John Welsford's Walkabout

Walkabout is lap-strake sail- and row-boat designed by John Welsford for single-handed cruising.

Walkabout profile

Cross section about mid-ships, with tent

Profile with sails furled and tent cabin

Specifications:

• Length: 16' 2"(4.9 m)
• Beam: 5' 0"(1524 mm)
• Weight: 200 pounds (92 kg)
• Water Line Length: 14' 7" (4.4 m)
• Water Line Width: 4' 3" (1285 mm)
• WLL/WLW Ratio: 3.5:1
• Hull Speed: 5.1 knots, 9.5 kph, 5.9 mph
  
  

Rick Thompson's Custom Walkabout

Rick Thompson's Modified Walkabout:

• Stretched LOA by 8% to 17' 10" (5.44 m) to accommodate two rowers. Rick said that using two rowers did not significantly increase speed and says that for long distances, it is better for the two rowers to take turns rather than both rowing together.
• Used a single lug rig (designed by John Welsford) rather than the original yawl rig.
• Replaced the fixed seat rowing with a sliding seat.
• Eliminated the dagger board and dagger board case.
• Replaced the tiller with rope steering (Rick only uses the sail for downwind sailing).
• Changed the shape of the cockpit coaming to make the build easier.
• Modified the stern compartment to provide more storage space and added a large access hatch, plus top hatches to access the side compartments.
• Redesigned the tent shelter in order to use laminated bows rather than removable bent rods.
• Added a bowsprit to hold the anchor.

Summary-Pros:

• Traditional lapstrake hull with decking and coamings makes Walkabout very seaworthy.
• Lots of room for storage of supplies and equipment.
• Cockpit is large enough to move around.
• Rows comfortably at a cruising speed of 3.5 knots (6.5 kph, 4.0 mph) according to Rick Thompson.
• Plans include details of a shelter.
• A perfect oar cruiser... no need for modifications.

Summary-Cons:

• Windage on the hull makes her a little more difficult to row in cross-winds.
• Boat is too heavy to car-top.
  
  

Preparing for the Next Day's Cruise:

The watch alarm buzzed her awake at 4:00 am so she could be rowing by sunup on one of the longest days of the year… opened the insulated canister of oatmeal, nuts and dried fruit she had covered with boiling water the evening before… water was starting to heat for the green tea… ate breakfast along with a banana… retrieved a half-dozen energy bars, an orange, apple and 4 bottles of water from the aft compartment for the day’s fuel she’ll need, and stored all in ‘ready-nets’ hanging under the side decks. Unhooked the tent, stored it in the forward compartment along with her sleeping pad, light blanket and luxurious feather pillow she always brought… washed out the canister, cup and spoon… While a fresh cup of water was coming to boil, she added a mix of beans, bacon bits and bit of cayenne pepper to the insulated canister, added the boiling water, shook it to mix the ingredients and put it aside for tonight’s hot dinner… put away the ‘soda-can’ alcohol stove in the utensil box and stored the box in the aft compartment…pulled the anchor in, and after washing off the mud, stored it on the bowsprit…Untied the oars and set out in perfectly calm, windless waters, easy strokes initially, just as the sun came up. She thought; “Oh my God… thank You… it’s perfect.”