18' Sailing Whitehall (2017) - FOGG

FOGG is built (mostly) to plans for “Alaska,” which was designed in the early 1990s by Don Kurylko for long-distance cruising by sail and oar. Elegant simplicity is the foundation of this design, from the time-tested Whitehall proportions to the boomless standing lug rig.

Based on the general proportions of the classic 19th century Whitehall, Alaska has a max displacement of 1,100 lbs, which works out to a payload of almost 800 lbs of crew and gear. The narrow beam and long, straight keel provide excellent rowing performance even when heavily loaded; a waterline length just north of 17′ makes for exciting sailing as well, especially off the wind.

Construction is strip planking in 1″ x 1/2″ pine, edge nailed and epoxy glued, with a layer of exterior ‘glass for abrasion resistance. The hull planks up easily from sheer to keel, with no need for spiling or stealers.

Filler planks (the plans show folding benches) create a 10’ long boat-width sleeping platform, a convenient option for areas with large tidal ranges or difficult shore access.

FOGG is quite realistically recoverable from a capsize singlehanded; a loop of small-diameter line run through the leading edge of the weighted centerboard allows the board to be pulled out of the case for leverage in righting if necessary, and the boat rolls up easily. The wooden spars prevent turtling, and the compartmentalized interior minimizes the free surface area of the water taken on board in a capsize, and keeps the boat very stable for bailing (stable enough to begin sailing or rowing immediately, before emptying)–a welcome safety measure for a long-distance cruising dinghy.

Plans for Don Kurylko’s “Alaska” design are available at:

https://duckworks.com/alaska-printed-plans/