Why a SCAMP?

After much consideration I sold my beloved Chebacco sailboat, Bluster, in May 2017.  We built Bluster ourselves and she was launched in 2002 and had many great family adventures.  In recent years she spent much more time on her trailer parked and unused.  The reason for this was partially because of other interests and activities cutting into available time and partially because I was taking Bluster out more often by myself and the whole towing, rigging, launching and even sailing was was becoming onerous.  I was spending way more time shuffling her around to different storage situations, doing maintenance, cleaning and very little actual sailing.  The joy was just not there.

As I stated in my Chebacco Wanderings blog I was very pleased that Bluster was purchased by her very enthusiastic new owner who had big plans for her with his young family.

The same time my interest in the larger Chebacco was waning I was slowly becoming attracted to the SCAMP with its smaller size and simplified rig.  I like the idea of building another boat and with my looming retirement and money in my pocket from the recent sale of Bluster I was hooked.  There is a very active community of SCAMP builders and sailors which is also a big draw for me too.

Small Craft Advisor Magazine, Duckworks Boat Builder Supply and the CNC shop that produces the SCAMP kits are all located in Port Townsend, Washington which is an easy hope across the border and short drive from my home.

Image from Small Craft Advisor Magazine

Here are the bare basics:

Designer:           John Welsford

Crew:                 2

Draft:                 7 in

Type:                  Monohull

Construction:     Cold molded plywood

Weight:              420 lbs

LOA:                 11 ft, 11 in

Beam:                5 ft, 4 in 

Rig Type:           Balanced Lug Rig

Sail Area:          100 sq ft

Some details (from SCAMP Wikipedia page):

• Pram bow - allows for a greater beam for any given length. Don't have to pull the forward plank ends in together. More volume and therefore buoyancy forward.

• Stowage Cabin - The cuddy on SCAMP serves many purposes. The overhanging cabin top acts like a dodger and is large enough for an adult to sit athwartships out of the weather. Additionally, items in forward lockers can be accessed without water getting into storage area. Stowage cabin also houses a mast box that supports more of the mast than is possible with open boats. This in turn allows for an unstayed mast.

• Balanced Lug Rig (Lug sail) - The balanced lug rig provides a number of advantages.  
• Unstayed - no stays, sail can pivot all the way forward if need be increasing safety
• The part of the sail in front of the mast "balances" the pressure of the wind on the sail. When tacking it catches the wind and helps the sail pivot across. When gybing it reduces the amount of force when the boom comes across. When running downwind it keeps the center of effort closer to the center line of the boat reducing weather helm.
• Once the sail is raised, the sailor only has to manage one sheet making it easy to singlehand.

• The "off set-centerboard" is in a case that is on the starboard side of the cockpit under the seat. This provides for an unobstructed cockpit and a place to sleep when at anchor. The centerboard and the rudder are based on NACA airfoil shapes to provide lift when moving through the water.

• Skegs - Two skegs are mounted on the bottom. These provide a flatter base to support the boat above the bottom when grounding or beaching for protection and leveling.

• Buoyancy - A stock SCAMP has five separate watertight buoyancy areas, forward under the cuddy, below the floor of the cuddy, the aft area under the cockpit, and each seat.

• Water Ballast - Centrally located under the cockpit sole, a water ballast chamber holds approximately 170 Lbs (77 kg) of ballast down low where it is most beneficial. This ballast can be emptied to facilitate easier rowing or trailering