Plans for a famous 17-foot offshore auxiliary sloop that has carried her owner safely for thousands of miles through the storms and doldrums of the trackless Pacille Ocean. by Capt. Charles Borden EVENTEEN feet long with a six foot beam, Confucius is a Marconi rig sloop built en- tirely of teak, camphor wood and bagac, in Hong Kong, China, where these woods were very cheap. For two years my wife, Rosalie and I sailed about the Pacific in Confucius during which time it was our only home; we ertised over 7,000 sea miles. Fast in light winds and capable in any weather we found Confucius to be a safe and comfortable little cruiser at all times. ‘Thore was a bit of a hullabaloo during the time we were provisioning and preparing to leave the West coast for the Hawaiian Islands. One Commodore shouted, “Hell, man you can’t go to sea in that little egg- shell!’ As you can see for yourself from the fol- jowing plans and specifications Confucius le certainly not an “eggshell” Nor were our voyages foolhardy, for before starting we knew what we were doing and had a solid, well built boat capable of doing it. As for Esler Arvin Genheciay a threegh Ala Mouca, Channel, StH heavily cen wit piles, even after more than’ ‘monn a aaa, ihe Wices tow. size, having made long sca cruises in five different boats of from 15 to 45 feet in length I'm convinced that there is very Kittle dif- ference in the sea movements of any small round bettom, deep keel, cruising boat until you get beyond 35 feet, In the large watertight cabin of Confucius there are two comfort- able six foot bunks, a $6 homemade radio for time ticks, a solid library shelf with 20 good books. The galley contains pots, pans and stormThe Confucius M en, Thyear-old Ban! ‘staked bis tte and! det that his 1-foot ayatlary feairwood 800. ca ts “uafer| amxiey cane ry the Chinese cocklesbell, W27\ Ialand. She. Charles Bord Prancisean, Bas ‘won on the bell ett Montarey J days averdve. Me ge yachting history sisce (he Giny craft was the smallest ore te meotinte Live 2200-mile eretsings ‘Borden, who ha m the San Prarciece Chrowlele proof stoves. With 700 Ibs, of food and supplies aboard and mo modern inconveniences, what more could any couple want? As for headroom we have seventeen feet of it—out on deck! The galley is a four foot drawer that extends out and under the cock- pit seat, It contains three small kerosene stoves for a one, two or three course dinner (the number of courses often depending on the weather), However, a good hot nzulligan and a steaming pot of coffee can be had in any weather by pulling the drawer out just two stove lengths. Each stove takes up approximately eight inches. The drawer is of course, asbestos lined, and has plu around the top with holes drilled for / to fit through and hold the mulligan and cofice pots during rough weather. Last Thanksgiving on one of our offshore cruises we had intended putting into Hilo, Hawaii, for some turkey trimmings and eran- bei sauce; instead Thanksgiving morning found us hove to in a gale 90 miles off the Kona Coast akes Yachting History» 5. F. Couple Reach Maui After Record T ‘pain, caught {nan outspresd sal) nere Borden plans te Dur |pravided the rest of thelr Water: \ i ‘The Cenfaclas, equipped with wuaver ands fadio Te: last year ope plantation and lve 1n “REPPT solitude and peace ever after picture with faticnig. Ni very important items, in an ocean cruiser, With our sea anchor dragging well a few feet below the surface from a chain bridle out 130 feet on new 54” Manila line, and although the seas were running 15 to 20 feet high, Con- fueius lay well, rising and falling bow into it. With the galley drawer pulled out 24 inches and all three burners roaring away we had chicken gumbo soup in jig time with baked Virginia ham. yams, plum pudding and plenty of hot coffee and biscuits to munch while listening to the rain drumming like hail on the cabin top. The biscuits were made in an empty-one-gallon-tin “oven.” Besides the three stoves our galley contains matches in a glass jar. spices. olive oil and a full three days’ food supply which is re- plenished from our main stores (never less afof th unk aig dea i fey th which Siena Ia ed. Drawer con tale ewe tory and cover a1 than 600 Ibs.), kept under bunks, floor- beards and aft under the cockpit. The opposite drawer is used for navigation in- struments, ship's papers, clothes, ete. Charts are kept flat beneath bunk mat- tresses, There are no water tanks on Confucius; on long cruises we prefer to carry our maximum supply in one, two and three gallon soldered tins, enameled on the out- side—eighteen gallons in all. During our 46 day cruise from California to Kahului, Maui, T. H., we consumed slightly less than nine gallons, using only a pint a day, which was supplemented by fruit juices and twice with rain water, On a 1,400 mile voyage to French Frigate Shoals and Leysan Island and back to Kauai, T. H., we found that, contrary to U. S. Naval minimum regulations of two quarts per man per day, we got along very well on a pint and a half per day for over a month without any ill effects, On offshore trips we carry a small storm trysail and staysail; also a small three foot jigger to run up the back stay to balanceCONFUCIUS SSr OFF-SHORE CABN SLOOP fe eet Cau ee oN her when hove to; a sea anchor because of the full keel. Our sea anchor consists of two pieces of 1”x12"x46” planks set at right angles, with a four inch opening between each and the lower plank ballasted with lead. For a tender our eight foot plywood folding dingy, Mahatma, answers the purpose well. At sea we carry it folded compactly and lashed to the cabin side. You naturally won't be able:to obtain the exotic woods used in the original boat, but this isn’t necessary anyhow—what you can ebtain locally will do as well. Your material bill will depend largely on what section of the country you construct the boat in, and it is best that with local supply in mind you figure out your own, or let whoever you intend to buy your lumber from do.it for you from the construction plans. Now for Confucius’ plans and details. First, take large building paper sheets, lay out base and center lines and draw all hull lines full size, including stem, transom and keel assembly. Your garage or any con- venient floor will do. Make a soft-wood TRANSOM BaAROE OF BODY PLAN step In buildin Gontucigs ees shown cbore are full-sin8 of ‘ol building paper or, thin pliwood. Meoldr a assembled fy over drow fran. Offvets are given te outside cf planking, to: thick, news of latter must be, allowed for In computing mold Simenuions, Recommended. thickness for planking is. 76” it hardwood (mahogany), %" if sof (pine, cadet}. If, by, some strange magic you can obfain teak, make it 15/167,” AySuV139 YASNLL ¥ d/Nj 135 13: € 2 1 sent fo plank dack It should be can used for th Kael assem ule Joe! stuction has baen mada wousu: vatsed like cabin roof. Resin.pattern for stem and keel, marking in rabbet and bearding lines. In mak- ing all station frames remember that measurements are to outside of planking and allow accordingly. Because of the difficulty of getting iron today it will probably be neces- sary for you to cast the keel shoe of concrete or lead. In Hawaii where lead is much scarcer than on the mainland, in helping a friend to build a duplicate of Confucius we offered 5c a pound plus a bonus for the largest amount quickly brought in and in one week the youngsters and a few oldsters had collected over 600 Ibs, Build a shoe pattern and a rough lumber case (See Pixie plans, How to Burin 20 Boats, No. 6), allowing about two inches for molding sand. Place a thin strip along the top for securing bolts, leave a vent hole at each end of pattern and a pouring hole. When spacing your %4” bolts, be sure to figure the bolt heads so they will be flush with the bottom, The deadwood is made up of 514”x9%" oak, tapered to top of shoe. Paint well between each joint with copper paint. Fit and bolt your stem, keel and sternpost together and set up, then clamp keel casting in place and drill belt holes on through the wood, using an electric drill if available. Drill and drive stem and keel stopwaters of %" dowels, You will have to buy 44” stock, cut and thread it Abors: Coniociur sailing op island of Kauai (pronounced ality. Left Ing San Franclies, A discloae many int ie oa carved by Chinese carftiman in Hang Keng. to the right lengths then insert and set up for the fore and aft bolts. You had better try to use bronze bolts with a lead shoe, or iron bolts. with an iron or concrete shoe. Set up and fasten your keel, stem, ete, on keel blocks that are high enough to allow you to work beneath the bottom later on. (See instructions for Spind- rift, page 106.) Approximately three inches from the lowest part of keel to the floor is about right. In setting up be sure to get everything square to the center line. Cut the transom from two %4” mahogany boards glued tightly together to the pattern size. Next set the transom up at the proper angle and fasten to keel and cleats. The station molds are then 31placed. In all tight fits such as mold laps, ete., use casein or marine glue. Fasten long battens to cach mold about four inches apart, making sure that they fit perfectly. Fair off wherever necessary until curves are true, The frames are of Ya” by 1” bending oak and are first steamed or boiled, then screwed into keel. notches and clamped inside battens, watching spacings carefully. Boiling can be done in a tank or large iron pipe, or a small simple steam box about ten feet long can be quickly made from rough lumber. Don't for- get to cut limber holes in the frames before setting up to prevent wells of dead water later on. If you ean get it, full length planking is nat- urally to be preferred. With Confucius full length 15/16” teak planking was easily avail- able and used with copper fastenings. Pine, cedar, mahogany, or cypress can be used in- stead, and with galvanized fastenings. How- ever, if there is any teak available in your locality by all means use it for decking. Teak is an ideal boat lumber because it retains a 52 natural oil that prevents shrinkage and steps moisture and dry rot from entering the grain. I was once aboard a Chefoo junk that was 230 years old, built entirely of teak, and I couldn't find dry rot any- where. The side planks are five inches and the bottom planks not more than eight inches wide, the widths graduating evenly. Beginning at the stem with the garboard plank (next to the keel) alternate from port to starboard, removing battens as planking progresses, Steam each plank first until hot and limber, and bend it into place evenly with C clamps. Fasten with No. 10 134” screws, countersinking heads to allow for plugs. With dividers you can mark a thin pattern board at each frame to get the right curve and then transfer it to the actual hull plank and saw out; also the width of the last plank can be determined with the dividers. Leave a x” seam on the bottom planks for caulking but if you intend to. have natural-finish Early on the morning of December Tth, 1881, Capt. Borden HH: (ebove) ih Confucius when he joking planes pats overhead In didn't know what they when he feturned to port racked’ and be ma) STEM PATTERNS NGTE:CUT TD OUTSIDE OF HEAVY LINE TRIM LATER 2° SQUARES. :(COORPIT PLODE TO SLOPE APT Iv aim . STP Euan err ‘Ser PORT Be #-9r +} Racneer Moreen oall SrowACE UNOER FOR SAILS ANDER INBOARD PROFILE AND ACCOMODATIONS PLAN viroor varnished topsides similar to Confucius’, run. topside seams on inside of plank and place a very thin rope of caulking cotton between the WB" BARDS (20h, AS NOTED OM ‘BODY PLAN) ALLOW FOR DEVELS WriEN MARING FULL SIZE PLANS DETAIL OF TRANSOM Stem details (left) and transom (above). 5: be projected accurately from your full-rized Interior arrangement of the criginal boat is shown above. It was designed for maximum convenience af sea, and can be altered to suit individual needs. On the whole, though, it would be hard to imagine « better layout in a craft thir sina, planks before pressing together. Seam battens may then be glued over same. For topside planking lay the sheer plank first. When planking is all completed cut off tops of frames flush with top plank. Saw deck and cabin top beams from wide stock to crown dimensions given. Crown lines are easily determined with pencil and string, compass style. After deck beams are in as in- dicated install mooring bit and plank decks with 7"x244" teak or mahogany (t. & g.), fastening with screws countersunk to allow for pine plugs. After deck is planked finish with 135” half round oak rub rail, caulk seams and fill with Kuhls seam composition. A A"x14s" toe rail surrounds the deck and is fastened to sheer planks with screws counter- sunk 14” for plugs. Build cabin sides and top, planking with 54"x2s" t. & g. Coat top evenly with Casca- mite glue and cover smoothly with a good grade of deck canvas covering overlaps at 33Rigging har for tha trip. Sea anchor lies on deck to port of cockpit. beam ends with 1” half round oak set in Kuhls’ bedding composition. Cabin portlight openings are chamfered 4” on outside to fit plate glass. Not less than 74” thick, the glass is puttied and held in place by a half round brass frame, Take time to make careful, tight fits on all cabin joints using marine glue—or else you'll have plenty of time in ‘wet weather to wish you had. Te aa Tiller is of three-inch oak, trimmed and tapered shrouds was wert oaceenry whe forward. Seen Tee era eet tl The interior cabin details are about as simple Ste Ee eT aorana rand ee er and compact as possible with an eye to maximum aaa 2d CECRING LAIDIN GANvAS TRANSVERSE SEGTONS Bat x abe Tas ‘ONE oa DECKING 1h Hace conan: ROUND: x 218 saweo Frame 2 een alas oF Jeet ki" GAR SPACED FLOOR TmBERS OF 2* STOCK EVENLY RETWEEN FRAMES: ec oear Tony av BRONZE KEEL BOLTS STATION # STATION #7 reuse ‘(Loonie AAT} KEEL SHOE BASE UNE = i 54room and comfort. Floors are not fastened, but rest loosely on floor timbers. A thin bulk- head with a large opening separates cabin from forepeak. Bunks are six feet long and a radio and sea chest may be installed at the foot. A combination cockpit step, cabin seat and table is provided by a 12” piece with ends resting at head of each bunk. I strongly advise, DO NOT install a toilet; it can be done but should not for obvious reasons. A small commode will answer the purpose very well. If you want auxiliary power you can install a 3h. p. air-cooled marine engine under the shelf between cabin and cockpit, in the usual manner. A three gallon gas tank can go aft under cockpit seat in rear of port drawer, running copper tubing at a gravity flow for- ward to carburetor. Follow spar, sail and rigging plan ex- actly. You can make your own storm trysail, staysail and jigger but you had better have a professional sailmaker make your main and jib and a Genoa, if you want one. For the mast clear spruce should be used, Make it up in halves, leaving solid from the foot to beginning of sail track, 16” each side of spreader and 18” from top. Chisel out re- mainder of each half, leaving a 1” wall and en ‘ide of inlonwa} tawleg @ 3S-foot ketch info Honoluly for repairs, Har Yhap. Wleconsin. angine was ensily up to the task.SAIL PLAN, SPAR & F RIGGING SPECIFICATIONS ULMER CONFUCIUS 17-FOOT OFF-SHORE CABIN SLOOP FLATTEN ENGS AN ‘ DAILL FOR ¥2*0 SOUT. TRAVELER DETAIL CE. ALL 16380 aah 12 TRAVELER IF LOCATED ON BOOMmin _— MAIN SHEET n work, thin 1 Jie SISOFr. Marconi: mainsail was down in the trough, ‘avoid blowr—bence the lack of reel pointthen carefully glue both together with Cascamite proof glue, clamping securely for 49 hours. Sail tr fastened to mast with screws and goose~ neck is strapped solid in boom position. Boora is of two pieces of spruce with a 34” bore and ;',” slot for sail. Stock is cut away enaug) For standing rigging use tings throughout if available, and stainless steel eable. Incidentally, don’t make the mistake of trying to splice the S. S. cable; rather, socket the ends. Traveler for the mainsail is of 44" stock. DO NOT fasten any cleats or blacks with screws—use through bolts for everything that takes a strain. Where the mast fits through the deck allow for deck wedges. Cut a piece of canvas cone-shaped and lash small end tightly to the mast « few inches above deck, Soak it thoroughly with varnish, k tightly to deck. depending on the lumber used and equipment aboard. However, as yau will doubtless have to install some inside ballast you can best determine how much is needed and where to put it by watching the trim of the boat and noticing how it stiffens under sail. It is best to use lead for inside ballast if possible. During the two years that we sailed and lived aboard Confucius we never had less than 600 Ibs. of supplies aboard (in addition to ballast), For Contuciva bleep bronze fit-