Sail Plan | Interior
| Deck Plan
Starb'd Aft Lines |
Starb'd Forward Lines |
Port Forward Lines
Perspective Forward |
Perspective Aft |
Sail Plan Perspective
Redpath Interior Photos - Very Nice...!
Galley Port
Side | Galley
Starb'd Side |
Forward Settee
General Concept
Redpath is an excellent example of the style I refer to as "Modern
Classic." By this I mean that Redpath is functional and practical
yet brings forth a good dose of traditional elegance. Redpath is
my own ideal boat for living aboard and traveling the waters of the world.
One's choice of boat might best be distilled to a question of
lifestyle. If we are cruising, a boat is our home. The boat
is not only a statement of what we feel is important -- it is where we
live.
Redpath is designed to deliver her crew in style and in comfort into the
nooks and crannies of the world into which she may poke her bowsprit.
Following the links above, we observe a vessel which is both practical and
unique. One that will be able to handle long passages in safety and
comfort. One that will easily accommodate a couple and the friends who
may come along in a grand style.
In creating Redpath, simplicity and ruggedness were emphasized.
Ruggedness is for the sake of safety and is achieved by using steel or
aluminum for the hull, deck, and cabin; and by using aluminum
pipe for the spars. Can a boat possess both ruggedness and grace at
the same time...? I say, "Yes absolutely!" In the case of
Redpath, grace is achieved via a good dose of traditional styling.
Since it is primarily the degree of complexity in a boat that determines
the vessel's cost and the amount of time one must eventually spend on
maintenance, simplicity is its own reward. Simplicity in this case
applies not only to the type of vessel but also to the hull shape chosen.
For example, in metal a single chine hull is by far easier and less
costly to build than one with multiple or radius chines. As you will
see by following the links to the images above, a single chine can also look
very appealing, especially when used in a traditional style.
As with any boat the key ingredient is good design. There being no
aesthetic penalty to the use of a single chine hull form, especially when
using a traditional approach to styling, I nearly always favor the single
chine hull shape for its honest appearance and extreme ease of construction.
After all, metal is a sheet material, and may as well be taken advantage of
as such.
Hull Form
Originally designed to be my own vessel, Redpath was inspired by
a few other boats, combining their best attributes. Many notions came
from my own 34' schooner Emerald (also shown in the sketch at the bottom of the
Sail Boats
page); other ideas came from the 49' classic Noank well-smack, Emma C. Berry
now fully restored at Mystic Seaport; and yet other attributes came from the
following considerations...
After having lived aboard Emerald for a while, it became my wish to have
slightly more room, a private sleeping cabin, and a dedicated and separate
engine space / cargo space. The main requirement was to achieve these
features in the simplest possible vessel for the sake of economy and ease of
building. Therefore the single chine hull form, all metal construction, and
the gaff schooner rig.
Having sailed boats of this type on various inshore, coastwise, and ocean
passages, I'm thoroughly convinced of the benefits of a simple schooner rig,
and the single chine hull form. Per my own experience during various
sailing races, it is obvious that there is no penalty whatever in terms of
speed with the single chine hull form.
As can be seen from the perspective views at the above links, Redpath has
a very fine run. She will track well, she'll be fast, and she will be
capable to windward. Her 'cruising keel' is a NACA foil section for
high lift / low drag. The keel profile is optimized for cruising.
Off-wind steering will be steady, and windward sailing will be enhanced by
the raked forefoot and by the deeper keel when compared with the two vessels
from which Redpath was inspired.
At first, the styling of Redpath may seem to be somewhat old fashioned.
However modern materials are used wherever they provide an advantage in
terms of cost, ease of construction, strength, and long term maintenance.
The hull, decks and cabin are all metal. The gaff rig takes advantage of
high aspect sails having short gaffs, and all aluminum spars. The keel
is a NACA foil shape for maximum lift and minimum drag.
In all, the vessel is very sleek and fast. As a bonus, Redpath's
appearance will turn heads and earn compliments wherever she sails.
Particulars
Displacement will vary
from around 30,800 pounds lightly loaded to a full load displacement of around 34,500 pounds with
tanks full, crew, gear, stores aboard, and the boat ready for a passage.
Other particulars are:
- LOD: 44' - 0"
- Beam: 12' - 10"
- LWL: 35' - 0"
- D/L Average: 330 @ DWL
- Working Sail Area: 990 sq. ft.
- All Sail Area: 1,213 sq. ft.
Interior
A requirement for the interior layout above all else is to have
comfort. The interior should allow plenty of room for favorite
activities, avocations, or hobbies. These qualities are
ordinarily achieved by careful planning and by a look at the type of travel
that is being planned.
Aboard Redpath, a deeper sense of comfort will come from knowing there is
a safe and seaworthy vessel under foot; from having one's preferred
activities close at hand; and from the seemingly small details such as how
the lanterns are located in order to provide good lighting for cooking and
reading. Redpath is designed to be a platform from which to stage an
ocean expedition, as well as to simply be one's home and refuge. The
overall goal is to provide an on-going sense of pleasure and well being.
Below, the settee is located right forward in order to provide a "dead
end" spot to relax which is out of the main traffic pattern, and to also
provide two good pilot berths. No one need be disturbed by someone else
needing to pass by. The settee table is hung off the fore mast, for a
generous dining area.
The galley is quite large, extending both to port and to starboard. To
port, the galley surface doubles as a day office / study area. The
sink, ice chest and range are to starb'd.
Aft of the galley is a head to starb'd and a bureau / hanging locker to
port. There is an option shown allowing a quarter berth to be placed to port
by shortening the hanging locker some, and extending the berth aft from
there. Without the quarter berth, there is a more generous hanging
locker and considerably more space in the engine room.
Without the quarter berth, the engine room spans the full width of the
vessel and is closed off by two full bulkheads. The intent is that engine
noise, heat, and smell are completely separated from the living spaces.
Thorough sound attenuation is a high priority for the inevitable periods
spent motoring.
Check out these few interior photos showing the
Galley Port
Side, the Galley
Starb'd Side, and the
Forward Settee / Saloon area - and interior built to a very high
standard indeed.
Rig
Many may question the choice of rig in light of the requirement
for simplicity. Please read through my essay on
What's the Ideal Sailing Rig... for the complete rationale.
The schooner rig designed for Redpath is surprisingly simple. For
example, single halyards serve both fore and main gaffs; all three working
sails are self tending; there are no topmasts or spreaders or excess rigging
to clutter one's life; the single tops'l, a fisherman, is easily handled,
etc. This ultra simple configuration has become the basis for nearly
all of my schooner designs.
A gaff schooner is able to spread more sail area per height of spars than
other rigs. The sail area can therefore be very generous without becoming a
burden to the vessel's sail carrying ability. Performance with this
combination is sufficient to do without the usual variety of light weather
sails. The fisherman tops'l is simple, and is a real work horse. The
fisherman is easy to handle and it is located 'up in the wind' where it can
really do some pulling!
Although difficult to see in the above linked images there is a light
outline on the sail plan showing a square course on the foremast. This
is purely an option, mainly for fun, for running in the trades, or for
sailing in extremely light air. The foremast is a little taller than
usual in order to allow for the square course. The intent is that the
sails set on the square yard will all be of a manageable size for easy
handling, yet collectively will provide a generous area to drive the boat at
good speed in very light air.
With the exception of the fisherman sail, the rig drawn for Redpath is
all self tending. The jumbo jib as drawn is intended to be modified
for passage making by the use of a smaller jib in combination with a
stays'l.
The two gaffs are kept short to maximize luff length, eliminate gaff
tops'ls, and to permit the use of single halyards. On my schooner,
Emerald, I arranged the sails this way and it works great. The result is
better windward performance and substantially less rigging.
The rake of the masts keeps the booms out of the water when sailing off
the wind; makes lowering sail very easy; and the fore masthead is above the
cabin top for loading a tender there. The sails are laced to the mast using
a "forth and back" lacing line so that there is no need for sail track, and
the sail never binds. Loose footed sails permit more sail area and avoid any
side load on the booms. The booms are then a simple strut, allowing
them to be both lighter and easier to handle.
The spars are all aluminum pipe. When painted, there is little to
distinguish them from wooden spars. The aluminum pipe is considerably
stronger than wood, is about the same weight as a solid wooden spar, and
does not rot. All mast fittings are fully welded in place, so overall
cost is less to fabricate than would be the numerous fittings for a wooden
spar. These aluminum pipe spars will last longer and require less
maintenance than any other spar material.
Here is an excellent photo of Redpath Under
Sail... however in my view it is most unfortunate to have set up
the jib with roller furling...!
Power
Redpath has a dedicated engine space amidships with full
bulkheads forward and aft of it. This will permit very effective sound
attenuation, will allow proper engine space ventilation. The
result is very effective containment of the noise, smell, and heat of the
diesel engine.
As an auxiliary sailing vessel, adequate power will be in the range of
between 30 hp and 45 hp, using a marine continuous rating. Or Redpath
can become a very capable motor sailor by simply adding sufficient power and
the fuel required. As a true motor sailor, power would ideally be in
the range of around 70 hp continuous and a slightly greater tank capacity
may be preferred however being relatively light in terms of displacement
Redpath will perform best if not burdened by an overly large fuel load.
For longer passages, it is therefore expected that the sails will act their
part when the winds favor.
Summary
Redpath embodies my ideal notion of a blue water cruising boat
in every respect. Redpath is small enough so that one can afford to
build her yet large enough to provide privacy and comfort below. She
is absolutely beautiful, and will be quite easy to care for. As a
passagemaker, her performance will be excellent.
What more can you ask?
