Matt's Boat Selection Page for the Microship Flotilla:

Some basic requirements (see above link for more information about the trip):

• Ability to sleep on board while boat is on the water.
• At least two different methods of propulison. I would strongly prefer some sort of pedal system as the primary means of propulsion. Auxillary could be some combination of sail, paddle, oars, or electric.

Nauticraft Escapade

Links/info:

Cost:

• Basic boat, new: $2475 +

Questions:

• Robustness and ease of field repairs to pedal drive system?
• Robustness and ease of field repairs to rudder and steering system?
• How to beach/portage (dolly? modified shipping cradle? strap on wheels?)
• Possibility of sail rig (looks challenging due to various constraints, but should be possible, and hull is essentially a full keel sailboat)?
• Additional forms of propulsion (electric, oars, paddles)?
• Is it big enough to sleep on if necessary, especially when loaded with full cruising gear?

Advantages:

• Is apparently quite seaworthy for a boat this size
• Comfort and protection from elements when cruising (especially with bimini with side curtains)

Disadvantages:

• Requires trailer to transport by car
• Lack of effective propulsion system if single pedal drive fails
• Difficult to beach/launch and portage, due to weight and hull design
• Potential damage to boat (especially keel) when beaching (add some sort of protection?)
• Fairly deep draft
• Storage issues due to size and trailer

Nauticraft Encore

Links/info:

Cost:

• Basic boat, new: $2975 +

Questions:

• How seaworthy is it?
• How does pedal speed compare to Escapade with only a single person pedalling?
• Can it provide as much protection from the elements as Escapade?
• Robustness and ease of field repairs to pedal drive system?
• Robustness and ease of field repairs to rudder and steering system?
• Possibility of sail rig (probably much easier than Escapade)?
• Additional forms of propulsion (electric, oars, paddles)?
• Beaching/portaging (should be less of an issue than with Escapade, due to hull shape and it has holes in the keels to allow axle and beaching wheels)

Advantages:

• Lots of space for gear, sleeping, passengers
• Two separate pedal drives, provides redundancy in case one fails.
• Enough space to allow friends/family to temporarily join trip

Disadvantages:

• Requires trailer to transport by car
• Fairly deep draft
• Weight/size, could be painful to beach/portage
• Storage issues due to size and trailer

Decked Canoe or Kayak based sailing trimaran

Links/info:

Cost:

• Canoe/kayak: $600 - $1000+ ??
• Pedal drive: $600+ ??
• Sail, outriggers: $1000 - $2000 + ??

Questions:

• What to use as main hull, must have enough room to sleep aboard if necessary (Decked canoe, open cockpit double kayak, etc)?
• What to use as sail and outriggers (Balogh batwing and BOSS, wedgesail, other)?
• What to use as pedal drive (Seacycle, JetBlade, other)?

Advantages:

• Could be cartopped (no trailer needed)
• Shallow Draft, opens up more water to exploration
• Easier to beach and portage than Nauticrafts due to shallow draft, and lower weight
• Easier to paddle if other forms of propulsion fail, or are not available
• Easier to store when not in use

Disadvantages:

• Less comfortable when underway, more exposed to elements, and less room for stretching or shifting postion.
• Less space for gear stowage
• More issues with essential gear placement and accessibility (e.g. navigation, communication), and probably easier to lose things overboard.
• Less comfortable than Nauticrafts for sleeping on board