23' Maas Custom Daysailer (2019) - SLIPPER

Slipper was designed for daysailing in the typically light winds of summer in the San Juan Islands of Washington State. Inspired by the many lovely US east coast daysailers of the 1800’s/early 1900’s Slipper is intended to be a ‘sit in’ boat rather than ‘sit on top’.

Below the waterline Slipper is modern. The 1,300 lb. displacement means that there is very little submerged hull and the lifting carbon fiber fin keel with a 400lb. lead bulb gives a deep draft of 7′ when fully down or 5′ draft in shoal draft mode. The pivoting carbon fiber rudder allows Slipper to beach or trailer.

Accommodation below is minimal – there is enough room for one person to sit or sleep, but it takes a little agility. Emphasis is placed having a boat that is deeply satisfying to sail. All control lines fall easily to hand and the re-purposed Star rig is a marvel of refinement that has come from the many years that the Star boat spent as an Olympic class.

One goal in building Slipper was to use re-purposed/used/salvaged materials, or stuff the builder had in the shop. To this end Slipper is strip built from a site milled western red cedar beach log with a skin of Boeing surplus carbon fiber cloth and WEST 105 epoxy on each side. Almost every panel in the boat is made this way – hull, deck, bulkheads, cockpit sole, etc. As mentioned above the rig and sails from a Star boat were used. The mast had been broken at Star deck level making it a near perfect fit when deck stepped on Slipper. Lead for the keel came from various scrounged sources including the salvaged keel of a wrecked boat. The electric outboard motor is midships mounted in a well and was made from a defunct gas outboard refit with an electric motor and controller that had a past life in an electric go cart. Mahogany for the transom, etc. came from a board left over from a boat built in the late 50’s It was re-sawn to 1/8″ and used as a structural veneer over carbon/cedar panels. The douglas fir tiller was laminated from a timber salvaged from a water tank.

Slipper has lived up to her name. She slides along with little fuss and is a real joy to sail.