Oct 25, 2023·edited Oct 25, 2023Liked by Joshua Colvin, Marty Loken
I’m very tempted by Scallywag but as I get older I’m finding that my boats are getting smaller rather than larger and I’m more likely to be day sailing than camp cruising so my SCAMP may not be under threat! I see from the poll so far that by far the biggest interest is coming from non-SCAMPers and this may be Scallywag’s sweet spot - folks who have always admired SCAMP but want something bigger. I’m sure she will be very successful.
Oh….the pain!!!…I’m trying to retire from boating, and then Marty dumps this “John Welsford Beauty” on us!!!….My “Defective Boat Gene” was almost in remission…and now this!….I need one…I must deep breath thru the pain!
Dan - Total remission is a fantasy, as you certainly know by now. But you might, just might, be strong enough to deny yourself the pleasure of possessing this “Welsford Beauty.” Good Luck, Dan
Great looking design. I hope that Small Craft Advisor gets the credit it deserves for promoting John's small boat designs, after all, both SCAmp and SCAllywag ... just saying!
Re: Chinese Lug. Roger Beachy built his Walkabout with Chinese lugs on both masts. He's enamored of the rig. Seems to sail just fine. He's got the parrel lines on the booms, battens, and yards loose enough that he can lower the masts with the sails still attached. I still prefer a lug where I can quickly detach the the sail from the mast though.
Very exciting! I've logged 443 days aboard my SCAMP and loved every minute of them. However, there's always been the question of NextBoat... Long Steps is a different mission entirely (more adventure-oriented which suits me fine at the moment, but I'm not getting any younger). Scallywag may be the answer, it sure would be nice to be able to leave the bedding out! I don't have any experience with a 15' boat that has a cabin, so I look forward to seeing Scallywag in the flesh.
Great timing! I've thought about building "Tread Lightly" as I wanted a Scamp with a cabin. I currently own a Bolger Chebacco, but it is really larger than I need for single handed cruising. I have a tabernacle for the main on the Chebacco, but it is stayed. I love the tabernacle for convenience, so very interested to see how the Scallywag tabernacle is set up. Exciting news, look forward to seeing hull #1
I’ve got a set of plans for Skallywag. Mrs Santa got them from John for my Christmas present.
Just need to finish some work around home (a builders house is never finished….) then it’s on!
Over this Christmas break I’ve negotiated that the laundry be moved out of the garage/workshop area. This is a big win in moving forward as I’ll have the “full” workshop back as my Skallywag domain.
Great posts and articles on this site glad to be signed up. 👍👍 best wishes for the new year Brad.
Brad - Congratulations on marrying the wonderful Mrs Claus and getting ready to build one of the very first Skallywags (!) Please be sure to document the whole build, emailing photos to me every few weeks, for publication here. Send JPGs and any notes you’d like to share to shallowdraftmarty@gmail.com
My understanding is that Scallywag plans are still not available to the public today (May 11). How did you get them by Christmas? Early insider access or what? Welsford's website seems to have no evidence of the Scallywag's existence. I'd check his FB group, but I don't have an account.
We had early access to the drawing featured in the story, and passed along JW’s statement that plans would be available by X date…also mentioning that Joel Bergen, our friend in the Puget Sound area, would be developing patterns for frames and other components involved in the build. I can only recommend that you use the Welsford Facebook page to reach out to the designer or others who know more about release of plans, and maybe directly to Joel Bergen via email at j_bergen@yahoo.com since he probably knows exactly when final plans have been or will be released.
Thanks for that info, Marty! I might reach out to Joel early for more info on the patterns if I feel like I have a realistic chance of doing the build, but I'll probably just wait until they show up on the Duckworks/SCA websites. John Welsford himself told me a few months ago that the plans were being corrected and would soon be released. I don't want to bug any of you more than I already have since I probably can't even build it soon (my spouse's boatbuilding goodwill is fully depleted at present!).
Mr. Welsford! You have caused chaos with my carefully planned cruising dinghy choices for retirement… you’re a Scallywag yourself as this boat looks to be perfectly suited for inshore cruising on Irish waters !! Thoroughly thought out in every detail as are all your designs, this boat is surely going to be hugely successful for camp cruising.
Ditto Frank’s comment! Had a Com PAC Suncat which was a great camping boat. Will be selling my Cape Dory 25D in a year or two as I have no water to sail it on locally anymore. This 15 footer would check all the boxes.
I fell for Welsford design talents after sailing a friend's Gig Harbor SCAMP out of Bahia Honda in the Straits of Florida. But this baby is near perfect. Not sure about how fast the outboard would "mussel up" around here.... but it is a trailer-sailer, after all. If I could afford Marty ......................
Thousands of European beach boats were built with off center mizzzens on the transom half way between the rudder and the rail. They sail just fine on both tacks. A wishbone isn't worth my hassle to build, and makes it impossible to unship the tiller quickly if needed.
this was a bad time for me to started a Reuel Parker Terrapin 21. I really like Scallywag. I personally always thought the Scamp was a little too small for where I sail here on the Delaware, but the newer boat would probably be perfect.
I’m very tempted by Scallywag but as I get older I’m finding that my boats are getting smaller rather than larger and I’m more likely to be day sailing than camp cruising so my SCAMP may not be under threat! I see from the poll so far that by far the biggest interest is coming from non-SCAMPers and this may be Scallywag’s sweet spot - folks who have always admired SCAMP but want something bigger. I’m sure she will be very successful.
Oh….the pain!!!…I’m trying to retire from boating, and then Marty dumps this “John Welsford Beauty” on us!!!….My “Defective Boat Gene” was almost in remission…and now this!….I need one…I must deep breath thru the pain!
Dan - Total remission is a fantasy, as you certainly know by now. But you might, just might, be strong enough to deny yourself the pleasure of possessing this “Welsford Beauty.” Good Luck, Dan
If this boat goes into production tomorrow, I would buy one.
Another option line for the Poll:
"Looking forward to seeing a Scallywag on the water up close"
Great looking design. I hope that Small Craft Advisor gets the credit it deserves for promoting John's small boat designs, after all, both SCAmp and SCAllywag ... just saying!
I’ll keep my M15, thanks. 😉😇
Re: Chinese Lug. Roger Beachy built his Walkabout with Chinese lugs on both masts. He's enamored of the rig. Seems to sail just fine. He's got the parrel lines on the booms, battens, and yards loose enough that he can lower the masts with the sails still attached. I still prefer a lug where I can quickly detach the the sail from the mast though.
Very exciting! I've logged 443 days aboard my SCAMP and loved every minute of them. However, there's always been the question of NextBoat... Long Steps is a different mission entirely (more adventure-oriented which suits me fine at the moment, but I'm not getting any younger). Scallywag may be the answer, it sure would be nice to be able to leave the bedding out! I don't have any experience with a 15' boat that has a cabin, so I look forward to seeing Scallywag in the flesh.
Great timing! I've thought about building "Tread Lightly" as I wanted a Scamp with a cabin. I currently own a Bolger Chebacco, but it is really larger than I need for single handed cruising. I have a tabernacle for the main on the Chebacco, but it is stayed. I love the tabernacle for convenience, so very interested to see how the Scallywag tabernacle is set up. Exciting news, look forward to seeing hull #1
Eric - Maybe you’ll see hull #1 in your shop, vs. somebody else’s?
I’ve got a set of plans for Skallywag. Mrs Santa got them from John for my Christmas present.
Just need to finish some work around home (a builders house is never finished….) then it’s on!
Over this Christmas break I’ve negotiated that the laundry be moved out of the garage/workshop area. This is a big win in moving forward as I’ll have the “full” workshop back as my Skallywag domain.
Great posts and articles on this site glad to be signed up. 👍👍 best wishes for the new year Brad.
Brad - Congratulations on marrying the wonderful Mrs Claus and getting ready to build one of the very first Skallywags (!) Please be sure to document the whole build, emailing photos to me every few weeks, for publication here. Send JPGs and any notes you’d like to share to shallowdraftmarty@gmail.com
Thanks! - Marty
Thanks for the support, will do.
It will be a few months before I start. 👍 but that’s great time to ponder the plans and squirrel away suitable timber etc.
My understanding is that Scallywag plans are still not available to the public today (May 11). How did you get them by Christmas? Early insider access or what? Welsford's website seems to have no evidence of the Scallywag's existence. I'd check his FB group, but I don't have an account.
We had early access to the drawing featured in the story, and passed along JW’s statement that plans would be available by X date…also mentioning that Joel Bergen, our friend in the Puget Sound area, would be developing patterns for frames and other components involved in the build. I can only recommend that you use the Welsford Facebook page to reach out to the designer or others who know more about release of plans, and maybe directly to Joel Bergen via email at j_bergen@yahoo.com since he probably knows exactly when final plans have been or will be released.
Thanks for that info, Marty! I might reach out to Joel early for more info on the patterns if I feel like I have a realistic chance of doing the build, but I'll probably just wait until they show up on the Duckworks/SCA websites. John Welsford himself told me a few months ago that the plans were being corrected and would soon be released. I don't want to bug any of you more than I already have since I probably can't even build it soon (my spouse's boatbuilding goodwill is fully depleted at present!).
Mr. Welsford! You have caused chaos with my carefully planned cruising dinghy choices for retirement… you’re a Scallywag yourself as this boat looks to be perfectly suited for inshore cruising on Irish waters !! Thoroughly thought out in every detail as are all your designs, this boat is surely going to be hugely successful for camp cruising.
Ditto Frank’s comment! Had a Com PAC Suncat which was a great camping boat. Will be selling my Cape Dory 25D in a year or two as I have no water to sail it on locally anymore. This 15 footer would check all the boxes.
I fell for Welsford design talents after sailing a friend's Gig Harbor SCAMP out of Bahia Honda in the Straits of Florida. But this baby is near perfect. Not sure about how fast the outboard would "mussel up" around here.... but it is a trailer-sailer, after all. If I could afford Marty ......................
The stars are lining up for an opportunity of time, resource, and desire to build this boat. So tempted.....
The off centre mizzenmast messes with my carpenters brain. I’d have to alter that. I know the boat itself doesn’t care but… otherwise, looks great!
Thousands of European beach boats were built with off center mizzzens on the transom half way between the rudder and the rail. They sail just fine on both tacks. A wishbone isn't worth my hassle to build, and makes it impossible to unship the tiller quickly if needed.
Me too, Ron. I’d keep it on center and fashion a wishbone tiller to wrap around the mizzen mast.
this was a bad time for me to started a Reuel Parker Terrapin 21. I really like Scallywag. I personally always thought the Scamp was a little too small for where I sail here on the Delaware, but the newer boat would probably be perfect.