I first saw designer Andrew Wolstenholme’s Coot dinghy at the Beale Park Boat Show around 10 years ago when his own Coot was being sailed on the lake by his daughter Jo. Somehow, that boat caught my eye among all the other traditional gaffers and luggers at the show.I’d been looking for a design to build following the sale of my Iain Oughtred Whilly Tern, and had whittled my criteria down to something around 12′ that would be manageable on the beach, easily sailed singlehanded, and roomy enough for two or three when needed. And, of course, it had to be pretty. Designer Wolstenholme describes the Coot as a Swallows and Amazons-style rowing and sailing dinghy. It should have a broad appeal beyond the fans of Arthur Ransome's books.
Graham Neil
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I have to have a chuckle. Every time I see a boat reviewed on this magazine the boats are always drifting around in next to no wind. Coming from Fremantle, Western Australia where it blows a tad I wonder if there is ever any wind in North America.
Well, Freemantle is in the “Roaring 40’s,” non? Here in the Middle Atlantic State of New Jersey (I live at the very southern tip) our winds are very benign, unless we are getting our usual winter/spring gales or summer/fall hurricanes. Sustained high winds for more than a day or two are very unusual and are well forecasted.
Yes there is wind here, we currently (2020) have him and his wife as President and First ‘Lady’.
Gostaria de saber o valor das plantas deste lindo veleiro e oque inclui a compra.
De que forma é apresentado e entregue o projeto.
[On-line translation: I would like to know the value of the plans of this beautiful sailboat and what is included in the purchase.
How is the project presented and delivered?]
Lovely; it looks a lot like the International 12′ Dinghy designed in 1913! Why doesn’t the Coot have knees under the mast thwart? The torsional forces are tremendous with a crew hiking out in a stronger wind. In the International 12′ Dinghy even those knees tend to break loose in the older boats, where the knees were smaller!
I have a newly built Penobscot 13 with a gunter-rigged main and jib. It looks similar to your Coot (except for the jib). I am intrigued with the lazy-jack arrangement you describe, since the P-13 needs to be rowed at times and what to do with the booms and sail is a problem, your solution looks simple and practical. I have studied your photos and the boat’s line drawing shown here. Is there anywhere I can learn more about rigging this topping-lift arrangement?
Thanks
Randy
I have a Penobscot 14 and I’d appreciate the lazy-jack rigging too!