50′ Slim

Okay, now let me indulge myself for a moment (hey it’s my web site, well Judy’s and mine anyway and Judy tolerates me).

The simplest and least expensive way of getting a faster boat whatever the power source is simply to increase the waterline length, without increasing anything else.

I first designed “Slim” on the kitchen table in Port Augusta of all places, (work and family reasons). Like the best boats it was drawn on butcher’s paper in about 4 hrs flat. Now in the 16 years since, I’ve stroked it here and there and changed the layout somewhat but it remains fundamentally the same although never built. The boat I build for myself will probably be the only one of these that ever will be built and I don’t mind one bit, although a private little race series with only the regular cruising crew on board would be fun.

At 15m long and 4.8m wide it will simply be too “different” for most people to get their head around, but me! “I love it”. Hopefully it will be my next boat.

The engine options are:
a centrally mounted 4 stroke outboard from 25hp to 60hp (with a 60 this’ll be a giggling rocket);
or a single centrally mounted drop shaft diesel for the sensible folk.

Obviously water ballast is essential.

Not many will remember “Who Cares” the 23’ fore-runner to Slim but I do. It was the most fun boat I ever had, probably because it was small and affordable. It bought many a smile to my face and a few others as well.

‘Slim’ is not the perfect boat though! It dawned on me at around 3am a few days ago that I won’t ever design the perfect boat. This came as a sad revelation to me. I realised then, that even though I “knew” I couldn’t, subconsciously I still believed I could. This wasn’t from arrogance just naivety I guess. If that sounds a bit silly, you’ll have to forgive me.

Oh and obviously “Who Cares” and “Slim” were inspired by the Gougeon 32. Meade and Jan Gougeon rank way up there with the very best in design and construction.

(Click on the image for .pdf version)