This is one of the happiest most delightful vids I've ever seen! Look at the smiles on their dials. I think these people get far more joy and fun out of their boats than wealthy people with very expensive keel boats
Fantastic! I love the way John explains the delicacy of balancing the compromises of design. Especially liked your definition of performance being fit for purpose.
Great to watch this again and hear John Welsford's thought process based on his experience. I think his path as a small craft designer shows the importance of getting young people, even children, involved in activities like building and sailing small boats. John started sailing, then became an "eyeball" designer because of his interest, which in turn led him to want to learn the math and physics of boats and sailing so he'd be better at it. If we get more youngsters involved, they'll go through the same process, and we'll get more skilled craft- and tradespeople and more engineers.
A wonderful interview that has motivated me to contact the Gig Harbor gang regarding a Scamp! If all goes well my Scamp will be sailing throughout Maine to Cape Cod. Best to John and Roger
Wonderful presentation! John’s definition of “performance” matches my own perfectly... I wish other designers would quit obsessing over speed and confusing speed & performance!
Well, that was two hours that went past in five minutes; extremely interesting. I have come to the conclusion that my favourite John Welsford design is which ever one is being featured on the screen at the moment; all stunners. I grew up in Cornwall and sailed from a very young age; what fun could have been had with one of those Scamps; brilliant design.
Very interesting discussion and answered questions. Really helpfull to understand the different designs and riggings from the John Welsford designs. I also prefer the balanced lug rig, but have to learn a bit more about the yawl rigs, because they are not used that much here in Europe, as I know. But I am not really in the dinghy scene here, because I now sail a larger boat and meet more "yachties" than dinghy sailors. But this will get a change, I think. Back to the roots, when I started sailing as a young boy on dinghies first...
Thoroughly interesting! I'd intended to just dip in, but watched almost all of this! The main boats I've sailed are a Mirror dinghy; around 35 years ago and a Conati 26 (which I lived aboard for 3 lovely years). Had to stop because I got Waldenstroms with fairly bad neuropathy. Feeling a bit better with treatment, I've bought a Mirror again & want to explore where I can get to wit that! Currently only tested getting back onboard after rowing from the launch ramp to the nearest beach ( set anchor on beach so I could self rescue if I couldn't get back aboard). Struggled, but managed to reboard, so looking at boarding assistance ideas...
Awesome, must be something in New Zealand water, some great designers and thinkers come from that small and isolated island, Hamilton Jets, Mclaren and McRae Race cars, Burt Munro, Ernest Rutherford, Edmund Hilary.. the list goes on, John Welsford is certainly a great thinker and boat designer. Thanks for sharing this insightful video.
Thanks a lot for the great conversation. Immensely useful and helped a lot with my thought process as I hope to join UK dingy cruising community soon enough!
Pleased I found the DCA channel, Absolutely fascinating talk from John and interesting Q&A too. Needless to say I subbed and will be looking at the content and what comes up in the future.
He's right about fatigue and easy reefing. I got caught in 20-30 knot winds in a 21-foot sloop. With a crew of one, there was nothing I could do to reef the main. When I tried to return to the dock, I found I couldn't manage a landing. With the wind on my beam, I'd head for the dock, but when I got there and turned into the wind and parallel the dock, the wind was so stiff, the instant I turned I was blown backward. After I about two-hours I was getting exhausted from the strain. Fortunately, I persuaded a teen boy in his dad's ski boat to tow me into the wind so I could drop the sails. He then towed me into the dock. But for him, I'm not sure what I would have done.
Can I suggest you learn to sail? There's nothing in your description that an experienced sailor couldn't have managed. Why did you turn into the wind, you should have sailed up to the dock spilling the wind and not tried to luff up to it, it's the same when picking up a mooring or a man overboard, you keep the boat sailing and spill the wind by playing the sheets, let them out to slow down, pull them in to drive forward whilst maintaining the course.
@@jonathansimmonds5784 Hi Jonathan. I've been sailing for 60 years and your first sentence strikes me as a bit harsh really. Gusting Force 7 is a serious blow. The problem with coming alongside either head to wind, or still sailing upwind, is getting your warp around a cleat on the quayside. If there's nobody there, you have to leap off the foredeck and risk falling in the water, which is life threatening in those conditions. I was helming an Etchell in a race when it was 20kts freshening 30k, and a half-decked classic bowsprit gaffer (25 ft hull) with a very experienced racing skipper and crew sank to the bottom of the Harbour. We managed to find shelter in the lee of a head, drop the main, and sail home on jib only. That was as much canvas as she could carry. The flogging main was creating too much drag and capsize moment, apart from the risk of gear failure. Crossing the Harbour under jib only was tricky and took for ever - fall off the wind just a fraction, and you have to go all the way around again because of the massive lee helm of course. Oh for a yawl rig - as in some of John's designs, and for very good reason. Drop the main, and you're still well balanced.
Hi Michael, I have been sailing for over 50 years. I have been caught in the same circumstances. One of my solutions was to simply drop the anchor. It doesn't have to hold, only to hold the boat into the wind enough to be able to lower the main sail. Just curious if that would have been possible in your situation?
I’m sorry I’m a year late for this interview. It was fascinating. Especially for someone who lives on the Salish Sea and is looking for a dinghy cruiser project.
The most important aspect of sail boat design is the lateral resistance of the boat in the water. The stem has to have more lateral resistance than the rest of the boat. This is what is meant by stem to stern academic keeling design or seaworthy design. When you keel the boom you jam the sails and cause the boat to heeling over or capsizing. Lateral resistance ahead of sail effort is rudder control and sailing speed.
Cooking underway in bad conditions, we wouldn't do that with two to four people on board in our 38 footer. Boiled eggs cheese and sausage and fresh fruit fruit will keep you going for several days. the main thing is water.
Hot water and a wide mouth thermos is, sort of, cooking. A packet of rice and half a can of Irish stew in one of those topped up with near boiling water and left for an hour makes a pretty reasonable meal if you're hungry enough. Hot soup is good as well, I've even heated pre cooked sausages in that big thermos, they werent perfect but gosh, I was hungry so down they went. I've been in big boats where cooking under way was difficult and uncomfortable though so you have my sympathy.
Mr. Welsford's boats seem well-suited for San Francisco Bay, which seems to me to be a good place for dinghy cruising. It's 60 miles long and 3-12 miles wide, plus many miles of river and delta to the east. There's a lot to see, both urban environments and natural habitats around the bay and delta. I know there's a small group who bring dinghies out, but I'm surprised there aren't more.
I've been thinking a sail from pier 40 around angel island through racoon strait pass by alcatraz to Saint Francis yact club then down the city back to peir 40 to drink a few beers with southbeach yact club and BAADS. In a scamp, prob take all day.
Spent many years sailing from 8' access dinghies op to 40' race and cruising boats in the bay. Check out bay area association of disabled sailors. We are always looking for volunteers and new members. They are supported by southbeach yacht club and have a dingy dock at peir 40.
Much appreciated. Well thought concepts, John. Roger: I'm following your trips on RUclips with great interest. Especially those in Brittany but also the one in Venice. I own a 20 m2 German Jollenkreuzer and I'm a great Fan of Brittany. My boat is 2,6 m wide, displaces about 1500 kg fully outfitted, has a closed Deck but the Cockpit is open to the cabin and it has a centreboard as well. In which conditions do you sail out along the coast? I'd be interested in making design changes to the boat respecting the classic wooden appearance.
6 people -------sail and efficient rower------ 6 for dinner in cockpit ----2 children can sleep under fore deck ----trailer folkboat for estuary ,inland lake s , intercoastal , big river ,and coastal 1-3 day cruise
I know it is late to the thread, but what makes a boat a dinghy? I was once on a 110ft tug boat pulling a 350ft barge coming out of Bayou Lafourche in western Louisianna. We were home bound for New York after having cleaned up the BP spill. As we went out the bayou , we past rows of off shore supply vessels that were so monstrously huge our tug felt like a dinghy!
I believe in sailing terms, a dinghy is a boat that needs to crew to be ballast (I.e. hiking required to keep trim and level) and a yacht has built in ballast.
John lives and breathes small boats. I wouldn't begrudge him a single cent were I to buy a boat off him. Plumped for an Ilur kit myself, which reminds me, must get back out there.
Informative and inspiring, especially to see John’s accomplishments as a self taught designer. I was hoping for a question about sailing abilities close hauled of both the boat designs and rig types.
Is it possible to obtain the plan's for the little boats with the fixed cuddys from anywhere? I'm very keen to build something for use around the west of Scotland including the inland lochs. These little boats look perfect having the shelter is just perfect. And wonderful for camping week's away. I'd really appreciate if anyone could point me in the right direction.
What is your proposal for a tent for a Core Sound 20? It is a cat ketch rig with the misen mast in the roeing seat in the middle of the cock pit. It can be mowed to a front position just forward of the coack pit. I have built myboat with a rear lasaret.
You get the same sail area closer to the water as a Bermuda, and it's a very simple rig. This makes it easier to raise the mast, to duck under bridges, AND it means the boat is less likely to heel in a gust. The top few feet of a Bermuda rig's mainsail imposes a lot of turning moment on the hull because of the superior leverage.
Well, yes but! My Jeanette would fill with water and capsize almost Instantly if you dipped the rail, which wasn’t hard to do, and was totally unstable when righted. After I added a bunch more decking an$ flotation it was a good boat.
This is one of the happiest most delightful vids I've ever seen! Look at the smiles on their dials. I think these people get far more joy and fun out of their boats than wealthy people with very expensive keel boats
I’d like to thank John for his time and energy. He is a an inspiration.
Fantastic! I love the way John explains the delicacy of balancing the compromises of design. Especially liked your definition of performance being fit for purpose.
Great to watch this again and hear John Welsford's thought process based on his experience. I think his path as a small craft designer shows the importance of getting young people, even children, involved in activities like building and sailing small boats. John started sailing, then became an "eyeball" designer because of his interest, which in turn led him to want to learn the math and physics of boats and sailing so he'd be better at it. If we get more youngsters involved, they'll go through the same process, and we'll get more skilled craft- and tradespeople and more engineers.
What outstanding analysis John Welsford does on preparing a sailboat. I can not wait to read his book.
Nice! Two pros - John and Roger.
A wonderful interview that has motivated me to contact the Gig Harbor gang regarding a Scamp!
If all goes well my Scamp will be sailing throughout Maine to Cape Cod. Best to John and Roger
Honored to watch your presentation
Thanks for this great interview. The prep tips John goes through is gold.
Wonderful presentation! John’s definition of “performance” matches my own perfectly... I wish other designers would quit obsessing over speed and confusing speed & performance!
Wonderful interview with two great sailors.
Thanks for sharing this video with us. Cheers, S/V Cork ~
Well, that was two hours that went past in five minutes; extremely interesting. I have come to the conclusion that my favourite John Welsford design is which ever one is being featured on the screen at the moment; all stunners. I grew up in Cornwall and sailed from a very young age; what fun could have been had with one of those Scamps; brilliant design.
Good amount of very useful information provided in this video, not only in boat design, but sail rig design also.
Very interesting discussion and answered questions. Really helpfull to understand the different designs and riggings from the John Welsford designs. I also prefer the balanced lug rig, but have to learn a bit more about the yawl rigs, because they are not used that much here in Europe, as I know. But I am not really in the dinghy scene here, because I now sail a larger boat and meet more "yachties" than dinghy sailors. But this will get a change, I think. Back to the roots, when I started sailing as a young boy on dinghies first...
Thoroughly interesting! I'd intended to just dip in, but watched almost all of this! The main boats I've sailed are a Mirror dinghy; around 35 years ago and a Conati 26 (which I lived aboard for 3 lovely years). Had to stop because I got Waldenstroms with fairly bad neuropathy. Feeling a bit better with treatment, I've bought a Mirror again & want to explore where I can get to wit that! Currently only tested getting back onboard after rowing from the launch ramp to the nearest beach ( set anchor on beach so I could self rescue if I couldn't get back aboard). Struggled, but managed to reboard, so looking at boarding assistance ideas...
What a treat this was! Thank you both.
I love my SCAMP, Peanut. It's a fabulous little boat. Thanks, John and Roger.
Thank you for sharing all this information! What a gift to us.
Awesome, must be something in New Zealand water, some great designers and thinkers come from that small and isolated island, Hamilton Jets, Mclaren and McRae Race cars, Burt Munro, Ernest Rutherford, Edmund Hilary.. the list goes on, John Welsford is certainly a great thinker and boat designer. Thanks for sharing this insightful video.
Love the way the Welsford Whaler moves.
You mean this? 12:43
Thank you very much gentlemen for your time and expertise. I have enjoyed this presentation immensely, dogs, birds and all.
Thanks a lot for the great conversation. Immensely useful and helped a lot with my thought process as I hope to join UK dingy cruising community soon enough!
Seriously considering building a shrine [with a rudder] to John Welsford. Such beautiful, useful designs.
so much for the work i was going to do for the last couple of hours, that was fascinating
Very good, we need more of this please
Wonderful presentation, great design concepts.
Thanks, for sharing your worthfull experiences! 😉👍
Pleased I found the DCA channel, Absolutely fascinating talk from John and interesting Q&A too. Needless to say I subbed and will be looking at the content and what comes up in the future.
At first when he said he stuffed his mast with noodles... I thought of Super Noodles.
Very enjoyable and interesting talk, thankyou!
That was fascinating, thank you.
Absolutely fascinating. Thank you so much
Thank you both for a wunderfull episode.
I love the passion of you both. Hope for more.
Thanks, good interview
This is AWSOME! Thanks a lot guys!!!
Boy-o-boy, practicing for problems during controlled conditions, is a concept that is tried and true in other professions too. Texas
All we need is a least wind resistant hull and keeling
Decent, stable and beautiful boats…. Texas
He's right about fatigue and easy reefing. I got caught in 20-30 knot winds in a 21-foot sloop. With a crew of one, there was nothing I could do to reef the main. When I tried to return to the dock, I found I couldn't manage a landing. With the wind on my beam, I'd head for the dock, but when I got there and turned into the wind and parallel the dock, the wind was so stiff, the instant I turned I was blown backward.
After I about two-hours I was getting exhausted from the strain. Fortunately, I persuaded a teen boy in his dad's ski boat to tow me into the wind so I could drop the sails. He then towed me into the dock. But for him, I'm not sure what I would have done.
Can I suggest you learn to sail? There's nothing in your description that an experienced sailor couldn't have managed. Why did you turn into the wind, you should have sailed up to the dock spilling the wind and not tried to luff up to it, it's the same when picking up a mooring or a man overboard, you keep the boat sailing and spill the wind by playing the sheets, let them out to slow down, pull them in to drive forward whilst maintaining the course.
@@jonathansimmonds5784 Hi Jonathan. I've been sailing for 60 years and your first sentence strikes me as a bit harsh really. Gusting Force 7 is a serious blow. The problem with coming alongside either head to wind, or still sailing upwind, is getting your warp around a cleat on the quayside. If there's nobody there, you have to leap off the foredeck and risk falling in the water, which is life threatening in those conditions. I was helming an Etchell in a race when it was 20kts freshening 30k, and a half-decked classic bowsprit gaffer (25 ft hull) with a very experienced racing skipper and crew sank to the bottom of the Harbour. We managed to find shelter in the lee of a head, drop the main, and sail home on jib only. That was as much canvas as she could carry. The flogging main was creating too much drag and capsize moment, apart from the risk of gear failure. Crossing the Harbour under jib only was tricky and took for ever - fall off the wind just a fraction, and you have to go all the way around again because of the massive lee helm of course. Oh for a yawl rig - as in some of John's designs, and for very good reason. Drop the main, and you're still well balanced.
Hi Michael, I have been sailing for over 50 years. I have been caught in the same circumstances. One of my solutions was to simply drop the anchor. It doesn't have to hold, only to hold the boat into the wind enough to be able to lower the main sail. Just curious if that would have been possible in your situation?
Should have rounded up and let go the main halyard before reaching the dock then play the jib sheet to come alongside
I’m sorry I’m a year late for this interview. It was fascinating. Especially for someone who lives on the Salish Sea and is looking for a dinghy cruiser project.
Great vid. Thanks guys.
I would like to hear more about his design considerations on his successful mini transit boat.
The master of living and traveling in a dingy
The most important aspect of sail boat design is the lateral resistance of the boat in the water. The stem has to have more lateral resistance than the rest of the boat. This is what is meant by stem to stern academic keeling design or seaworthy design. When you keel the boom you jam the sails and cause the boat to heeling over or capsizing. Lateral resistance ahead of sail effort is rudder control and sailing speed.
Cooking underway in bad conditions, we wouldn't do that with two to four people on board in our 38 footer. Boiled eggs cheese and sausage and fresh fruit fruit will keep you going for several days. the main thing is water.
Hot water and a wide mouth thermos is, sort of, cooking. A packet of rice and half a can of Irish stew in one of those topped up with near boiling water and left for an hour makes a pretty reasonable meal if you're hungry enough. Hot soup is good as well, I've even heated pre cooked sausages in that big thermos, they werent perfect but gosh, I was hungry so down they went.
I've been in big boats where cooking under way was difficult and uncomfortable though so you have my sympathy.
I have baked beans for when the weather gets bad
Houdini, is my favourite great a floor space and a massive floor for camping. Great big lug sail all for just over 13 foot.
Mr. Welsford's boats seem well-suited for San Francisco Bay, which seems to me to be a good place for dinghy cruising. It's 60 miles long and 3-12 miles wide, plus many miles of river and delta to the east. There's a lot to see, both urban environments and natural habitats around the bay and delta. I know there's a small group who bring dinghies out, but I'm surprised there aren't more.
I've been thinking a sail from pier 40 around angel island through racoon strait pass by alcatraz to Saint Francis yact club then down the city back to peir 40 to drink a few beers with southbeach yact club and BAADS. In a scamp, prob take all day.
Spent many years sailing from 8' access dinghies op to 40' race and cruising boats in the bay. Check out bay area association of disabled sailors. We are always looking for volunteers and new members. They are supported by southbeach yacht club and have a dingy dock at peir 40.
Much appreciated. Well thought concepts, John.
Roger: I'm following your trips on RUclips with great interest. Especially those in Brittany but also the one in Venice. I own a 20 m2 German Jollenkreuzer and I'm a great Fan of Brittany. My boat is 2,6 m wide, displaces about 1500 kg fully outfitted, has a closed Deck but the Cockpit is open to the cabin and it has a centreboard as well. In which conditions do you sail out along the coast? I'd be interested in making design changes to the boat respecting the classic wooden appearance.
Not a DCA member but would have loved to ask him about the Pathfinder which I think is the most beautiful boat to look at.
Why not look in on his Facebook page, very friendly bunch and there's been lots of talk about Pathfinder.
Wish I had time to enjoy this...
Nice.Where we can get the plan of sailing dinghy in plywood?
Are we able to have a sailing canvas cuddy like on long steps, in parthfinfer.
6 people -------sail and efficient rower------ 6 for dinner in cockpit ----2 children can sleep under fore deck ----trailer folkboat for estuary ,inland lake s , intercoastal , big river ,and coastal 1-3 day cruise
I know it is late to the thread, but what makes a boat a dinghy? I was once on a 110ft tug boat pulling a 350ft barge coming out of Bayou Lafourche in western Louisianna. We were home bound for New York after having cleaned up the BP spill. As we went out the bayou , we past rows of off shore supply vessels that were so monstrously huge our tug felt like a dinghy!
I believe in sailing terms, a dinghy is a boat that needs to crew to be ballast (I.e. hiking required to keep trim and level) and a yacht has built in ballast.
John lives and breathes small boats. I wouldn't begrudge him a single cent were I to buy a boat off him. Plumped for an Ilur kit myself, which reminds me, must get back out there.
My idols..
Informative and inspiring, especially to see John’s accomplishments as a self taught designer. I was hoping for a question about sailing abilities close hauled of both the boat designs and rig types.
Is it possible to obtain the plan's for the little boats with the fixed cuddys from anywhere? I'm very keen to build something for use around the west of Scotland including the inland lochs. These little boats look perfect having the shelter is just perfect. And wonderful for camping week's away. I'd really appreciate if anyone could point me in the right direction.
www.jwboatdesigns.co.nz/
I cannot find the scamp plans 😔 please help!
Exellent Such fun
A lot of people subscribe to Rogers channel, it might be useful if Roger advertised this new channel on his channel.
You're right. We will ask him!
What is your proposal for a tent for a Core Sound 20?
It is a cat ketch rig with the misen mast in the roeing seat in the middle of the cock pit. It can be mowed to a front position just forward of the coack pit.
I have built myboat with a rear lasaret.
How many dinghys have keeled masts or a deep stem for the seaworthy design??
Why didn't they properly show him righting the boat at 21:28?
Sinagot power !!!
Does anyone know if someone has put a junk rig on the 6m whaler.
what makes the gaff rig so desirable on these boats?
You get the same sail area closer to the water as a Bermuda, and it's a very simple rig.
This makes it easier to raise the mast, to duck under bridges, AND it means the boat is less likely to heel in a gust.
The top few feet of a Bermuda rig's mainsail imposes a lot of turning moment on the hull because of the superior leverage.
@@andyjarman4958 one might add, fast to drop if one finds himself in too much wind.
@@sailoutofagarage6212 getting worked up for the weekend overnighter. Fair winds✌
mahurangi regatta... lock it in as I'm keen
I'm learning.
💞
Well, yes but! My Jeanette would fill with water and capsize almost Instantly if you dipped the rail, which wasn’t hard to do, and was totally unstable when righted. After I added a bunch more decking an$ flotation it was a good boat.
The way John tells it, the weight of the water on a coffee cup was pulling the boat over!
Doesn't sound very stable!!!
Would themast fold down
Very nice
Be filled with water an salmon, dagger bord ruder stay in strike sail if winds to heave to up right , safety harness , to swim after toys an spirts
Jumping Jupiter like Holley cloud bursts ' wlold like to see more on the aubility s for me rowing. An reaching abilities
👍✊⛵️
16-20 ft please too many kids for less ----- there are only 2 of us parents
Navigator? 17ft, look up a plymouthwelshboys channel for videos.
26’ Catamaran please, not a racer, just a better Wharram.
Why are you all motoring ?
anyone can design a boat and you are promoting deforestation boats, when a skin on frame weighs a 10% and you can make water ballast for "stabillity"