Way up!  Welcome to the blog page for the Tom O Bedlam sailing canoe being built to sail in the Everglades Challenge a 300 mile 5 day coastal small boat raid in Southwest Florida.

About the Boat:
  The hull is based off of the Pearl #6 a sailing canoe built in England in the 1880's to compete against the Thames River Sailing Gigs.

The original was 14 feet, by adding a bit of space between all stations the Tom O will be 18 feet long, 33 inches wide and since the race runs in all weather I'm adding a bit more freeboard bringing hull height to about 18 inches.  The original carried 143 sq ft in a ketch rig, Tom O will carry slightly less at 139 sq ft, then again my hull will be carbon fiber and kevlar as opposed to the original in wood lapstrake so a few feet less are no problem for the lighter leaner hull.  The sails are to be Rushton Improved Bailey Batwing sails, simple fully battened sails that give quick and easy reefing.  I'm designing this boat in the English tradition of carrying lots of canvas and reefing frequently so this will be convenient.

While I wait for the ways to be cleared to start construction on Tom of Bedlam I have a 15 foot fiberglass canoe I'm converting into  a partially decked sailing canoe to use as a trainer while Tom O is being built.  I am just about finished with a modified batwing gunter main for it made out of polytarp to be a quick and dirty get on the water prototype.

Keep following the blog there are more pictures and updates to come on this great adventure!