Coaster

For a PDF study plan, click HERE

Looking for a boat to cruise those favorite rivers, lakes, bays, and coastal waterways? Do you want to poke around estuaries and go gunk-holing in areas not accessible to deeper draft boats? Would you like to just run your boat up onto the beach at day's end and eliminate the cost of a mooring? Do you find the serenity and economy of sailing alluring, yet don't want to get stuck when the wind dies? At the end of your cruise, do you want to haul your boat out, trailer it home, and park it in the backyard?

Then our COASTER is just the design for you, it's a shallow draft trailerable motorsailer of dory form that's easy and inexpensive to build. With this boat, there's no need to worry about having enough wind; just fire up the engine and you'll keep on sailing as close to the wind as necessary at speeds in the 6 to 7 knot range. And you'll do it in easy-motion comfort due to the roll-dampening effect of the sails combined with the stability imparted by the fixed ballast skeg and centerboard arrangement.

The COASTER hull has a fine waterline entrance with immersed forefoot that minimizes resistance and smooths the ride. A long bottom run and full lines aft dampen pitching and assure good speed. The lowered centerboard and long skeg provide weatherliness that you'll find surprising. A pronounced raised stem with ample freeboard makes this flat bottomed hull dry running even in choppy seas.

COASTER is an ideal boat for the cruising couple or small family with younger children. The U-shaped dinette forward has sitting headroom and converts to a 7' wide x 8' long berth. There's full standing headroom throughout the rest of the cabin, even in the galley and enclosable toilet room which has space for a shower. Storage space is located under all seats and berths, and a hanging locker is included. The pilothouse features plenty of windows for light, ventilation, and full-circle visibility. A raised settee for two converts to a child's berth and conceals the inboard engine below. Optionally, an outboard can be used in the cockpit just forward of the stern seat. The cockpit is approximately 34" deep making it safe for the small ones, and it's self-draining.

Construction of the COASTER consists of sheet plywood planking over simple sawn gusseted frames of straight outer contours. This type of construction is well within the realm of most novice woodworkers. Our Plans and Full Size Patterns with comprehensive instructions assure results you'll be proud of, and you'll save a bundle over stock boats in this size range.