| Teach A 15' 6" Double-Ended V-Bottom Keel Knockabout By William & John Atkin |
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| A Vee Bottom Keel Knockabout | |
| The design for this month shows a most excellent little sailing boat. It has many characteristics which make it one of my favorite designs. Wrapped up in a trim little unit only 15 feet 6 inches over all. Teach is something more than the usual fair weather cockleshell. From stem to stern, keel to mast truck, this latest of the family is a tiny ship; furthermore an able one. | |
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Teach's water line length is 13 feet 6 inches; her breadth is 4 feet 8 inches, and draft 2 feet. The freeboard at the bow is 2 feet 3 1/2 inches, least freeboard, 1 foot 4 inches, and at the stern, 1 foot 9 1/2 inches. Her sail area is 136 square feet. Lead ballast on the keel weighs 480 pounds with approximately 50 pounds of ballast inside for trimming purposes. The arrangement shows a comfortable cockpit with seating room for two; side seats and center thwart, ample deckroom, and nothing in the way of legs and feet. There are watertight bulkheads fore and aft providing ample flotation in case of swamping, comforting shipmates in any kind of boat. Teach steers with a long white ash tiller, and of course has her rudder hung on her stern post. There is no provision shown on the plans for an engine; however, if fitted with a Savage bracket, an outboard motor might be used for power. | |
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| This simple and practical sailing boat would be ideal as a class in which to learn the art of sailing and seamanship -- there is a great deal of difference between the two. She will prove to be safe, comfortable, and reasonably fast; specially under the urge of strong winds and a bobble of sea. Her long straight keel makes grounding a simple matter and hauling out even more simple. The long keel also contributes to self-steering without in any manner effecting the little packet's ability to come about in a bit of a chop. If built closely to the form and specifications indicated in the plans Teach will balance well and be a joy to sail and own. | |
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| In an article about the Atkins in WoodenBoat #169, author Daniel MacNaughton had this to say about Teach: "If there is a simple boat that can offer the Herreshoff 12 1/2 some competition for the title of best small keel daysailer, Teach might be it. Her large stern deck gives a secure feeling and helps to ensure that crew weight will be kept amidships where it belongs in such a small boat, and there is a lot of useful space for seating a small crowd or cruising with a boom tent. Her double-ended character is something out of the ordinary, and combined with the long keel, ample ballast, and easily handled rig, she will be a reliable and reassuring boat to sail." | |
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| Plans for Teach are $55 Study Plans are available for $15 (Refunded when full plans are purchased) Please Use Our PRINT-OUT ORDER FORM To Request Boat Plans | |
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