Grebe

In 2019, I built Grebe, Selway Fisher’s “Drake 13 Sharpie” design. The hull is built tack-and-tape style from 6mm okoume plywood. The transom and daggerboard case is 9 mm. Spars and brightwork are all fir. The sail was made by Douglas Fowler. There are flotation compartments fore and aft, and this boat can be re-entered over the stern after a capsize.

I made two major changes to the plans as drawn. I changed the centerboard to a daggerboard to open up space in the cockpit, and I changed the sail from a standing lug to a balanced lug, gaining 10% more sail area for a total of 70 square feet.

Grebe (named after the local diving birds) is a quick and responsive little sailboat and efficient to row when the wind dies. The bare hull is 105 lbs, light enough to be cartopped, and the spars are all under 11 ft which makes for a compact package to store and transport. Grebe is a sprightly, versatile and pretty boat.