|
This website is designed to document the progress of a Colson
8 metre Trailer Sailer. Hopefully it may inspire some other potential home builders out there or simply just give people something
interesting to read and follow.
In 2001 Naval Architect, Barry Colson designed a trailerable yacht that was
light and fast yet solid enough to brave the harsh weather patterns of the South Australian coast and so the Colson 8 was
born. The Colson 8 hull is based upon an earlier Colson design called the HPO 770 sportsboat. The Colson 8 is classed as a
performance cruiser, which means despite the fast, modern hull shape she has 1.7m of headroom in the cabin and is fitted out
for comfortable cruising and accomodation for 5-6. Since the original design Barry Colson has modified the Rig, Keel and rudder
foils to allow more sail area and increased performance in the lighter conditions of the east coast.
Developed
for the home builder in mind the Colson 8 is built of fiberglass composite sandwich construction with a Red Cedar strip
plank core, providing a light yet ecconomical hull.
Sail area is around 44sqm upwind plus the addition of a prod
mounted assymetrical spinnaker adds another 75-95sqm.
The original set of plans were brought by an Adelaide man Barrie
O'Donghue who began the boat late 2001. His workmanship was faultless and carefully thought out, unfortuantely due to hindering
health problems progress was slower then expected. By mid 2005 the hull was almost complete with most interior construction
and bulkheads installed. Unfortuantely by this stage the health problems were getting worse and the dicision was made to sell
the uncompleted boat. I brought the boat at this stage and trailered it from Adelaide, South Australia to Townsville, Queensland.
A distance of approx. 3000km. Upon the sale us Queenslanders were sure to give the South Aussies some curry about their seemingly
endless array of bird poo covered bronze statues and they were quick to return with jokes about us needing to wear pantihose
in the water during stinger season. Much thanks to the help of Barrie, and his mates Trevor and Dave aswell as Barry Colson
himself for making the process possible and alot more fun.
|
