [click here]
12' mast - 2.75" at the base, staight up to 30", then tapers to 2" at the top.
Each mast shall have 2 cheek blocks at the head DuckworksBBS.com RL-308-A and shall have 2 nylon cleats at the base, Duckworks SD-043050 These will be screwed on and can not be removed. You may not drill additional holes in the masts, however you may attach hardware to the mast with rope & duct tape, or similar.
1-1/2" spars - basically 2x4's ripped in half, then run thru the router to make them octagons.
2 at 12' long - probably for yards
2 at 10' long - probably for yards
2 at 8' long - probably for booms, or yards
These spars shall have 3 holes in each end, 1/4" diameter each, the first one being 1" from the end, and the rest being spaced 4" apart. The holes are intended to be used with line to lash hardware, snotters etc onto the spars. Additional holes may not be drilled in the spars for fear of weakening them. However you may use line and duct tape to attach other hardware to the spars.
Sails Provided
If you don't bring your own sail, you may use one of the stock sails provided with the boats. Each boat will have an Abrahams lateen, and a Bolger 59 leg-o-mutton sail.
Modifying The Loaner Boats
The spray rail and gunnels are extra large in size and intended to be areas that can be thru-drilled with 1/4" holes, so you can bring your own equipment to bolt on. Some of that equipment might be a pad with your own array of blocks, hiking wings etc. The transom will also have a large chine log, and the rudder is a Michalak one sided stock so you can bring your own rudder blade if you want, and the thickness won't be a problem.
Additional Loaner Boats
If you would like to bring an additional boat to be loaned out, you are more than welcome to. It doesn't have to match John Wright's official loaner boats, and you may make it available for general use, or for specific racer(s) as you wish. If for general use, send in it's info so I can post it here.
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