BayCruiser is go

[Bill Wickett]

Julian,
When you were looking at the first hull under build at Swallow and discussing the layout, what was the decision on the companionway? I see from the pictures you have posted that the aft cabin bulkhead has quite a slope similar to the Cardigan Bay Lugger. Will there not be a sliding hatch? I think this is the simpler solution, but wonder what it does to the interior. Does it force one to sit further forward on the side seats?

Regards,

Bill Wickett

[Julian Swindell]

We tested with the mockup to see if you can actually stand in the sloping companionway and you can, quite easily, so it seems that a sliding hatch is not strictly needed. It may make you sit further forward in the cabin, but not much, as your head is narrower than you shoulders, if you see what I mean. It also means you have a nice sloping back support whilst lounging on deck reading a book and having a beer (the main point of sailing in my experience). What may be a problem is that if it rains, you could get more rain into the open cabin, but a spray hood should help solve that.

What is particularly nice about the construction method is that nothing is absolutely fixed until it is finished. When I saw Matt clamping bits of plywood into different positions to mock things up I asked if he just got it all in the right shape and then simply poured epoxy over it to fix it. I was slightly disconcerted when he said "Yup, that's about it."

[Tony]

Dont worry too much about rain, Julian.  At anchor (unless you have a strong tide) the BC will weathercock and very little rain will get in. If shes anything like the CBL, once the sprayhood is up half the cockpit is completely sheltered, too. One thing to watch, though. In heavy rain I get a trickle of water coming around the edges of the sprayhood track. It runs down the bulkhead and on to the side decks  causing a few wet backsides before we worked out what was happening. 
....and, yes. The bulkhead makes a great backrest. I suspect that Matt and his mates put an awful lot of R&D (not to mention tea and coffee) into road testing the cockpit – it works when you are sailing and works when you are goofing off, too. Anita and I spend happy hours NOT sailing. Reading, eating. You name it. A so-called friend refers to the Four Sisters as the six knot sunlounger. I forgive him, though. Poor bloke has a Dabber.

[Julian Swindell]

The first BayCruiser is now well advanced in build. I have updated my website about it, with a link to the Classic Boat article about it from their May issue. I have also updated the slide show with some revised and additional pictures. Have a look here if interested:
http://www.jegsweb.co.uk/boats/baycruiser/

[Julian Swindell]

We are into the end game (I hope!) Cabin is going on and she should be at Beale Park, but without rig. I have put a short slide show on my website of some photos from Matt showing her in the workshop. I am starting to get quite excited... I will be really fed up if the current perfect sailing weather disappears as soon as she hits the water.

http://www.jegsweb.co.uk/boats/baycruiser/home.htm

[Julian Swindell]

The hull of the first BayCruiser was on show at Beal Park. Still a lot to do but now we can see what she looks like and how the interor works. Short slideshow at
http://www.jegsweb.co.uk/boats/baycruiser/home.htm