Chapter 23

Weasels

AN 11'-4" CATBOAT WITH 5'-6" BEAM. THE HULL DRAFT IS 8" AND THE DRAFT WITH THE CENTERBOARD DOWN IS 2-6".

The Weasel was developed by Palmer Scott and Company, Inc., New Bedford, Mass., as a small family boat at a popular price. The cat rig was adopted as being the most efficient for a boat of this size. Situated as the builders are on Buzzards Bay, adjacent to Cape Cod, it was natural for them to use the cat rig, for the rig was developed in this area approximately 100 years ago.

The boat is of rugged wood construction and, since it has no ballast, is unsinkable. It has a forward deck, waterways along the sides, and a coaming around the cockpit, so it is more seaworthy than any skiff or dinghy-type boats that have no decks, waterways, or coamings. The generous beam, a characteristic of the catboat since its inception, makes the boat extremely stable.

Since it is a center boarder, the boat can be used in the many shallow bays and ponds throughout our country. Note in the accompanying drawing that the rudder does not extend below the skeg. This means that the boat can be sailed in 9 in. of water when the centerboard is up. Of what use is a pivoting centerboard if the rudder sticks down two or three feet in the water?

 A strong oak transom and the V-bottom design combine to make the boat perform well with an outboard motor developing up to 5 hp. The large, roomy cockpit will accommodate four adults with ease. When desired, the whole rig, mast and all, can be removed in a matter of minutes. The adaptability to use with an outboard, the easily demountable rig, and the moderate weight make the Weasel a superb trailer boat.

Note rudder doesn't extend below skeg— boat can be sailed in 9 in. of water.

Right: Optional gaff-headed rig can be quickly demounted and stowed in boat.

Left: Racing at Fishers Island. This is one of several large Weasel fleets.

It is ideal for novices to learn to sail in, yet with its generous sail area (90 sq. ft.), it is good fun for all of the family. There are several large fleets of these boats now racing. A great deal of thought has been given to make them inexpensive to maintain. The framework is oak, the decking and planking are plywood, the fittings are bronze, and the standing rigging is galvanized. Standard equipment includes a dock line, a sail, a sail bag and a boom crotch. The boats have white topsides, green bottoms, and buff decks and cockpits. The price of each Weasel at the builder's yard is $395.

Not included in the price, but available as extras, are oars, rowlocks, life preservers, a compass, a sponge, a swab, a pump, a 10-lb. anchor, 15 fathoms of anchor line, and a cockpit tent that goes over the boom.

Dimensions of the boat are 11 ft. 4 in. long, 10 ft. on the water line, 5 ft. 6 in. beam, 8 in. hull draft, and 2 ft. 6 in. draft with centerboard down.

Fig. A. This under-stairs storage area is limited by split-level design of basement. If your staircase runs from ceiling to floor, storage area can be correspondingly larger.

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