Wide-Open Throttle
A few years ago I was carrying out a sea trial aboard a single-screw trawler that a client was considering for purchase. Part of the process involves running the vessel… Read more »
Fledging the EAGLE
Professional BoatBuilder Issue 181, Oct/Nov 2019 — Fast Forward Composites develops a high-performance foiler
Recent Posts
Design Challenge III
Submissions closed, judging is underway. A Fast Expedition Sailboat Inspired in part by the worldwide popularity of raid-type events—multi-day racing and cruising expeditions sailed in small boats—we challenge you… Read more »
Predicting Bad Behavior
Consider the following cases: A 28′ (8.5m) lobsterboat, repowered for a race, turned turtle at high speed. A 23′ (7m) tournament-style bassboat would chine-walk violently at high speed. A 30′… Read more »
Skimmers
Kvichak Marine, a builder of aluminum workboats in Seattle, Washington, this summer received multiple orders for its 30′3″ x 8′ (9.2m x 2.4m) Rapid Response Oil Skimmers fitted with the… Read more »
Offshore Passage Prep: Hydraulics
Since my first bluewater passage aboard the 120′ (36.5m) steel schooner R/V Westward nearly 25 years ago as a student, I’ve developed a strong appreciation for what’s involved in maintaining… Read more »
Design Challenge II Winners
Professional BoatBuilder and WoodenBoat magazines’ second design challenge drew 58 excellent submissions from professional and amateur designers in 17 countries. Our panel of judges had the pleasure of studying all… Read more »
Design Challengers
This scorching first week of July, we at Professional BoatBuilder were lucky to have some business to attend to on the water. Two boats built to designs from our 2009… Read more »
School Launchings Spring 2010
Just a few years ago the most frequent complaint among boatbuilders was the scarcity of good experienced workers and reasonably skilled entry-level employees. Most builders would happily trade their current… Read more »
The Switch to Closed Molding
As we report in Professional BoatBuilder No. 126, Danish builder Luffe Yachts has made the change from open- to closed-molding—a changeover completed with help from its resin-and-reinforcements supplier, Bodotex Composites,… Read more »
Steering-System Angularity
Steering system faults can range from sloppiness in the helm, vague handling, and increased fuel consumption, to catastrophic binding and complete failure. The potentially crippling errors illustrated below were made… Read more »
