Row for Exercise. Sail for Pleasure. A magic Adventure boat. in CRABTREE, Tasmania for sale

Row for exercise, Sail for pleasure. A magic Adventure boat.
● Whole-body low impact sliding seat rowing – beats cycling any day.
● Light-weight slim hull with a simple and very effective rig – sails like a dream.
● Self-draining cockpit and sealed stowage – set yourself up for adventure and serious fun.
Happy Jack was the third Derwent Raider built. The plank patterns were taken from Happy Jack to complete the Derwent Raider kits and have been used successfully on boat numbers 4, 5 and now 6.
Happy Jack was launched Feb 2013 and has been used to test and confirm practical and performance details. For example, the balance has been tested in light through to heavy sailing conditions and confirmed that Happy Jack remains in beautiful balance across this range and at all angles of heel. This is quite an achievement and is one of the reasons that she sails so fast. It puts a big grin on your face.
The height setting of the riggers has also been optimized so that you can row with maximum comfort while getting great exercise in an uncompromisingly good setting – on the water in an exceptional boat. Picture yourself confidently taking a stroke, the hull running freely as you then come forward for the next stroke. The lean hull allows you to make long journeys if you choose. But there is sufficient stability so that you can get up and move around and access food and clothing – whatever the goodies are that you have in the sealed buoyancy tanks.
The construction is glued clinker/lapstrake using 4mm light-weight marine ply. The ply is treated in epoxy wood preserver and then coated with multiple coats of spar varnish. The deck is something very special from the past – Australian Red Cedar with a Huon Pine inlay on the foredeck. The structure is sophisticated, light and strong. It has been professionally built by the designer, Allan Witt. The lack of metal fastenings in the hull and deck, plus the uncluttered self-draining cockpit, ensure that the boat is easily maintained and has a longevity that will exceed traditional wooden boats. If you know of Witt Design furniture, Happy Jack is of the same high standard.
This is an amazing opportunity for the ultimate single handed adventure boat. It is 4.5m long and easily lifted and put in the water by two people when fully rigged. The bare hull is amazingly light. If you would like to participate in the Living Boat Trust’s raid (rowing and sailing in company) leading up to the next Australian Wooden Boat Festival next Feb, this is your chance. Happy Jack participated in a mini raid (TN14) earlier this year and proved its performance handsomely. The forward compartment stowed the tent, sleeping bag and much of the food. The aft compartments stowed snacks, sun cream and other conveniences. It was easy to switch from rowing to sailing while on the water and surfing down the short waves in the D’entrecasteaux Channel was a blast. Happy Jack sails to windward effortlessly and the fine hull does not get stopped by chop.
Allan will be delivering another Derwent Raider kit to Victoria in the next couple of days. So, if you are on the mainland, Allan can bring Happy Jack across from Tassie on his car at low cost. Allan is open to negotiation as to how far he can travel, so please contact him. This easy way of getting Happy Jack across Bass Straight (other than an island hop in good weather) will disappear soon. If this is relevant for you, call Allan immediately on ******** 510 + click to reveal .
Allan is selling Happy Jack because all the design development work is done. It is now time to invest in the marketing for Derwent Raiders and Derwent Skiffs.
PS The oars are Croker oars and the sail is Doyle. The oars are effectively new and the sail has had just one season’s use.