DESIGN # TR TRUANT SHEET ONE Building Truant

Designer JOHN WELSFORD

There is more information in the BOAT index at www.woodenboat.net.nz

Design Notes; Truant is an easily built little gem of a boat which with its simple lugsail rig would make a great father and son project. It is in my opinion ideal for the concept where a group of mates build one each and use them to go exploring and camping together. Perhaps when you all get to old to go sea kayaking together this will be the next phase in your life.
Truant will take a small outboard very well and her potential as a fishing and knockabout boat with the benefit of a 'hot spare' rolled up in the boat in case the outboard spits the dummy needs exploring too.
Editor

Length 3.5m 11ft 6in
Beam 1.63m 5ft 4-1/2in
Weight 70kg 154 Ibs
Sail Area 7.15 sq m 80sqft

TRUANT was designed for people who wish to go pottering about the bay with a fair chance that they won't get wet. She grew out of a discussion with Wooden Boat's Carl Cramer and a February midnight swim (madness they told me and I'm inclined to think they were right) in Eggemoggin Reach, just down from the Magazine's office.
Truant has a very stable hullform, enough buoyancy to keep two adults fully afloat when the boat is swamped and a rig that has been matched with the boat's exceptional stability and generally traditional styling.

Frames, centrecase and lower stringers fitted.

Stringers on, bottom panel on, seat front panels in and the topsides being fitted.

Scribing the forward chime panel to the topsides and bottom panels is a fiddly job.

Unusually beamy, she's still very slippery underneath.
Here I am bevelling off the forward bulkhead to take the side and bottom panels.

Scribing the seat panels

The boat's huge interior is evident with the seats loose fitted; the spaces under the seats
and foredeck are all sealed to provide buoyancy, but can be accessed through ports.

Trying Truant for leg space. There is a lot of space for an 11ft 6in boat.

Yes, she could be used as a cruiser! A filler piece to cover the foot well would make a very large flat area.

RIGHT LETS SEE HOW IT FLOATS