New Design: DIVINITE 4 3/4
A seaworthy offshore scow you can build yourself
Details from Eric Henseval Architecte Naval
You might know Souriceau (“little mouse” in French) my 4.75m (15’6”) design from 2008 that Jean-Claude Montesinos used to cross the Atlantic Ocean successfully in 2012.
Let's jump into a new boat in 2023: the DIVINITE 4 ¾. She is a sort of Souris-scow. With 4.75 meters length, equal to 4 meters and ¾ meter.
Yes, DIVINITE 4 ¾ is a little scow: not only to follow the fashion of the popular new 6.50m mini-transat scows, but to adapt the concept to a new powered 4 ¾ sailing boat.
She was first ordered by a French international artist and explorer, Abraham Poincheval—well-known for his art and fantastic feats—like living inside of a rock or “walking” through the clouds.
He called and asked me to design a boat for his transatlantic route, which will be another artistic experience with the water element. He plans to write a singular story to be shown in several international museums along with the 1st DIVINITE 4 ¾.
DIVINITE 4 ¾ is especially suited for solo and double sailing, with much more comfort inside than Souriceau. You’ll find a real big, wide double berth forward, a big galley table and an incredible volume of open space. The short, strong keel trunk case stops at the berth level, and there is with a very small cockpit space to steer and live outside. Thus the inside volume is runs the full length of the boat!
(A second version with longer cockpit as well, as on Souriceau, has been designed for those who want more seat surface outside, while keeping the forward double berth.)
All the sail trimming can be done from the watertight companionway-hatch. A second tiller is easily mounted inside to steer in security below the plexiglass bubbles.
Headroom is 1.20m (4’) height and much more under bubbles. With the bubbles you see the deck and sea over 360 degrees.
The boat is designed to be built by home-builders or professional yards. Divinité 4 ¾ can be sailed either in coastal, sheltered waters, or blue water in the trades. Just like a Mini 6.50, this boat has been designed for high seas and to be a very seaworthy little boat. She is also equipped with flotation foam.
With a simple vertical sliding keel she is beachable, and also trailerable behind a common car.
Comparing to the Aviateur 5.70m I designed in 2012, DIVINITE maintains the good initial stability and should have good power to carry sail, and be easier to handle than Souriceau. Her inside volume is approaching the Aviateur's volume with 1m less length!
For more information:
Order study plan from Duckworks:
Order plans from Duckworks.
Designer email: eric.henseval@gmail.com
website: hensevalyachtdesign.jimdo.com
•SCA•
Wow that thing is far too big for me. Its almost the exact same length as the Lusty Slogger (15.5 feet or 4.7 meters)
I have to admit that I'm a wee bit skeptical about the ocean worthiness of this design. It's beam appears to be about half its length and it's main section height seems to be about half its beam. I suspect that if this boat were to ever be rolled over, it would stay upside down.
I suppose the mast has flotation in it which would probably prevent this from happening. But if it were dismasted, it may stubbornly stay inverted.
A possible remedy for this would be to let some sea water enter and have the crew put its weight on the low side (where all this sea water would be). That would probably do it.
This is assuming of course that the keel stays extended and the balb stays on the keel.