ToyBoat

The author builds and cruises this micro minicruiser

Article by Lonnie Black

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Three weeks away! Our semi-annual gathering of the West Coast Trailer Sailing Squadron at Cayo Costa State Park was getting close.

Two years prior a friend and I had decided, on a whim, to build two of Perttu Korhonen’s PD Ocean Explorers to take to the event. In four weeks Peter Harrison and I, working all hours, completed them a day before the meet, sailed the seven-mile passage, overnighted aboard, and returned without incident. So, how might I top that?

I had seen a photo of a cute little boat that interested me but couldn’t find any info about it. Then the plans showed up on the Duckworks website and a nice article on them appeared in the then current Small Craft Advisor issue. I promptly downloaded the plans for Roman Igoshin’s ToyBoat.

With a three-week deadline I embraced the challenge. A quick Sunday trip to buy a few sheets of plywood and the race was on. There were three scarf joints required so I did them that afternoon (for curing time) so the lofting and cutting could begin promptly the next morning. Multiple hours were spent each evening on scheduling a critical path approach to completion. Scheduling the daily work around cure/drying times was the key.

On the second week a sailing friend stopped by offering help which allowed time for some extra brightwork, detailing, and advice. After seventeen days, she was launched, and she performed splendidly. The smell of paint was still strong.

Following this quick test, a trailer was modified and two days later she was towed to Pine Island, launched, and sailed on a close-hauled seven-mile passage across open water to the State Park.

After launching I accepted a tow through part of Jug Creek where the wind and tide was in opposition. Then out in open water I began sailing with a reef but shook it out on a gentle beam reach. Two friends, Kirk and Nancy in their Drascombe Lugger, and Dale Young in his Peep Hen, followed nearby (Perhaps they were making themselves available for the “probable rescue”!). As the crossing progressed the wind began to build and to veer to the northwest, requiring a close-hauled beat into a moderate chop on my starboard quarter. I won’t say it wasn’t a “white knuckler,” as this wee boat bashed ahead against 15-knot gusts. (And Yes, tying in a reef would’ve been nice if I’d had a third hand to work with.)

The last mile saw a tide setting me too far south to make the entrance into Pelican Bay, so upon nearing Punta Blanca Island, I tacked and began clawing my way the half mile back north. I made shorter tacks to stay somewhat inside of the Intracoastal channel and its powerboat wakes. After a few tacks we made the channel entrance and peaceful Pelican Bay was a welcome sight. A calm sail up into the harbor and we pulled up to the nearly deserted white sandy beach. I was in need of a rest!

After a relaxing afternoon among friends, I spent a comfortable night in the Toyboat’s cozy cabin. The return passage was an idyllic reach and run with a gentle breeze and beautiful Florida sunshine.

The little craft had proven herself to be a capable camp cruiser and a spirited performer in spite of her scant nine feet LOA. She is a delight to sail. The designer, Roman Igoshin, has produced a sensible little cruiser that really works! It is an affordable little craft capable of taking you to a distant shore.

The only significant modification I made from the design was using the balanced lug rig (mast, spars, and sail) from the Ocean Explorer and using an unstayed mast. I used crutches and devised a boom tent for overnighting.

After such a successful shakedown voyage my imagination now broadens to include perhaps a circumnavigation of Pine Island, or an expedition trip down the St. Johns river. Hmmm. •SCA•

First appeared in issue #118