Ross has owned dinghies and yachts since 1968, winning many trophies in Trailer sailer events. His first trailer-sailer was a fibreglass Redwitch monohull. He then built a fibreglass cruising monohull. Promised a level ride and easy trailering, Ross built a trimaran which he used extensively both racing and cruising. When the kettle jumped out of the stove rails and his replacement vehicle was found lacking in towing ability, Ross decided to design a boat which would fulfil his requirements for a trailer sailer.
The boat needed to sail level, tow very easily and have plenty of room for his family to live aboard during holidays. Get rid of a deep keel (Moreton Bay is very shallow) and your left with a tri or cat. The cat does not have surplus weight in floats to keep balance and has double the room.
Based on a tall friend for interior dimensions, the then legal towing weights and the premis of the beam = half the length for stability, a J5 evolved. A rough boat was built using the "stitch & tape" method which proved the layout, hull form and gave surprising performance.
The next prototype was then built using the traditional ply over timber method. This proved to be quicker to build, lighter and gave a fair hull form without filling. At 270kg "Mudskipper" was a success. Mudskipper is still sailing.
Updates over the 20 years have given the J5 improved tacking and better looks, a more refined interior and an alternative wing mast rig.
Ross went on to design the CC29, j282 dinghy, CC24, J6, CC30S and J7. Building or closely following construction of each boat. Ross has built and owned J282s /J5s / J6s / and a J7. Ross has had his own CC29 which he built in 1983.
All the designs are based on the same plywood over timber technique which has proven to give a strong, fair hull at minimal weight, effort and cost.
The plans show useful additions to standard tools which eliminate the difficulties of this method of construction. Epoxy glue and stainless steel screws are used. If Epoxy alone is used then the plywood can delaminate leaving the first layer against the frame. Epoxy & thin glass cloth is applied over the entire exterior. Coating with epoxy undercoat and polyurethane top coat gives many years of maintenance free use. (longer than straight fibreglass boats.)
j282 dinghy. Learn to sail in five minutes! A stitch & tape 4mm plywood dinghy. 8' long plus bow sprit. app 30kg. Four bouyancy chambers. The rig unclips at the tack of the jib then, with the boom held up against the mast, lifts out, rolls up and can be left in the boat. Just the shot when sailing to another boat. The j282 is simplicity itself to sail. There no stays to get in the way. The jib is club footed so tends itself. Tacks are rapid. Stability with the wide chines and short rig is a major assett.
The j282 can carry about 300kg, the limit being when water comes in the centreboard slot. The davits shown on the larger boats are for a j282.