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2: Swallow Boats workshop and design details Two things helped me to plump for the BayCruiser. First at Beal Park I decided that I liked the boat (well, the BayRaider at least). Then in Cardigan I decided I liked the builders too. That seemed a good combination. Below are a few pictures from round the boat workshop last week (July 25, 2008). As you will gather, I think the quality of design and workmanship are both quite remarkable. |
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View down inside the workshop with two epoxy-ply BayRaiders under construction, one on its belly and one on its back. This workshop is brand new, with some finishing off of its own still to be done. Off to the left is the computer controlled cutting machinery which produces all of the parts. |
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| The bow area of a part built BayRaider. The grey area in the well of the hull will be the water ballast tank. The fit of all components is excellent. The intricacy of the detailing quite remarkable. |
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| The rear of the cockpit is just as intricate. The mizzen mast has strong support from a box beam, the outboard well takes the whole retracted engine and the oval cut out for the tiller can just be seen under the mizzen support. |
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A computer cut rudder blade. The evenness of the ply layers shows the accuracy of the computer cutting. The notch in the back is the built in boarding step. You can always get back in, which is a huge safety factor. |
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This is the rudder stock which really sets this boat and its sister the SeaRaider apart. A phenomenal piece of stainless steel engineering which allows you to have a mizzen mast, tiller and outboard engine all on the centreline of the boat, whilst giving you a kick up, transom hung rudder which can stay in place even when grounded or towing. an extraordinary piece of design and construction which solves problems that other boats have flailed around with all sorts of compromises. |
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The whole mechanism in place. The mizzen has a substantial support on the centreline. The engine can tilt up so well that it is completely out of the water and a blanking plate fills in the cut-out. The beautiful laminated tiller arcs over it all to the the helmsman's hand. The rudder blade tilts right up out of the water for mooring, and when down you have a boarding ladder should you need it. |
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