Seaclipper 20 Trimaran Built at the WoodenBoat School
Here are a couple of pics (and a short video too) of a new Seaclipper 20 Trimaran. Jim Brown and John Marples led a class at the WoodenBoat School in Maine these the past couple of weeks. (Actually, I think this boat took shape in about 9 days.) And this was the result.
Not bad, eh?
I think the hosting guys at the WoodenBoat school had planned on measuring and pre-cutting as much of the plywood as possible … before class participants arrived. So that would have been a great head-start for the visiting Seaclipper 20 trimaran builders. But the results shown here are impressive, nonetheless.
As you can see from the first pic below, this new tri was given a rather, uh, errr … unconventional name. Not sure how this moniker came about. That’s probably a little story in itself.
The following images and YouTube link were sent to me by John Marples, who offers the Seaclipper 20 Trimaran building plans for sale at searunner.com
Seaclipper 20 Trimaran Photo
Seaclipper 20 Trimaran Class at the WoodenBoat School in Maine
Publisher’s Note: The Seaclipper 20 trimaran is featured in MORE SMALL TRIMARANS
August 30th, 2011 at 2:18 pm
I am glad they finished so much work with a relatively small class. Brown and Marples must have really motivated them! I hope Jim found all well at home after the hurricane.
September 2nd, 2011 at 3:04 pm
This was a tremendous class. Jim, and John whipped us into shape very quickly, and the group took on a dynamic of it’s own, as singing while you work became part, and parcel of the project.
The shop staff at wooden boat had (graciously) prepared some plywood scarf’s for us that were quickly rejected by our intrepid leaders in favor of butt blocks. So we began the boat mid morning of the first day, from scratch.
Following the example of our leaders; we worked hard, enjoyed each day, took the weekend off, and launched on the final day of class with plenty of time to build a cradle to facilitate trailer-ing for the new owner (a fellow class mate).
It just don’t get better than that !
David H. Seastrom
September 2nd, 2011 at 3:33 pm
Hey David, thanks for sharing about your class experience. Sounds great. I wish I could have gone up to Maine in order to see it firsthand … maybe even get my hands dirty :-)
September 2nd, 2011 at 4:29 pm
I hope that other members of the class leave their own comments, so I will offer only a brief word about “Mice nuts”.
The origin of the term began as a comment from John in regards to student concern about perfect joinery; as in ‘ It will be fine, it’s mice nuts’. This descriptive term became an instant hit amongst the class mates, and we adapted it to a wide verity of boat building applications.
John posted a name the boat sheet incouraging anyone to propose a name. When Robin, a class mate and team leader, chose Mice Nuts, massive approval amongst teachers, and class mates insured the name choice.
David H Seastrom
September 2nd, 2011 at 4:53 pm
Ahh-haaa, the revelation … the insider secret with regards to how this trimaran was named has now come to light!
Thanks David
September 6th, 2011 at 5:43 pm
John and Jim are awesome teachers. Their energy kept us motivated all week. We wasted no class time as they planned that we not epoxy anything until the last hour of the afternoon and then epoxy everything that needed it. Then we left. Dave and Phil were the primary singers, and their singing continued in the campground after class.
I am happy to report that we put Mice Nuts on the trailer last Thursday, and I believe she is on her way to Florida.
One slight error in David’s comment–I wasn’t any team leader. I just wanted to get that boat in the water.
I think Jim and John might come back and teach another tri class next year. You can find out which boat they plan to build on thewoodenboatschool.com when next year’s catalog comes out in December.
Robin