15' Blunt Catboat (2003) - EMILOU

Emilou is a Cat rig 15′ Clinker/Lap strake, centre board dinghy designed in 1982 by Greg Blunt when an apprentice to his dad. Greg is a seventh generation boat builder in Williamstown here in Melbourne.

The project started as a 1/17th scale model of Greg’s first build, ‘Peggy’. When that was completed I was looking for another project and Greg explained that I had built her once, I just needed to build her again, this time at full size.

Emilou’s keel is a merbau fence post laid on a strong back and the hull planks are scarphed marine ply laid around transverse section moulds. Other timber used included blackwood frames, mahogany transom and thwarts, teak grating, huon pine sheer strake and details, afromosa rubbing strakes. Grown cyprus knees. Spars are shaped, hollow section recycled oregon. Hand made blocks and fittings and custom silver ash oars.

She sails gracefully and her huge mainsail gets her up to speed quickly. The gentle slap of the waves against the hull and the warm wind on your face… a perfect day on the water any time.