Dear all
Would anyone like to advise ?
I would like to build an attractive cabin cruiser type, from plans. I have been looking around, and getting rather confused about the distinction between the huntsman 31 and the swordsman, in terms of hull shape. I know that the huntsman 28 and huntress 23 are quite a different shape, in the bow at any rate. I finally found this helpful page:
http://www.classicoffshore.com/history_alan_v_burnard.php . So now I know that the prettiest bow shape is on the h31, and subsequenlty the spearfish as it is the same hull, as i understand it. To my eye, the rear cockpit version is the nicest of all. So that is what I would like to build. But most of the plans that i have seen seem to be for the rear cabin version. Perhaps that is not so much of a hurdle, perhaps that can be overcome with a bit of ingenuity. But what I really want to make sure is to get a set of plans where the bow looks as asthetically pleasing as possible. I realise that it has compound curves, and so compromises have to be made, but on the other hand, if the lower part of the bow can be carved from balsa block, why not the upper ? I realise that a heavy concave makes the block more likely to split, but again, where there's a will...
The other thing is, I would like to build as big as possible, the reason being that I live near the sea (well, chichester harbour) and so would like to be able to take it down there on calmer days and put it on salt water. The most attractive plan i have seen so far is the MM1061 (luckily i found a picture on ebay, as the MM site does not show a picture - poor show !). But it looks like that is "only" 31 inches, as far as i can understand it. I see that there is a swordsman plan, apparently 33 inches built, again badly labelled as "fairey marine", mm791, but again no picture of the plan itself.
If all else fails, I guess there is the precedent wooden kit at 40 odd inches, I wonder again how the bow will come out ? At least it would be built up. Probably (i'm guessing) their grp hull may be even fairer, but I really would like to build the hull.
Thanks in advance for any replies.