Boat builder, designer, and author, Reuel Parker of Parker Marine Enterprises is presently developing a new line of Maxi-Trailerable Boats, for both sail and power. These vessels are 46' and under in length, 10' beam, shallow-draft, and 15,000 lbs or less. The concept is to provide cruising boats that can be stored on 40' 3-axle trailers, eliminating the need for slips and boatyards, which are rapidly turning into condos all over the American waterfront. The boats can be towed by a tow truck without permits or escort vehicles, or can be towed privately with only a wide load banner (no escorts). Parker Marine is building the first prototype in Florida: a double-ended sharpie schooner based on the Straits of Juan del Fuca (San Juan Islands) halibut-fishing sharpies of Washington State in the 1880's. The new sharpie is 45' on deck, 10' beam, 2'6" draft, 14,500 lbs displacement, with an unladen trailer weight of 12,000 lbs. She is a bald-headed gaff schooner, with self-tending sails. She has a new-design centerboard made of steel and lead-ballasted which is a foil-shaped fin when down. 
The boat sleeps four in two private cabins, has a hot-water-shower, solar-powered refrigeration, and carries an incredible 250 gallons of water and 80 gallons of fuel. Auxiliary power is an Isuzu 3LD2 diesel (40hp), which will propel her at speeds over 8 knots using less than .75 gallons per hour. Plans for four new Maxi-Trailerable sharpie sailboats are now available.
You can see IBIS, the first prototype under construction at Parker Marine Enterprises, or by going to: http://schooneribis.blogspot.com.
IBIS at Parker Marine Enterprises:
45' LOD 2009 REUEL B. PARKER SHARPIE SCHOONERParker Marine Entrprises Plans Page
About Reuel B. Parker
Nice design..
ReplyDeleteQuite wider than being trailerable width here.. Max trailerable width is 8' 2" in my state without special permit.. Wide load permits is not cheap..
I think I would like to see a walk through between the two cabins though.
ReplyDeleteMust be because of all the hills and dales down by you. One time I was driving near the Ozarks with a little fog and being cautious, the local vehicles were flying by so fast, I became a hazard. I just didn't know the road and could not tell if there was a turn ahead. The locals knew it was a long straight (but hilly) road and were just flying by at unsafe speeds. lol. My knuckles recovered...
I been to the Ozark a few times.. Yeah those snaky roads in the hills isn't everybody cup of tea.. Beautiful to drive on during a nice sunny day.. Just watch for those yella diamond shaped signs, they'll warn ya ahead of time... some are posted with speed limit as well..
ReplyDeleteI still wouldn't drive it during icy weather, that's for sure...
I have collected about 30 pictures of the Trent-Severn and 6 of the Welland canals in Canada and would be glad to post them here on on my own site for all to see if there is any interest.
ReplyDeleteCB
!0' wide is usually the widest load able to travel without a permit and/or escort vehicles. You just need banners amd flashers and flags. You are also restricted to daylight operation. Reuel doesn't meanweekend trailering, rather the ability to change coasts or lakes or to escape a huuricane. David
ReplyDeleteBoatsmith,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the clarification. And for stopping by our little spot on the web...
Kruez
Kruez
ReplyDeleteJust finished looking at Reuel's pictures on the construction of this new boat. It looks like a lot of potential for the future. Do you have any idea what he used for the non-skid on the decks? Looks like something I could use for my decks if available in the right color.
Don