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I. How To Sail
1. All About2. Boating Terms
3. Boating Terms #2
4. Illustrated
5. Illustrated #2
6. Hulls
7. Hulls #2
8. Rig-and Why?
9. Rig-and Why? #2
10. Makes Her Go?
11. We Go Aboard
12. Setting Sail
13. We're Off!
14. We're Off! #2
15. We Graduate
16. We Graduate #2
17. Racing Tactics
18. Boat Caring
II. Miscellaneous Information
19. Trailer20. Reefing
III. One-Design And Development-Class Sailboats
21. Rebels22. Nippers
23. Weasels
24. Stars
25. Wood-Pussy
26. One-Designs
27. L-16 Class
28. L-18 Class
29. L-24 Class
30. Penguins
31. Oslo Class
32. Dinghy
33. Comets
34. Snipes
35. Beetle Cats
36. Beetle Cats #2
37. Dyer Dinks
38. Rhodes Bantams
39. Lightings
40. 210 Class
41. The "S" Class
42. Atlantics
43. Optimists
44. Ravens
45. Hamptons
46. Thistles
47. 14-Foot Dinghies
48. 14-Foot Dinghies #2
49. 110 Class
50. Stropped Blocks
51. Maintenance
Resources
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| Chapter 28 |
| L-18 Class |
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This is a beautifully designed and constructed little knockabout from Luders Marine Construction Co., Stamford, Conn. Luders was one of the pioneers in manufacturing molded-plywood boats. In developing this design, the paramount requirement was to make the craft non-cap sizable and nonsinkable. To accomplish this, a watertight bulkhead is installed at each end of the cockpit, forming a forward and an after flotation compartment, either of which will provide more than sufficient buoyancy to keep the boat and crew afloat should the cockpit become water-filled. These bulkheads also give rigidity to the hull and have convenient watertight openings for access and ventilation.
The cast-iron keel has a bulb weighing 400 lbs. that will bring the vessel upright even after a complete knockdown. The eight-foot cockpit is a comfortable place in which to be; several people can lounge on the inclined seats and there is ample knee space.
The modern, planing hull is as fast as similar-size boats to windward and will run away from considerably larger boats when running free. It is lively under sail and easy on the tiller, and has an almost unbelievably quick getaway.
Only three stainless-steel stays are used in the standing rigging. Thanks to the sturdy aluminum mast and boom, no spreaders or backstays are needed. The sail area of 195 sq. ft. is ample for usual summer weather. Nylon sheets and halyards of stainless-steel wire with nylon tails are lead to convenient cleats.
For durability, the inner and outer laminations of the five-ply molded-plywood hull are made of mahogany. The seats and floor boards are of spruce and are supported by spruce bilge stringers. The plywood deck is laid on closely spaced beams. Spar varnish is used to finish the hull inside and out and nonskid cream-color paint is employed on the deck.
No calking is required from season to season because the smooth molded-plywood construction is free from the shrinking and swelling of conventional planking. All that's needed each spring is a light sandpapering and a fresh coat of paint and varnish.
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