During many years working and living in Australia, I became aware of a number of boat designs, sourced from the USA, which might interest DCA members. Here are three examples. Plans are often available at very reasonable prices; contact details are given.

Caravelle 14

The least controversial, and the most familiar to British eyes, would be the Caravelle 14 dinghy. Perfect for those who like the Mirror but would like a little extra room. Built, like the Mirror, from plywood using the 'stitch and glue' method, she has a hull weight of 140-180 lbs. According to Clark Craft, who offer the plans, she is very stable, has an excellent load-carrying capacity, decent performance and is fast and easy to build. For those keen to rupture themselves raising the mast, it sports a Bermudan rig rather than a gunter. My 2001 Clark Craft catalogue lists the plans at $75. There are dozens of other plans in the catalogue, sailing craft, power boats, dinghies, canoes, house boats, etc. Clark Craft, 16 Aqua lane, Tonawanda, NY 14150 USA. Tel.(716) 873-26740

Meadow Bird 16

Appealing to those who would wish to build and sail an artefact of beauty, is this little gem of a trailerable pocket cruiser from Chesapeake Marine Design, not to be confused with Chesapeake Light Craft. Comparable in weight (650lbs) with a West Wight Potter, Meadow Bird is round-bilged and measures 16ft by 6ft beam by 1ft draft with the board up. She has a generous sail area and a tabernacle-stepped mast. Construction is strip plank on sawn frames. See 'Messing About In Boats' vol 22 no 15, 15.12.2004 for a photograph and an account of a cruise in Meadow Bird.

Catbird 16

Also from Chesapeake Marine Design is the Catbird 16, strange to our eyes but familiar to Americans. Designed as a cruising sharpie of trailerable size (16'x5'4"x1' board up, and weighing 350lbs) she is claimed to be ideal for 'day-sailing, beach cruising or camping aboard' – just what we do. In fact her flat-bottomed hull is the easiest type to build, and offers an 8ft long flat floor to sleep on, the first 6ft being covered by a nicely-proportioned cuddy. The rig needs neither boom vangs nor standing rigging and with no rig she can be tacked tending no more than the tiller. This boat, I think, deserves close scrutiny.

Study plans for both Meadow Bird 16 and Catbird 16 are listed at $5 each and full plans at $70 each in the catalogue from Chesapeake Marine Design, 794 Creek View Road, Severna Park, Maryland 21146 USA. Tel 1-800-376-3152.

Meadowbird and Catbird details and illustrations may be seen on www.cmdboats.com and the Caravelle is shown on www.clarkcraft.com, as are Percy Blandford's old designs, the Gremlin, the Tarpon and the Hornblower (a 22ft Lysander), which surprised me, as Clark Craft are an American company, of course. A novice's experiences building Caravelle are related – with pics – on http://personal.zahav.net.il/PersonalSite/gl/glbarak/boatbuilding.html Prices seem to have remained the same for all these designs. KM