Proa sailing experiment - The good the bad and the ugly

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  • Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
  • Some hard lessons and some good from a couple of years building and sailing my 28ft Experimental Proa 'UFO'

КОМЕНТАРІ • 62

  • @BalkanShipyards
    @BalkanShipyards 7 місяців тому +6

    The Force is with U Matt. Sad, very sad... You put your life into what nature just took away...
    My first Proa Crystal Clear taught me how unforgiving shunting can be, when I got back winded during a shunt coming out of a bay, I was on the rocks in no time.... Dropped the hook in the last possible second, it bit! But the breakers were lifting us so high, that we were crashing on rock coming down... we were in knee height water, a friend pushed me in and somehow I got out with my AD-Scull, crashing through white water, sculling with all I had! That all happened on my second sail, a 3 year build that broke my spirit... Depression sunk in... My salvation was 'Keep Going!'
    8 years have passed, My 4th proa will get splashed in a couple months, may the Force B with us...
    We are very different in our approach to shunters, yet I love the way you follow through, you don't give up and go all the way, you stick to your way and obviously you believe in yourself. This is what it takes to be Shunter, your qualities and will are priceless!
    Just remember my friend 'You never failed till you quit'
    Keep Shunting, we need U!
    Balkan Shipyards

    • @MattTucker
      @MattTucker  7 місяців тому

      Thanks Rael, yes she can be a tough partner but all part of the process. I'm stoked that you managed to get past your awful experience and are keeping the shunting spirit alive and developing your craft!
      Look forward to seeing your new boat, keep up the good work!

  • @guywhitworth5764
    @guywhitworth5764 7 місяців тому +5

    Great update. Sorry to hear about the storm damage, but it's good to see you're making the most of a terrible situation. Lot's of really cool ideas moving forward. I'm looking forward to seeing your progress this year.

    • @MattTucker
      @MattTucker  7 місяців тому +1

      Cheers for the support Guy, yeah the only way is to push on despite some hiccups along the way.
      I always knew this wouldn't be easy going so no use complaining too much!

  • @trevorleak8517
    @trevorleak8517 3 місяці тому +1

    Just to say I am with you and admire your persistence...there is something really exciting about Proas...the dedication requird is enormous.. just look at Balkan Shipyards..Wish you all the best.How do I send a donation? Sorry I´m really old and don´t do computers well.

    • @MattTucker
      @MattTucker  3 місяці тому

      Thanks for the encouragement Trevor! Yes it’s definitely a different kind of project but I seem to be attracted to doing things the hard way but wouldn’t change it.
      Thanks for the offer of a donation. I am beginning to realise that I probably won’t be able to achieve what I want with the limited resources I have available. I am thinking about starting a Patreon account. Is this something you would be interested in signing up for? It would also be a good motivator for me to get more regular videos out. Anyway feel free to send me an email anytime. Hello@evergreenboats.com.au

  • @muddundee
    @muddundee 7 місяців тому +1

    Bummer it got wrecked but its fixable! Have you though about chucking a CC rig on it?

    • @MattTucker
      @MattTucker  7 місяців тому

      Yep damage is nearly fixed so on to the upgrades shortly. Crab Claw? I have played around with them on a more traditional Proa and found it to be quite unwieldy in terms of scaling up. When you start going over 40ft it’s not really viable.
      Great for smaller boats especially if you incorporate a windsurfer rig type setup for performance!

  • @manosdleros
    @manosdleros 7 місяців тому +1

    Don't worry matt, shit happens! Keep trying...

    • @MattTucker
      @MattTucker  7 місяців тому

      Thanks mate, yeah getting there!

  • @dominictarrsailing
    @dominictarrsailing 7 місяців тому +2

    I'm glad to see another video from you but very sorry to hear the boat was wrecked! looking forward to more though, seems like interesting research and there are certainly still a lot of proa ideas that have not been tried!

    • @MattTucker
      @MattTucker  7 місяців тому

      Thanks Dominic, stay tuned!

  • @fuzzylogic8333
    @fuzzylogic8333 7 місяців тому +2

    Well done. Don’t give up

  • @SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx
    @SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx 7 місяців тому +2

    Great to get the update firsthand Matt. Glad you’re persisting. Stay salty! Mat & Jo

    • @MattTucker
      @MattTucker  7 місяців тому +1

      Thanks Mat and Jo! I just discovered your channel and looking forward to diving into it.
      Really enjoyed the sail on Little Wing too!

  • @robertlaird6746
    @robertlaird6746 7 місяців тому +1

    Very innovative proa design. I really like your 3.2 meter sailing/ rowing dinghy and was about ready to order the plans to build a Spindrift 8 or 10 ft. version but like the shape of yours better for rowing. I'm wondering if you could also design it to be a nesting dinghy as well. I'm also wondering what your thoughts might be on how it would sail compared to a Spindrift and if you sell plans so I could build one out of wood strips. I'm thinking that your design would sail faster than a Spindrift 10 due to the hull shape but it would for sure be more prone to tipping over or less stable due to the rounded shape of the hull design. Sailing Yacht Florence did a wonderful video on a Spindrift 8 nesting dinghy as a comparison. I'd like to build one of your designs for sailing and rowing and set it up with a carbon fiber mast and boom to keep it light weight for maximum performance. ua-cam.com/video/XDf3zkRpdk0/v-deo.html

    • @MattTucker
      @MattTucker  7 місяців тому

      Thanks Robert, I would say that the Gig (my tender) would be similar or better in stability despite the rounded hull due to its extra width and flatter bottom. If you added the extra weight of the spindrift into the keel of the Gig, either removable or fixed it would certainly be exceptionally stable.
      She is also designed for sailing so should sail very nicley (I have not put a rig on the protype yet).
      I don't offer plans at this stage because it has been designed for composite mould construction although I could provide a hull shell for you to fit out that would be cost competitive if time saving is accounted for, shipping is the main complication in that regard though. it would be relatively simple to turn it into a nesting dinghy and could be shipped nested for cost savings. Where are you based?
      Also a composite build is always going to give superior results in weight, strength ,time and longevity.

    • @robertlaird6746
      @robertlaird6746 7 місяців тому +1

      @@MattTucker I'm based in Washington state, USA. I was thinking of building a cedar strip boat and before I pulled it off the strong back, I would lay up carbon fiber, then flex foam and then carbon fiber over the top of that for a composite boat. Then complete the wooden version and have two boats. Keep one and sell the other. Then use the one I keep as a tender aboard a Mumby Cyber 48 that I plan on building from plans in the near future to sail around the world. The tender would be a toy to have fun with at anchor. I would need to build a strong back and then lay up my wood strips to form up the plug so that I can lay up the carbon fiber like the people at OC Tender build their tenders. A great video about it is ua-cam.com/video/lqtbE5Ukk7s/v-deo.html

    • @MattTucker
      @MattTucker  7 місяців тому

      Sounds like good plan. Have you thought about something like the P-11 dinghy or the oughtred boats?

    • @robertlaird6746
      @robertlaird6746 7 місяців тому

      @@MattTucker That's a nice boat but I was trying to keep it smaller. The perfect size would be between 8 ft. and 10 ft. I know that yours is 3.2 meters or about 10 1/2 ft. but I think I could live with that or shorten the aft end to make it work for me. I'm just looking for something small that I could stack inside my motorized tender that is hanging off the aft end of the Mumby Cyber 48 catamaran. A nesting dinghy would most likely be the best option but I'll have to see once I get closer to completing the build. I also like the proa design better but I think the smallest one you can make is 12 ft. I'm trying not to store anything on my decks and a proa would most likely have to be mounted on the side deck.

  • @TomStuchberySailing-eg9vr
    @TomStuchberySailing-eg9vr 7 місяців тому +2

    Great to see another update Matt, it's a shame the boat got damaged, but at least it's repairable. Really looking forward to seeing the boat back on the water with the sports boat rig, and I can't wait to see how you do the foils!

    • @MattTucker
      @MattTucker  7 місяців тому

      Thanks Tom, slowly but surely getting there!
      How are your projects going??

    • @TomStuchberySailing-eg9vr
      @TomStuchberySailing-eg9vr 7 місяців тому +1

      I’m getting there, similar story to you, really hard to make videos, work and do boatbuilding stuff at the same time! The moth is currently working, but I’m going to try and get my old high lift foil into the new boat because it’s got a small one in there at the moment which is fast, but struggles to lift my 120kg into the air. I need to get the rigging for the trimaran project out and get it all measured up for the rigger as well, hopefully I’ll have that on the water soon. Maybe one day we can have a weird multihull race!

    • @MattTucker
      @MattTucker  7 місяців тому

      Yeah its a battle sometimes but glad you are pushing on with it. I am regularly tempted to get another boat like a moth or beach cat just to have something easy and fun to get out on. I really have to remind myself to stay focused!
      Definitely keen for some kind of weird boat race!

  • @gregsavige3587
    @gregsavige3587 7 місяців тому +1

    Thanks for the update Matt. Great footage. Sad to see the damage. I wish you great success in the future. Good luck👍

    • @MattTucker
      @MattTucker  7 місяців тому +1

      Thanks Greg, glad you enjoyed it!

  • @mickskinner3493
    @mickskinner3493 16 днів тому

    I love your creative mind, especially in the boating world, limited only by our own imagination, the fully rotating rig is so cool, thank you for sharing your creation.

    • @MattTucker
      @MattTucker  11 днів тому

      Thanks Mick! Sometimes you have to try these mad ideas or they haunt you!

  • @MyLife-lg6tg
    @MyLife-lg6tg 3 місяці тому +1

    Glad to see another video from you. It's very interesting. I like your methods and ideas? Dan S. From Michigan and Texas USA

    • @MattTucker
      @MattTucker  2 місяці тому

      Thanks Dan, appreciate the support!

  • @Aheitchoo
    @Aheitchoo 2 місяці тому

    great update
    I love seeing an engineer take a good look at proas. There certainly some performance there, freestanding mast, foil...
    Maybe you could put one rudder in the middle, and have 2 daggerboard/foil boards that alternatively flip up when shunting?
    Do you think you could get it out next to a hobie 16 so we can get a feel for relative performance and size?

    • @MattTucker
      @MattTucker  2 місяці тому +1

      Thanks Aheitchoo, I’m not an engineer just something who thinks too much!
      Yes that’s definitely an option. There are many configurations that’s should and could work, I guess my main consideration was simplicity in terms of less parts and more simplicity of shunting, if I’m not happy with it though anything is on the table right now try.
      The boat is very close to being back in the water with some significant upgrading of the rudder system so I’m hoping I can really give her a good test and try the hydrofoils.
      I’m definitely keen to get her alongside another similar sized multihull, a Nacra 5.8 or similar should provide a fair assessment of relative performance.

  • @zackariasthepirate
    @zackariasthepirate 7 місяців тому +1

    Very cool. I understand what you said about the width being difficult to deal with. Folding beams is the way to go if it needs to be trailered (which most of us will need to do). Proa looks fast... I also made a twin rudder proa but it was "Atlantic style" and it tracked perfect, however my rudders were between the ama and main hull. Your dinghy boat looks great! I do think there is a market for those types of Dinghy tenders, especially the kind I see that look almost space age in their modern styling with plenty of enclosed air compartments. Your hull shape looks good. Ive been designing different experimental multihull boats for a while now. Nice to see someone else designing from their imagination and testing it. The proa definitely has potential.

    • @MattTucker
      @MattTucker  7 місяців тому +1

      Thanks Zack, just had a quick look at your channel, interesting stuff I look forward to having a closer look!

  • @murraygerwing
    @murraygerwing 3 місяці тому +1

    Really interesting Matt. Please proceed, its unique and interesting, really cutting edge. Thanks.

    • @MattTucker
      @MattTucker  2 місяці тому

      Thanks, she’s coming back together. Not long now!

  • @lesp315
    @lesp315 6 місяців тому +1

    You get 10 out of 10 for being persistent.
    "Energy and persistence conquer all things" Benjamin Franklin

    • @MattTucker
      @MattTucker  6 місяців тому

      Thanks mate, sometimes that’s the only option.
      I believe that Proas are a worthwhile experiment and one of the next frontiers in performance sailing.
      I knew from the start it was going to be a difficult process but I’ve never liked following the crowd.

  • @hell-bentfpv
    @hell-bentfpv 7 місяців тому +1

    Sorry to hear about the incident, but they do say that nothing worth doing is easy! Still regret not being able to make it out to see that one when I was in Tas a couple of years back to sail on Sidecar. I will be back in Aus again later this year (around December-ish) for a longer stay with a more flexible schedule and I really want to swing a second visit to Sidecar with a lot more camera gear. If you'll put up with my presence (with or without said camera gear) I'd love to see your progress!

    • @MattTucker
      @MattTucker  7 місяців тому

      Yeah I always knew it wasn’t going to be all smooth sailing 😆
      Absolutely keen for you to come along with some camera gear, it’s really hard to get good footage when you’re on your own. Should be well and truly up and running by then and maybe even looking at the next step to a larger build.
      Keep in touch and let me know when you’re over this way!

  • @CH-ke7ri
    @CH-ke7ri 5 місяців тому +1

    YOU have far more of courage than me! HOLD on,bro!Best wish for you!

    • @MattTucker
      @MattTucker  5 місяців тому

      Thanks mate appreciate the support!

  • @tomedom5107
    @tomedom5107 7 місяців тому +1

    Great to hear from you Matt , its been a while and its just great that you brought the canoe to completion! And came away from the rather crushing experience with positive energy!
    Did you hear that (for the first time) a Proa completed the Everglades Challenge last year (Drama Queen sailed by the 'Crazy Russian', YT channel Voyage Wanderer). It makes me wonder if the great Proa hive mind isn't learning enough to make these wonderful craft have the potential to be reliable racers!
    Does you little trad dinghy have a sailing rig? It looks like the sections would support it. A suggestion is to market it as a cruising dinghy for smaller folk, esp women?

    • @MattTucker
      @MattTucker  7 місяців тому

      Thanks Tom, just looked up the Everglades Challenge and the Proa that completed it. Very cool! Another thing to add to the bucket list with R2AK 😄
      You hit the nail on the head with the Dinghy. I designed it to be very stable with good load carrying and it is very light at around 30kg.
      The idea is for it to be suitable as a Tender that is easy to pull up and down off the boat and easy to row or put a small outboard on or an expedition rowing/sailing boat for people that aren’t as confident or just don’t like to be tipped out!

    • @tomedom5107
      @tomedom5107 7 місяців тому

      @@MattTucker A few connections in case you are not already wired up to them:
      First, there is a very impressive proa in Taz called Sidecar, in YT search "Sidecar: A Modern Pacific Proa" on channel 'Hell-Bent FPV'.
      Second, if you like the look of the Everglades challenge also look up the Texas 200. There is a very fun article in the Small Craft Advisor blog about it. BTW I think Watertribe who run the Everglades event, have other lower profile adventure races (in the US). I cant be sure but the 2023 EC seems to have been fairly benign with fewer dropouts than is usual? There is a good video on the channel 'Tula's Endless Summer' of them sailing their new build CLC double outrigger on the challenge. The proa Drama Queen flits past around the 40 min mark.
      Third, the R2AK! I know of two proas that have entered (I may have missed others?); Pure and Wild designed by Paul Bieker in one of the early editions and another that was skin on frame construction. I don't think any have finished yet. I have to say that IMO the course of the R2AK has got to be on the hard edge of extreme for a proa. Unsteady, gusty gales, narrow channels, swirling tides, katabatic slamming gusts, brutal sea-states. The probability of a proa being caught aback, multiple times, has got to be over 0.999! But as a race it is definitely something to aspire to enter and complete.
      Re the dinghy, your problem is to hit the spot where folk are itching. I do think there is a developing niche for boats that women feel fits their strength, weight and sailing ambitions. But they are often far more cautious in flashing the cash! Not needing a guy around for heavy lifting is a big plus for them. And make it super quick & simple to rig, launch and sail. Maybe you could dream of a group of women racing and cruising them from a club slipway?
      Around here (UK) it seems everyone who doesn't have a rubber duck or a big RIB has a 'Walker Bay'. Cheap and indestructible, row OK and sail oddly well to. Utterly no maintenance required. Here in the UK the sun takes maybe 20 + years to rot the plastic.
      Having developed your product, your real problem is going to be marketing. If you haven't got the brain for selling stuff, I suggest you link up with someone who has! Its a tough gig.

    • @MattTucker
      @MattTucker  7 місяців тому

      Great info thanks Tom, I had seen the Bieker Proa but not the other R2AK one. It definitely bring unique challenges but I think there's definitely for a Proa designed with that race in mind to do quite well. I am a little biased though ;-)
      I have sailed on Sidecar with Rob a few years ago, she is a superbly built and thought out boat. I am keen to catch up with him again now that she has been modified and improved upon too.
      I agree on the Dinghy front, it's a tough sell, especially given that the costs are always going to be higher for small scale and eco products. At this stage I am just sitting on it and will talk about it and develop as I get the time and money. In the current economic climate I will not be quitting my day job and going all in anytime soon so just need to manage my time and energy.

  • @drjasper100
    @drjasper100 7 місяців тому +1

    Strange looking contraption 😊 very interesting.

    • @MattTucker
      @MattTucker  7 місяців тому

      Yes some thing a bit different 😉 sometimes you just have to follow where your brain takes you!

  • @trimaranchuck
    @trimaranchuck 7 місяців тому +1

    Keep it up...THIS IS FASCINATING!

  • @recidivist11
    @recidivist11 7 місяців тому

    Sad that this happend Matt. Just an observation, you had a number of experimental features. I think when you experiment you need to trial one idea at a time. Remember the old Kiss adage " keep it simple" good luck with thd next stage Everest wasn't conquered in one go. I love what your doing.

    • @MattTucker
      @MattTucker  7 місяців тому +1

      Thanks for the support and observation recidivist, yes may have gotten a bit carried away but I think I managed to test each variable reasonably effectively. Once she’s back in the water I will concentrate on just different rig options so should be a lot simpler!

  • @RF-yh3qh
    @RF-yh3qh 7 місяців тому

    Hi Matt keep going! really nice proa!

    • @MattTucker
      @MattTucker  7 місяців тому

      Thanks, I'm really happy with how she's cming together again now!

    • @RF-yh3qh
      @RF-yh3qh 7 місяців тому

      @@MattTucker I was reading this and found something similar ... Tripod rig.. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/www.ayrs.org/repository/AYRS112.all_A5.pdf

  • @GNiessen
    @GNiessen 7 місяців тому

    I look forward to seeing it on foils.