Sketches and Plans

Here are a couple of scans of the hand-drawn sketches for BELLE.

Construction Plans.  These two drawings show most of the construction details of the boat.  Note, for example, the watertight hatches under the seats  port & starboard.  These provide dry storage for food, camping gear, etc., while also providing bouyancy in the case of a knockdown or other emergency.  An optional battery can be stored forward of the mast to power an electric trolling motor for serene movement under power.  It or a 2-3hp gas outboard can be stored, horizontally, in the well just forward of the transom.  This well is above the waterline and drains overboard.  On either side of the centerboard trunk, the floorboards lift up to seat level to provide a "lounging area" about six feet wide by four feet wide. In addition, the seats aft of the "lounge" slide inward, towards the center of the boat, to provide reasonably comfortable sleeping area for two.  By "comfortable" I mean "for a boat this size"!  

Sail Plan.  The simple gaff sloop rig should provide plenty of power even in light airs.  The jib overlaps the main slightly, but it can be reefed with a jib club in higher winds or just for a relaxing daysail with a minimum of fuss. The longest spar, the mast, is just under 16 feet long and should store easily in the boat for trailering or storage. 

While you would most likely camp ashore with this boat--thus the term "camp cruiser"--there is provision for sleeping aboard.  As shown in the Construction Plan, the seats slide out from under the side decks to provide two bunk flats about two feet wide and almost nine feet long.  The Sail Plan shows the canvas cockpit dodger that protects the front end of the cockpit from spray, rain, etc.  It would probably be left ashore when daysailing, but when going on a little cruise it could be left up permanently.  When anchored and the mainsail dropped, a simple boom tent--basically a tarp slung over the boom--would protect the rest of the cockpit from rain.  A portable toilet could be carried just forward of the aft well (between the seats) and moved forward for use...with just about zero privacy unless the boom tent was in place!  That said, there is a community of intrepid small-boat cruisers that goes out sometimes for weeks at a time on boats this small or even smaller.  God bless 'em.  A benefit?  The boat is small and shallow enough that you can really poke up creeks and into shallow bays and such where the bigger boats just can't follow.