17'1" Wittholz Catboat
The original print version of this article can be viewed as a PDF or purchased from the WoodenBoat Store.
Join to view PDF Purchase 17'1 Wittholz CatboatNo doubt about it, a catboat has more room for her length than almost any other boat. And here is about the smallest possible catboat you’ll find with real cruising accommodations for two. Inside her cabin, there’s sitting headroom above her two V-berths and a toilet between them, a stove aft on one side, and a sink and icebox aft on the other. Still, her cockpit is huge — six or seven adults can be comfortably seated for daysailing. If you’re most interested in seaworthiness, build the version with the self-bailing cockpit which, incidentally, has a big hatch for stowing the outboard auxiliary; if it’s shelter and a backrest you’re after, there’s a deep cockpit option.
Particulars
Options, in fact, abound on these drawings. There’s a plan for a fixed outside ballast keel rather than a centerboard; there are drawings for a rabbeted mahogany wale strake at the sheer, a plan for anchor-handling bowsprit and one for the installation of an inboard engine. You can fit her with either of the two rigs that are shown — gaff or marconi.
Inboard Profile
Like her smaller sister, Corvus, this 17-footer is designed to be easily and efficiently built. She is set up on her nine sawn frames, then planked and decked with 3/8″ plywood. She’s also designed with trailering in mind — her beam was kept under the 8′ limit, she won’t dry out in the sun and then leak when you launch her, and she’s very easy to rig and get underway. She’d be a wonderful boat for taking overland to distant waters.
Sheer and Body Plans
Plans for the Wittholz Catboat come in 11 sheets, including outboard profile, sail plan (with spar and rigging details and bowsprit arrangement), lines and offsets (with or without mahogany sheerstrake), construction, keel construction details and plan for open cockpit model. WB Plan No. 48. $90.00.
Arrangements
Plan 48
DESCRIPTION
Hull type: V-bottomed, centerboard (optional keel)
Rig: Gaff or marconi cat
Construction: Plywood planking over sawn frames
Headroom/cabin (between beams): About 4′
PERFORMANCE
* Suitable for: Somewhat protected waters
* Intended capacity: 2-7 daysailing, 2 cruising
Trailerable: Yes
Propulsion: Sail w/auxiliary
Speed (knots): 2-5
BUILDING DATA:
Skill needed: Intermediate
Lofting required: Yes
*Alternative construction: None
PLANS DATA
No. of sheets: 11
Level of detail: Above average
Cost per set: $90.00
WB Plan No. 48
Completed Wittholz Catboat Images
Monte CopelandThe keel version of the catboat has its greatest draft 13-1/2′ back from the stem, so it can be brought fairly close to shore. The bundled boom and gaff have been hiked up by the peak halyard to provide more headroom in the cockpit.
Sheila HarnettThe 220-square-foot sail here is held to the mast by hoops and lashed to the gaff and boom. The plans not using sail track along the boom.
Wondering if you knew where any other Wittholz designs are archived ?
He did the design for the Chrysler Lone Star 16, and I had no luck finding plans for it.