Mink
A 30' Canoe-Stern Knockabout
By William Atkin
A Thirty-Foot Stem Head Sloop
The sloop Mink is an able sort of boat designed for comfort and ability. Her overall length is 30 feet; length on the water line, 28 feet; breadth, 10 feet; and draft, 4 feet. The displacement is on the heavy side, 17,920 pounds. To give her correct flotation and proper stability there is an iron keel weighing 3,600 pounds and inside ballast to the weight of 3,400 pounds. There is a good deal to be said for both outside and inside ballast. Advocates of this arrangement claim that the boat ballasted in this manner will be more comfortable in rough water, easier on her rigging, and less agile than one in which the weight of the ballast is concentrated at the lowest possible point. All of which sounds reasonable. The freeboard at the bow is 4 feet, 9 inches; at the lowest point, 3 feet 1 inch; and at the stern, 3 feet, 8 1/2 inches. This is somewhat higher than usual practice but one must bear in mind that the boat is of the raised deck type and that there is no high trunk cabin house to create windage and increase the top weight.

The sail plan shows a mainsail of gaff-head cut, and staysail. The total area of these is 482 square feet; 134 square feet being in the staysail and 348 square feet in the main. The rig is planned for easy handling and modest upkeep.

There is a big cockpit at the after end of the raised deck; this is 7 feet long and has an average width of 6 feet, 6 inches. It is surrounded by a protecting coaming which permits the deck to be used as a seat. Mink steers with a wheel.

The interior is unusual in many respects but has its better points. The companionway leads into the main cabin fitted with large built-in berths and clothes lockers. The space beneath the berths is given to galvanized iron water tanks. The space behind the berths is used as locker space neatly joinered with doors and shelves. Light is supplied by six 4-inch diameter portlights each side. Headroom in the main cabin under the companion slide is 6 feet, 6 inches; and under the cabin deck beams 5 feet, 10 inches. Despite this generous headroom the floor width is excellent -- 3 feet, 2 inches between the berth fronts. The space forward of the mast is divided between the galley, locker space and toilet facilities. The galley on the port side has suitable sink, dish lockers and shelf, not forgetting the reliable 4-hole coal range. An ice chest is on the opposite side and in the niche between the cabin bulkhead and the ice box the pump closet with shelves and room for folding lavatory. The space in the bow as shown on the cabin-construction plan is utilized for stowage and is neatly shelved for this purpose. Headroom in the galley is 5 feet, 9 inches under deck beams. Two pipe berths are hung either side of the motor under the cockpit floor; there is really very decent room here.

The hull shows a modified canoe stern of double-end model. The canoe stern permits hanging an indoor rudder which seems to be more popular than the rudder hanging outside the stern post. In connection with this there is much to be said for both types of rudder. It is, of course, much easier to fit a steering gear to the post of an indoor rudder; but easier to fit a tiller to the opposite kind, which rather evens up the score a bit. The lines show a hull of symmetrical form and one that will propel easily and economically under either sail or engine power.

The motor should not be of too much power. The plans show an engine of about 10 h.p. Many manufacturers build motors that will be ideal for powering Mink. Speeds of over 7 miles an hour should not be expected from this heavily built auxiliary cruiser; excess power will drag her stern down at much over a modest 7-mile gait.

Plans for Mink are $100

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