We met the RoG microcruiser by JF Bedard at the Cedar Key Small Boat Meet on Florida’s Gulf Coast. First seen, she was scooting confidently east toward the bright white beach of Atsena Otie Key. The wind was variable over the southwest quadrant and puffing up between 25 and 30 knots. Whitecaps appeared, died, then hackled up again. The RoG tore along, heeled to the puffs, but its pilot started the mainsail sheet and it stopped instantly, waiting upright and stock still like a gun dog for a command, mannerly and calm. The mainsheet came in and the RoG rushed for the beach again. When inclement weather threatens, the cabin can be enclosed and protected with a fabric covering.
Lucie Laliberte
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Great article about a really interesting design. Please embed a video or add a link (tons of them on YouTube) so we can see it sailing!
Very interesting. I would love to see one “in the wood”.
This is a great article and it includes many ideas I’ve thought about but not yet built into a boat. The water ballast tanks are one area I’m looking at in build a trailer/sailer under 20′. I’d like to see more info on how you plumbed the water pumping system to the tanks and is this a sealed system or water brought on board as needed? And like Alan Mudd, I’d be interested in seeing some videos of her sailing.
Does anyone make them for the commercial market?
Really nice boat. At 6’3″, I can’t imagine sleeping in it though. I wonder what it would take to scale it just a little larger.
It seems there is a lot to like. Is it fiddly to build?
I have loved this boat since I first saw something about it connected to the Challenge. If I were 20-25 yrs younger and could still walk, I’d build one.
Perfectly in tune with my wish list.
I have a few personal tweeks to create my own version of this “everything I ever wanted” boat.
Part of the joy is building.