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Gig Harbor Boat Works logo showing a stylized classic rowboat

Lobster Boat Redesign — Update #2

by | Feb 23, 2024 | Lobster Boat | 5 comments

Grandfather and Granddaughter going crabbing in a Lobster Boat by Gig Harbor Boat Works
Hi folks! Katie here to give you the latest update on our Lobster Boat redesign project… and it’s a big one! Last time we checked in with you, we had assembled our design team to modernize our original semi–dory design and make it more builder–friendly. The team has been working over the fall and winter and we’re excited to share some design renderings with you! What’s changing… and what’s not? We’ve made some minor adjustments to the design that will make it easier for us to build (the better to hold prices down), while also increasing its appeal to boaters who want a true swiss–army–knife, multi–purpose kind of vessel.

THE HULL

The hull is very similar to our original Lobster Boat design. (If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!) It still has the classic semi–dory shape, combining a flat stable bottom with a pointed bow that allows for cutting through chop. It has just enough rocker that it can sail well while also planing properly with an outboard motor. The bottom corners of the transom are rounded instead of square, so that it can heel under sail without increasing drag.

Perspective line drawings of Lobster Boat design
We made lots of little tweaks here and there, adjusting the curve of the transom, playing with the spacing of the lapstrakes, subtle changes to the chines and the shape of the hull. But the hull overall will look largely like it did before.
Side view line drawing of Lobster Boat

THE DECK

The deck is where things start to look a bit different! We’ve rounded the foredeck into a lovely slipper–shape, rather than the straight–across deck on the previous version. This creates more openness toward the bow, which should help improve two shortcomings of the original. Firstly, it was a bit hard to step into the boat from the beach because the deck was squared straight across and the edge was a bit further back. This new shape should make it easier to step in from the shore (or lever yourself up to the deck if you’re a shortie like me). It also makes it easier for passengers and cargo to sit up front, so you can move weight around to adjust your balance and improve the trim of the boat while underway.
Angle perspective of the Lobster Boat with deck
Overhead drawing showing deck

THE FLOATION AND MOTOR RATINGS

The floatation is improved versus the predecessor to better support an outboard motor. A 10hp outboard motor was a key requirement of our redesign. A lot of modern boaters feel that more power is better. Though that’s not necessarily true, we found that in the real world, people weren’t adhering to the 8hp recommendation of the previous model. 10hp motors are easy to come by, and there’s something about a higher rating that just makes people more comfortable.  
  • Maximum Weight Capacity (persons, motor, gear) of 935 pounds
  • Maximum Persons Capacity of up to 6 people or 750 pounds
  • 10 hp motor
And just for an interesting visual from our floatation calculations, here’s a graphic representation of the boat’s waterline while swamped with an off–center load:
Representation of boat's angle during offset load

THE INTERIOR

The interior has some changes, but isn’t all that different from its predecessor. The Lobster Boat is designed primarily for motoring to get out to the fishing grounds quickly, with good stability and space so you can drop and pull your pots without a lot of drama. We’ve given the new interior a more open-feeling cockpit, improved floatation layout throughout the seating area to meet the capacity requirements noted above. There are longitudinal seats along both sides, and at the stern. There will also be two thwart seats bridging both sides (positions still TBD on that).

Dimensional drawing of the Lobsterboat with rig

Wait… what ho, is that the outline of a balanced-lug I see before me? Indeed, eagle-eyed reader… 

THE RIG

The rig on our drawing board right now is a balanced-lug! We’ve been on the fence about whether to keep the sloop rig from our original design, switch to a balanced lug, or offer both options. Ultimately, we decided to start with a balanced lug for ease of rigging. The balanced lug is just so user-friendly, and easy for new sailors to learn. Since this boat has some crossover appeal into the motorboat market, we figured that keeping the sail rig dead simple to learn and use would make her more interesting to less experienced sailors.

Side view of full Lobster Boat design

If you’ve been hoping for a sloop rig, take heart… we’d like to work that out as an optional upgrade, though we’re focusing on the lug rig first.

THE ROWING

Lastly, the rowing functionality will remain unchanged. She can be rowed single or tandem on fixed seats. There are two rowing positions with oar sockets built in along the gunnels, and one of those seats will be removable (similar to the one on the 12’ Point Defiance). There’s no sliding seat planned, as most folks who want to row as a primary mode of travel will prefer our 17′ Salish Voyager, 16.5′ Melonseed or 17′Jersey Skiff.

NEXT STEPS – preordering is coming this spring!

Now that we have the design done, Brandon is working on making our CNC kit so we can build and test our prototype out of wood and make any tweaks to the design before we progress to the fiberglass version. We intend to build and test the wood prototype this spring! This summer we’ll be creating our molds and building hull #1 in fiberglass, with delivery anticipated on the first production orders this fall.

We’ve got a 3D model in the works that will give you an idea of what this boat will look like in real life, so you have an idea of what you’re getting when you place your order. We’ll be opening up a preorder offer for the new lobster boat this spring…. stay tuned as we hope to have that update to you all in the next month or so!

 

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5 Comments

  1. Mike Walker on February 24, 2024 at 6:36 am

    Still 15 feet? Longer options?

    • Dan Krawiec on March 2, 2024 at 6:46 am

      I’ve never sailed a lug rigged boat. Honestly, how well do they go to weather compared to a sloop? It could be a deal breaker for me.

      • GHBoats Webmaster on March 5, 2024 at 12:01 pm

        Great question. We won’t be able to really compare the Lobster Boat’s performance with a lug rig until we build her, but that’s one reason we’re not eliminating the sloop rig as an option at this juncture. At the level of sailing we’re working at, it doesn’t make a huge difference.

        As a point of comparison on the rigs in general, I’ll quote Howard Rice’s take on sailing the Scamp (which uses a similar balanced lug rig to the one you’ll find on our 17′ Salish Voyager, and the redesigned 15′ Lobster Boat):

        “Like many boats SCAMP can and will sail 45 degrees to weather in many conditions if she is helmed and trimmed (both sail and angle of heel) properly. I can maneuver her up higher than 45 degrees through helm and trim techniques at certain times (sailing tight into a slip or dock, rounding a point of land, maneuvering in tight channels, etc. She goes to weather acceptably well in my book, certainly not as well as some (sloop or other rigs optimized for upwind performance) rigs but just fine for an under 12 ft boat.”

        He added, “There are many variables that determine both speed to weather and as importantly “Velocity Made Good” (VMG). SCAMP likes to be sailed flat so a reef is a good idea even in medium air (depending on your skills between 11 and 15 or so knots for the first reef). If you sail her a bit free (don’t pinch) and keep her flat she will sail very nicely. There are many up wind conditions and depending conditions you can expect a range of speeds. So for a general idea lets say 10-11 knots of wind, small waves, SCAMP can go up wind between 4 and 5 knots. Off wind she is faster. Hope this helps.”

  2. p.a. roetman on February 24, 2024 at 9:43 am

    yes, how long will she be?

    • GHBoats Webmaster on March 5, 2024 at 11:50 am

      She’ll be 15′ long, like her predecessor.