After watching a discovery programme which featured one person fibreglass yachts. I decided that I could do something similar, but from wood. Being a keen model builder, I had built a 30 inch yacht a few years back and it was to form the basis of my 'full size' version.

After watching a discovery programme which featured one person fibreglass yachts.

I did a bit of measuring and came up with my scaleing factor. My main restriction was that it had to fit through my attic hatch! This set the beam and came out at 7foot 8 inch length, sticking to the proportions of the model.

I spent a while drawing up my plans and then made up a full size keel pattern and the biggest bulkhead to make sure it fitted down the hatch, which it did! I also redesigned the internal structure to allow me to fit in it.

I redesigned the internal structure to allow me to fit in it.

The wood was purchased and the project was under way. I had to make the fin removeable to get the hull down the hatch, as well as not letting in any water, so it locates in a sealed slot that sits between your legs and it is held in place with a 1/2 inch brass peg through the top, above the deck.

The fin housing.

Steering took a while to work out and is operated by a handle inside with pushrod activating the 3mm thick brass rudder. The mast and booms are laminated from mahogany floorboards then planed and sanded to shape, with fittings made from brass rod and stainless welding rods. Sails are homemade from nylon and are controlled by two lines running back to the cockpit. From the tip of the mast to the bottom of the fin is 15 feet.

Steering took a while to work out and is operated by a handle inside with pushrod activating the 3mm thick brass rudder.

Rudder transfer linkage

The lead keel bulb halves were cast in sand after impressing the shape with a blue foam plug reinforced with a pair of tights stretched over and painted with pva glue to give it a tough surface. I melted the lead in a gallon paint tin on a bonfire and when I went to lift it, I couldn't work out why it was stuck to the ground! It was only when I weighed the halves later, 50lbs each,that I realised that I had been trying to lift about 80lbs of lead with one hand on a set of molegrips and a towel wrapped round it to protect me from the heat. When they were cool, I drilled holes for bolting them to the fin. I recessed the bolt heads by drilling with a flat spade bit, if you have never drilled lead with a spade bit, don't be too keen to try it as it tries to twist your wrist off!

When they were cool, I drilled holes for bolting them to the fin.

When the fin was complete with lead bulbs it weighed 108lbs. The rest of the boat and masts etc weighed about 95 lbs. I could probably lose a bit of lead off the bulbs but I like knowing it's not just going to fall over when the wind gets up!

On it's maiden voyage I had 18 spectators who I suspect only turned up in case it sank. Half of them had gone home by the time I got back from my hour long voyage! I enjoyed the build and the sailing, even though there was not very much wind. I had also made up a spray cover/hood which is shown on the sailing photos, but I didn't need it due to the calm weather. I have been into motorbikes for years and was amazed to be moving under power with no noise, a strange but nice sensation.

The only problem I had was that I launched in an area that was sheltered from the wind and could not maneuver out of the boatyard, this led me to think about auxilliary power. I got hold of an electric outboard and tried to think of a way to use it on the yacht,but as it hadn't been designed in ,there was no place for it or the battery, so I left it as it was and started designing the Viper miniboat instead.

I had made up a spray cover/hood, but I didn't need it due to the calm weather.

I tried to sell the yacht on Ebay to fund the Viper but never got any bids. There were over 25 people watching it and I had over 800 hits but no sale. I built it to last a while, using marine ply and 6 coats of varnish, I asked the wife if I could keep it in the living room but for some reason she wasn't into that! I thought it would make a nice ornament or an unusual sign for a yacht club, or a rich mans pool toy but I had no takers.

It was a slightly strange idea for a project but I am glad I made it. I took over 400 photos as I was building it and 3 different people took photos of the launch,I enclose a small selection of them. It turned out to be cheaper to build than some of the models I have made! Hope you like it.

Andy M.