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Phoenix III Plans PDF
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Description
Additional information.
Click HERE for Phoenix III Study Plans
Phoenix III was designed for the builder of the first boat, Paul Hernes. Paul came to me in search of plans for a dinghy which could be sailed fast and far, rowed in such a way as to be more pleasure than pain, and to be able to accommodate a small outboard motor if the conditions required it.
As it happened, I already had a design which I had been working on for many years. She was to be the perfect beachcruiser for my own use, incorporating my idea of the optimum physical dimensions for solo and two-up cruising. The modeling was done using a wooden half model laid out according to the principal dimensions I had settled on after many years of small boat sailing and rowing.
Once the modeling was complete, I made a pantograph which allowed me to take off the sections, which I then drew up as a standard set of lines on my drawing board. These lines remained dormant for about six years until I was approached by Paul Hernes, who was in search of such a design. At the time I was moving workshop and house, so did not have free access to my board. As the job needed to be done straight away, I was forced to teach myself CAD - something I had always said I would never do. Oh well, we live and learn! It turned out to be a blessing in disguise, and it has had cascading benefits.
In order to get the lines into CAD, I initially put my hand-drawn dimensions into Greg Carlson's Hulls program to generate dxf files, and then transferred the dxf's into a conventional (i.e. nothing to do with boat design) drafting program - Autocad's entry-level program, Autosketch.
A major advantage of having taken the step of using a CAD program is that the need for lofting has been removed. The dimensions shown on the bulkheads and molds are accurate enough for direct use, and have been tested by the builder of the prototype.
She has been given a spritsail with a jib set flying (i.e. a jib which is not attached to a separate stay). The spritsail sloop is one of the few sloop rigs which can carry a jib effectively without stays, shrouds or backstays of any type. This is because the sprit places the head of the mainsail in tension, which is in turn translated into tension in the luff of the jib. Therefore, there are no stays on this boat at all - just place the mast into the step and partner, and off you go!
Considerable thought went into centreboard placement and design, as I really wanted the boat to balance under mainsail alone as well as under full sail. This she does quite well. In heavy conditions, raising the centerboard a bit eases the boat and moves the centre-of-lateral resistance aft. I've sailed her in thirty knot winds under reefed mainsail alone, and was quite comfortable (although I am battle hardened, as I also sail a wooden International Finn!).
The centerboard is of generous area, and the centerboard case extends under the main thwart. With a centerboard shape reminiscent of that seen in Swampscott Dories, PhoenixIII's centerboard provides plenty of "bury" in the case when fully lowered, while not interfering with the correct positioning of the rowing thwart.
The forward end of the centerboard case has been angled back so that it doesn't interfere with the mast stepping process. There is no need to lift the mast to put it through a hole in the deck - just place the foot of the mast in the step and push it forward into the mast partner. The whole process is a one-handed affair, which takes about thirty seconds.
I've long held the view that the smaller a boat is, the more she will be used, and with this in mind, Phoenix III has been kept to modest dimensions: -
The shape of the hull is a compromise, as is the case with all boats. The breadth has been kept reasonably small so that she can be rowed efficiently with easy-to-stow seven foot oars. A case could be made for a wider hull in order to increase initial stability and sail-carrying power, but I kept my nerve and stayed with a narrow boat. In addition to helping make the boat a pleasure to row, the slender breadth reduces weight, and results in a fine entry angle at the bow. The fine bow angle reduces pounding and helps to make her a dry boat.
The hull structure of Phoenix III is unusually open and free of clutter, relying on built-in components such as watertight bulkheads, rowing thwart and centerboard case to add rigidity to the glued-lapstrake (clinker/plywood) skin. The glued-lapstrake construction method produces a stressed-skin hull with a very good stiffness-to-weight ratio. Bonding of major components like the bulkheads adds greatly to the strength with little added weight.
I've put plenty of sail onto this boat, and for her to be able to stand up to it the rig needs to be kept low. The whole rig can easily be stowed within the length of the boat, making for hassle-free trailering.
Boomless sails are nice and simple, but they only drive a boat well if the sheeting geometry is correct. Phoenix III has been carefully designed from the outset to be able to operate without a boom on the mainsail. For those who prefer a boom (to ease sheeting loads, or to free up the choice of sheeting points), details for an optional boom are included with the plans package.
There are buoyancy tanks built-in under the fore and aft decks, as well as under the aft thwart. A small, self-draining outboard motor splash well is also built into the aft deck as can be seen in the next photo.
If you want to row, the proportions of the rowing position must be correct, and the oars must be of the proper length. Also, the freeboard (i.e. the height of the sides of the boat above the waterline) needs to be quite low. Phoenix III has been designed to fit in with all the old rules-of-thumb, and she rows very easily. Below is a photo of Paul Hernes rowing on the day of the very first launching. The centerboard case is shaped so as to allow the oarsman to lean back at the end of the stroke.
The hull is built upside-down on a normal strongback, details of which are in the plans. There are four permanent bulkheads and a number of temporary station molds made from MDF or construction ply.
All major components of the boat are made from 6mm (1/4") marine plywood, with small amounts of 12mm (1/2") for things such as the centerboard and rudder laminations. Paul Hernes used five sheets of 6mm (1/4") and part of a sheet of 12mm (1/2"). While she is not an "instant boat", a determined first time builder should be able to make a good job of construction as long as he or she does some homework first. I strongly recommend Iain Oughtred's excellent book, " Clinker Plywood Boatbuilding Manual" as well as John Brooks and Ruth Anne Hill's book, " How To Build Glued-Lapstrake Wooden Boats" .
As was so often advised by William Atkin and L. Francis Herreshoff, do not make changes to the design without consulting the designer. Everything in the design has been carefully thought through, and alterations could have serious consequences.
The plans consist of twenty-five A3 sheets of drawings, a small selection of photos, and an illustrated instruction manual of forty-odd pages. There are two separate editions of the plans - Imperial and Metric - you choose when you download the files
Click below for Phoenix III Study Plans
Click HERE for Metric Study Plans
Click HERE for Imperial Study Plans
Chuck, Just received Ross Lillistone's plans for the Phoenix III...and I honestly think I ripped him off. The plans are spectacular in their clarity and detail---but then there's the bound build book that's gotta be worth $30. all by itself. The photos throughout both the plans and the book are also amazing. My cat could build this boat (damn, I probably just blew my excuse if I screw this up, eh?) You gotta tell more people about this guy, especially the newer builders. Just don't tell Ross yet--no sense having him raise his prices until I buy the rest of his stuff. Thanks, David M
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Thursday, July 28, 2016
Phoenix iii - beachcruiser and daysailer.
- after 45 years of dinghy sailing, I settled on 15ft x 4ft 6ins (to the inside of the planking) as being the best compromise between light-weight and compact size on the one hand, and carrying capacity, speed and capability on the other. All of this viewed in the context of a single-hander, or a two person crew;
- good rowing geometry and performance;
- self-rescuing;
- trailerable;
- a selection of simple, traditional, interchangeable rigs, all using the same mast step and mast partner.
| The very first , beautifully built by Paul Hernes |
5 comments:
Well said. Thanks!
This comment has been removed by the author.
nice informative knowledge about Beachcruiser and Daysailer,thanks for sharing with us. Free Mcx Tips
What is LWL of Phoenix III and First Mate?
Which light boat weighs more Phoenix III or First Mate with fiberglass?
Building Phoenix III
A novice's guide to building this 15 foot daysailer, assembling the spars.
Ross has some excellent articles in his blog on how to assemble and glue the staves. I pretty well followed his advice to the letter. I was able to do most of the work single handed but it was a definite help to have some assistance for the gluing. My workshop arrangement was fairly simple, … More Assembling the spars
Spars – milling, measuring and cutting
I had already decided on two rigs, the sprit rig and the balanced lug and opted for booms for both. This meant five spars. I liked the idea of the birdsmouth method for the mast and yards and all the staves would be cut out from the longer plank of Sitka Spruce. The booms would … More Spars – milling, measuring and cutting
Making the centreboard and case
The centreboard was made at the same time as the rudder using the same stock plank of yellow cedar. It was milled to slightly thicker width and three sections were butt joined using epoxy. The centreboard shape was drawn directly onto the flattened board and cut out with the bandsaw and finished with the … More Making the centreboard and case
Making the Rudder
The 14 foot plank of yellow cedar that I collected from Stones Timber, in Salcombe, was to used for the rudder blade and centreboard. I had plans for a natural wood finish for the transom and also the rudder blade and case. The first job was to prepare the stock to an appropriate thickness. The … More Making the Rudder
Making Oars
Ross provides plans for seven and a half foot oars based on a Peter Culler design. The two planks of Sitka Spruce were both nearly 17 foot in length and three inches thick. My first plan was to use one plank for both of the oars and the other for all of the spars. This … More Making Oars
Selecting the Wood
Marine softwood for spars, centreboard and rudder Now the garage had a bit more room I was able to start considering ordering wood. Stones Marine Timber, based in Salcombe, Devon, was highly recommended. After leaving a telephone message, I was soon rang back by Tristan Stones, who runs the timber side of an interesting family … More Selecting the Wood
Building logistics
My workshop is a single garage. As well as the workbench There is a bandsaw, planer thicknesser, table saw and lathe. All the equipment is on wheels and can be moved around as needed. The length of the garage is 18 foot just long enough to accommodate a 16 foot strong back. I planned to … More Building logistics
The plans arrive
Ross Lillistone plans are fantastic value. There is a choice of a paper based A3 folder or an instant electronic download. Both come with a choice of either metric or imperial measurements. I ordered the paper metric plans and coming from Australia, I was surprised how quickly they arrived. They looked very impressive with an … More The plans arrive
Pertinent features of Phoenix III
15 foot Lightweight Primarily built for Single handed helm Manages 2-3 adult crew Seaworthy Choice of simple rigs Easy to row Able to take small outboard Straightforward build Good designer support Positive owner feedback
Questions that might be helpful when considering choice of dinghy design
For the benefit of other novices that are thinking about building a boat I have listed the questions that helped me choose Phoenix III 1) Will I be sailing single handed or with a crew. Larger boats can take 2-3+ adult crew members easily and in comfort but some designs require at least one crew … More Questions that might be helpful when considering choice of dinghy design
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Phoenix III by Ross Lillistone
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Sailboats; Open Sailboats 14' up; Phoenix III Plans PDF; Phoenix III Plans PDF. LOA: 15' / 4.572m SKU: ROSS-PHOENIX3-ID Availability: Available for download after checkout UPC: MPN: $135.00. Current Stock: Quantity: Decrease Quantity of Phoenix III Plans PDF Increase ...
Phoenix III was designed for the builder of the first boat, Paul Hernes. Paul came to me in search of plans for a dinghy which could be sailed fast and far, rowed in such a way as to be more pleasure than pain, and to be able to accommodate a small outboard motor if the conditions required it. ... All major components of the boat are made from ...
My brother built a Phoenix III a few years back (76 sq ft balance lug rig), and with lots of time sailing it on double/solo cruising trips (including the Everglades Challenge and the Texas 200), I have to say this is as close to perfect as a sail-and-oar type cruising boat can get.
This is Paul Hernes' Phoenix III sailing on a broad reach in light conditions. The other boat is a Welsford Navigator. Paul's Phoenix III is being sailed wit...
Phoenix III is a relatively narrow boat, being 4ft 9in over the gunwales (less to the outside of the planking) on an overall length of 15ft 1-1/2in, so her ability to stay on her feet was something to which I gave a lot of thought. The primary rig was deliberately laid out to allow the mainsail to be set correctly without a boom. ...
Introduction to the Phoenix III sailing dinghy design by Ross Lillistone
Phoenix III - Beachcruiser and Daysailer. after 45 years of dinghy sailing, I settled on 15ft x 4ft 6ins (to the inside of the planking) as being the best compromise between light-weight and compact size on the one hand, and carrying capacity, speed and capability on the other. All of this viewed in the context of a single-hander, or a two ...
Phoenix III A fifteen foot Beachcruiser for Sail, Oar, and Small Outboard Designed by Ross Lillistone Phoenix III was designed for the builder of the first boat, Paul Hernes. Paul came to me in search of plans for a dinghy which could be sailed fast and far, rowed in such a way as to be more pleasure than pain, and to be able to
By Ross Lillistone - Esk, Queensland - Australia. Phoenix and Her Sisters. It is now more than five years since the first boat was built to my Phoenix III design. The concept came about because of a decision I had come to about the optimum size for a solo or two-up coastal cruising dinghy. For much of my life I had been sailing a 15ft 2in x 5ft ...
Phoenix III makes the shortlist. Posted on November 1, 2015 by jonathanmichaelparsons. A background in amateur cabinetmaking, retirement, a move to the South Coast and a return to dinghy sailing all came together in 2013. This was quickly followed by a decision to build a wooden boat, something I had never done before.
November 1, 2015. For the benefit of other novices that are thinking about building a boat I have listed the questions that helped me choose Phoenix III 1) Will I be sailing single handed or with a crew. Larger boats can take 2-3+ adult crew members easily and in comfort but some designs require at least one crew ….
Like other boat building projects constructing Phoenix III was accomplished step by step, guided by the accurate set of drawings and excellent manual from the designer, Ross Lillistone. Each new step was an interesting little puzzle and once accomplished, was very satisfying. That was a good thing because there were a lot of steps. Don't ask ...
09-25-2013, 05:00 PM. Re: Ross Lillistone's PHOENIX III. I finished my Phoenix III in March this year after a 12 month build, Ross's plans and guide notes were excellent and made it very easy for a first build. I built both sprit sloop and balance lug rigs bur mostly sail the balance lug solo in windy Wellington New Zealand.
The Phoenix III is Ross Lillistone's most popular design, but its glued-lapstrake construction, with its bevels and gains, was not the easiest method for nov...
Phoenix III by Ross Lillistone completed 2022, Glued lapstrake Meranti marine ply, experienced builder. Great day sailer for 1 or 2. Comes with custom oars, professionally made Dacron sail, tarp, optional aluminum trailer. Balanced lug rig - quick to set up. $8,000, or $9,000 with trailer. www.boatworksottawa.ca
Phoenix III is 4' 8" to the outside of the wide gunwale, I think; maybe 4' 6" interior. The difference is that Walkabout's cockpit goes on for the entire length of the boat, pretty much. The Phoenix III's open cockpit ends at the rowing thwart. DSCF7531.jpg.
I bought Ross Lillistone's plans for Phoenix III, and the level of detail is amazing. The Phoenix III is my idea of the ultimate boat being attractive, a manageable size, and with the possibilities of rowing, sailing, or an outboard motor. The project is on hold due to the intimidation factors of lapstrake and a rounded hull.
PHOENIX III is a 24.38 m Motor Yacht, built in the United Kingdom by Fairline and delivered in 2009. She is one of 10 Squadron 78 models. Her top speed is 35.0 kn, her cruising speed is 23.0 kn, and she boasts a maximum cruising range of 660.0 nm at 11.0 kn, with power coming from two Caterpillar diesel engines.
I built a Phoenix III, a 15' sailboat designed by Ross Lillistone. 253 photos · 9,634 views.
Raising the balance lugsail option on a Phoenix III sailing dinghy designed by Ross Lillistone.
It's been quite enjoyable and I'm learning more about boat building myself. Now, in Spring 2020, we're mentoring students from Meek High School who are building a more complicated boat, a 15′ Phoenix III with a Sprit Sail Rig, designed by Ross Lillistone. This will be a plywood lapstrake design. Follow along on the Construction Blog Here.
Phoenix III A fifteen foot Beachcruiser for Sail, Oar, and Small Outboard Designed by Ross Lillistone Phoenix III was designed for the builder of the first boat, Paul Hernes. Paul came to me in search of plans for a dinghy which could be sailed fast and far, rowed in such a way as to be more pleasure than pain, and to be able to accommodate a ...
08-05-2011, 12:04 PM. Re: A Phoenix III in the North Channel. We finished the day by sailing along the south shore of Fox Island; the chart showed a tiny horseshoe bay. Even knowing it was there we almost missed it: DSCF1640.jpg. It came with a nice jumping off rock: DSCF1637.jpg.