14′ 11″ Wittholz Catboat

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Line drawing of Wittholz Catboat.

Charles Wittholz recommends rigging this catboat with the gaff sail.

Here is an easily built small boat with a big heart. A seaworthy daysailer or vest-pocket cruiser, Corvus (named for the constellation known to mariners as the
“gaff-rigged mainsail”) has the look of a traditional Cape Cod catboat with tumblehome stem, a beam of almost half her length, and a “barn-door” rudder on her stern. She has room for six adults in her 7′ -long cockpit, and there’s a “head” in her small cabin. Some builders have extended the trunk cabin a bit in order to fit in two berths for cruising. A few other boats have been built without any cabins at all for use as open daysailers. For auxiliary power, a small out­ board can be mounted on the stern, or an inboard engine can be installed. (There’s information on one of the drawings for this latter option.)

Profile view of Wittholz catboat design.

The head and stores occupy the cuddy.

Corvus is designed for planking with 3/8″ plywood over eight sawn frames. She’s well thought out for amateur con­struction; the plans contain better-than-average detail and even show how to fit Corvus with an outside ballast keel, if you’d prefer that over a centerboard. While her designer recommends the conventional gaff mainsail, there is an alternate lug rig shown having a considerably shorter mast-a special requirement for one boat that had to pass underneath a bridge on her way to open water.

Wittholz 15 sheer plan.

Wittholz 15 sheer plan. Lots of shape for sheet plywood.

These boats make delightful daysailers because they sail at a small angle of heel, and the centerboard version can be used where the water is but knee-deep.

Plans for the Wittholz Catboat design come in seven sheets, including sail plans, spar and rigging details, lines and offsets, construction plan, keel construction details, inboard profile and arrangement. WB Plan No. 47. $75.00.

Arrangement view of Wittholz 15 design.

The crew lives in the cockpit.

Wittholz Catboat Particulars

LOA:  14′ 11″
LWL:  14′ 4″
Beam:  7′ 4 1⁄2″
Sail area:
Gaff rig/170 sq ft
Lug rig/157 sq ft
Weight:  1,400 lbs
Draft, centerboard up:  1′ 4″
Draft, centerboard down:  3′ 8″

Plan Details

DESCRIPTION
Hull type: V-bottomed, centerboard boat
Rig: Cat
Construction: Plywood planking over sawn frames
Headroom/cabin: approx. 3′ 6″

PERFORMANCE
Suitable for: Protected waters
Intended capacity: 2-6 daysailing
Trailerable: Yes
Propulsion: Sails, oar, engine
Speed (knots): 2-4

BUILDING DATA
Skill needed: Intermediate
Lofting required: Yes
Alternative construction: None

PLANS DATA
No. of sheets: 7
Level of detail: Above average
Cost per set: $75.00
WB Plan No. 47

Completed 14′ 11″ Wittholz Catboat Images

Sailors aboard a green Wittholz catboat with red sail. Asli Iskeceli

We christened the boat GAVIIDAE (from the Latin genus, Gavia, and family, Gaviidae, for members of the loon species) and sail her on both lake and Gulf Coast waters. Her large sail moves her in all but the slightest of breezes, and the 3-hp Torqueedo 1103 gives us good auxiliary power when the wind fails completely, or we’re maneuvering alongside a dock or into a ramp.

Sailors cruise in a small sailboat. Asli Iskeceli

The plans offer lug or gaff sail plans. We chose the latter and have found the boat to be responsive, stable, and remarkably close winded.