The SCAMP appears to be gaining some serious support with adventure sailors, why would you say this is?
Gordon UK
JW : SCAMP is only 12 ft. long, fits in a standard single car garage, can be towed by a small four cylinder family car, but will carry up to 6 adults, sleeps one or two with enough stores and equipment for a couple of weeks away, is stable, I mean REALLY stable, I cant capsize one by standing on the rail and leaning back, has shelter, enormous buoyancy, and in the words of one of the early test crews “sails like a freight train full of witches”.
All that plus it’s an achieveable home build, especially from the excellent kitset, and there is a rapidly growing community of owners among whom the social aspect of owning a SCAMP has become an important part of their lives.
There are very few boats which fit all of those points.
We know, don't we, that far more plans get sold than boats get built. What do you think are the barriers that stops potential boat builders in their tracks, and what can we do about it?
Gavin UK
JW: There are many factors here, and I could write forever and still not cover all of them but I feel that the glossy magazines are near the head of the list. If one believes all that is printed, you’d think that the skills of a master tradesman and the budget of a millionaire are required. The small and simple boats are so rarely featured that the impression one would get is that they are not relevant so people tend to buy plans for boats beyond their means in terms of budget, space, time and skills.
All of which means that people don’t see themselves as able to do a decent job of building their own little dreamship.
But interestingly enough the number of small homebuilt boats is growing again. They once were numerous and so common as to not cause comment, but today they attract attention wherever they go.
I think that by getting the owner built boats out and about, talking to people about them, writing in any media available, making help available and metaphorically waving a flag that says “hey, you can do this” we can continue to make converts to the cause.
Four SCAMPs.
JW: "Each year, small boat adventurer Howard Rice and I run a build class for these boats, and for those who built at previous classes we run a SCAMP specific sailing class, here are four of the class members lined up on the beach behind Rat Island, across the channel from Port Townsend WA, USA where the build classes are held. We’re stopped for lunch, more adventures to come!"
Above: JW"CRD.. The interior, lots of space, a cargo capacity of around a ton, can be paddled, and the motor is protected when operating through surf. I heard some years ago that there had been around 1200 of these built, and I know that there have been a lot more since."
Left : JW: "Here is Simeon tucked up for the night. SCAMP is a near perfect camp cruiser, shelter, space, lots of dry storage, water ballast to keep her steady, and if there are two of you its no problem to put spreaders
across between the seat rails. Instant queen size bunk. All in 12 ft." http://smallcraftadvisor.com/scamp-sailboat/
9.