The Core Sound Series - Page 2

More about the Core Sound Series

The Core Sound series Open cockpit daysailors were designed by Graham Byrnes Naval Architect of B&B Yacht Designs in North Carolina. In addition to coming in first overall and breaking the course record in 2006, Graham also competed in the Florida Everglades challenge race in 2005 and came in second in his class.

The cat ketch rig

He was far and away in first place until the final evening of the sail in a passage unfamiliar to him. With strengthening winds and falling darkness he opted to sit out the night and wait for first light to make the final passage home. This proved wise as when they started in as morning allowed visibility they promptly went aground. Very torturous and poorly marked passages are the rule in this final leg of the race. The opportunity to win the race was taken by the experienced crew of the Norseboat 17.5, designed by Chuck Paine , that had sailed the prior year and they took advantage of the opportunity and overcame the CS 17's superior sailing abilities. The NorseBoat sailors had an extended conversation with Graham after the race complimenting him on the design and how it walked away from them most of the race and seemed to sit up on her feet a whole lot better.

The unstayed Cat Ketch rig is easy to sail. The CS series have an awful lot going for them. A very strong sail carrying platform given it's wide beam that carries well aft. The CS series will readily pop up on plane and stay up in double digit boat speeds with about 10 knots of wind. The longitudinal seats on both sides of the boat all the way to the deck provides a very spacious cockpit, doubles as berths if you opt for a canvas tent on deck for night use, and also provides tremendous positive buoyancy in case of a knockdown. Once the boat is recovered, barely a few inches of water remains in the cockpit that can be readily evacuated with an Anderson Bailer right through the hull bottom.

The boat also features a very large forward storage space under the deck, the option of an aft deck with storage, or aft seat as my prior client opted for and the option of storage compartments under the seats.

In spite of her energetic sailing characteristics, she is easily handled;
even with the designer's 2 1/2 year old grandson on the helm.

The rig is an unstayed Cat Ketch rig with sprit booms. Very economical and handy in many respects. Very low rigging cost, the sprit boom vangs the sail minimizing mainsheet forces and very effectively controls main and mizzen sail twist. Not having shrouds means the masts will bend some in the puffs effectively depowering the rig and eliminates sail chafe. Also, a Cat Ketch rig is self tacking, eliminates issues of the jib hanging up on the shrouds, is a pleasure to gybe, and when sailing down wind you can allow your sails to feather forward to slow yourself, steady your travel, and even to slow to but a drift.

A Cat ketch also greatly simplifies sail balance and can even help turn you around quickly without rudder control. It also allows you to Heave too with amazing ease by simply sheeting in the aft sail and allowing the forward to run free. Double sheeting on both sails mean you can trim the sail easily from either tack.

If you have access to The Sharpie Book by Ruel Parker you can read many exploits of the North Carolina Sharpies from which the CS series hails from.

On a more personal note ...

Sea trial day with Bruce's Core Sound 20,
built by Great Falls Boat Works

I was extremely pleased and impressed with the boats very high initial stability when I had a chance to go out on the boat I built Bruce. The hull form has just the right amount of rocker that it is an excellent performer in light airs, as well as a walkaway performer as the wind pipes up and it surges ahead on plane. The helm is light and responsive in all wind conditions. Yet the hull form also makes it an exceptionally comfortable boat when maneuvering aboard with out the sails up and just wanting to relax at anchor.

Graham has designed other options for the hull form too. There are plans to have both masts on tabernacles to have hinges to simply put the masts up making rigging the boat for launch faster. Graham has also done preliminary work to rig the boat as a gaff sloop and I believe also the possibility as a cutter. He has also drawn up plans for a small cabin roof with a sloop rig. There are actually 3 mast steps on the stock boat plan, the fore and aft ones and a third one just fore of the deck coaming for use as a severely reefed position. The boat I built for Bruce featured fixed masts with mast track riveted on so reefing was a simple and easy procedure.

As I am building you a custom boat in a semi production environment I find it works best to find out exactly how you want your boat built and completed before quoting an exact price. Once you decide the CoreSound 17 is the right boat for you and you want me to build one we will then spend some time on the phone discussing what options and materials you want your CoreSound built with. I will then work up a price and we can add or delete as you see fit in order to best fit your budget.

To give a rough ballpark estimate:

I offer base boats of BS 1088 ply, fully painted in light color of your choice inside and outside, modified epoxy bottom paint, rigging and sails for $12,500.00.

Numerous options and upgrades can be had that can raise the final price to the $16,000.00 range, and even somewhat higher if you opt for boat canvas such as a bimini and or dodger.

This price compares exceedingly well to most other production fiberglass boats in the same size range. Modifications and deviations from plans are priced on request.

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