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Plans Review: Pixie - Woods Designs
| Boat Name | Pixie |
| Links to Order | Woods Designs, Woodenboat Store |
| Building Method | Stitch & Glue |
| Length / Beam | 14' LOD / 7' Beam |
| Sail Plan / Sail Area | Main 90 ft2 Jib 35 ft2 |
| Weight | 140 Lbs. Each hull 40 lbs |
| Draft | Looks to be about 1 foot (There are no boards) |
| Sleeps | 0 |
| Power | N/A |
| Crew | 1-2 |
| Number of sheets in plan set | 3 plans sheets, 1 study plan, 1 materials list |
| Sheet 1 | Hull layouts, bulkheads, hull assembly, inwales |
| Sheet 2 | Rudder details, stitch and glue (fileting), deck panels |
| Sheet 3 | Sail plan, running & standing rigging, trampoline |
| Buildboats.com Review | Pixie is a 14' catamaran that looks to be a good project for the home boat builder based on her size, building method and her usability once completed. The plans come from Woods Designs in the UK, although Woodenboat sells them in the US. Usually plans I review are provided to me by the designer, this set I purchased ebay (Please note, I did not request plans from this designer). The plans include 1 8x11 materials list, 1 page study plan and three sheets of building plans. She is assembled one hull at a time in stitch and glue fashion, (ply-epoxy as the designer notes). The plan sheets have measurements both in English measure (inches) and metric. The building of each hull is akin to building a kayak in this method. Hull panels are drawn by marking station lines, marking measurements along these points then using a long, thin wooden batten to connect the dots. One unique twist to help keep the hulls from twisting is a building bench made from OSB or similar 16' x 2' with a cutout for the hull to fit in while stitching and gluing. Having built a few S&G boats myself, I think this would be very helpful, especially for the builder who works by himself. The finished boat does not require boards due to the deep V shape of the hulls, which is one (or two) less things to transport, and setup. Her cross beams fit into pockets in the top of each hull, so no hardware is needed to attach them for assembly. Her overall weight is 160 lbs., with each hull being a manageable 40 lbs. each (again about the same as a 14' kayak). So one could car top solo. Pixie looks like she would be a fun project to build an sail, and a good choice for the single handed builder/sailer who may not have a lot space. She looks like a fast ride and would lauch and land nicely from the beach. The one word of advice is that a catamaran is like building two boats (the hulls) which is a builders decision to make, it depends on ones perspective, it could double the fun. A good design for the home builder.
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