Matinicus 18
Background and Philosophy

Beach-Cruisers and Explorer Boats: A Wide-open Category

There are many definitions in the recreational boating world for what constitutes an ideal beach-cruiser or so-called "explorer boat." In fact, because the "perfect" boat really depends on a given user's requirements (large? small? cabin? boom tent? enclosed head? speed? engine? etc.) it's no surprise that there is such a wonderful diversity of boats available within this niche.

Here are some of the ideas that contributed to the design of our Matinicus 18.

Multi-purpose Boats

At LaBrie Small Craft, our concept of the ideal explorer boat is a modern wood-composite interpretation of traditional North Atlantic row-sail skiff designs. We actually prefer the term "multi-purpose boat" as our ideal boat is flexible enough for things as varied as an afternoon's rowing, a daysailing trip, a weekend spent camp-cruising with a friend or even, with some forethought, a technically challenging extended sailing expedition.

Safety First

Probably because we sail mostly in cold North Atlantic waters we consider safety to be of primary importance. We strongly feel that an explorer boat should not be over-canvassed (racing is best done in racing craft) and its rig should be easily reefed, or struck, as needed; not only at the launch site but also at sea, say, if suddenly caught out in an impending squall. There should be large amounts of flotation built-in and the flotation should be properly placed (important) so that the boat can be easily self-rescued in the unlikely event of a capsize.

Stability should be inherent in the form, if possible; ease of use implies that the boat ideally should not have to rely on ballast.

Versatility

An ideal boat should be easy to launch and use; so easy that you don't even think twice about taking the boat out for just an hour or two! Simple boats get used -- a lot! Ease of trailering goes beyond launching and retrieving; it also means that the boat should be easy to tow and not consume lots of fuel in the process. The boat and trailer should be towable by a compact car.

Open-boat designs are more flexible than boats with built-in compartments, "conveniences," etc. Further, an open-boat design is more easily customized to the requirements of a given buyer.

Lightweight. Low Maintenance.

A desirable boat is both light and strong. It should also be low-maintenance. Modern composite construction techniques and materials, in conjunction with locally-available and renewable materials, will allow the builder to create a boat that is both.

We also believe in the use of high-quality, easily-obtained "off-the-shelf" blocks, cleats, etc., minimizing the use of custom-cast or built parts whenever possible. By the same token, the mast, yard, etc. should be easy to repair or replace, locally, if need be. This means that your boat will always be up and sailing, no matter where in the world you are; from experience we know that nothing is worse than having a vacation short-changed waiting for a custom part to be delivered.

Size

The ideal boat should be large enough to be comfortable yet not so large that the boat cannot fit into a standard garage (or into a standard 20' ocean shipping container!). A survey of traditional craft suggests that 17'-18' boats were once quite popular. The boat should be beamy enough to allow two 6-1/2' X 2' berths (one on each side of the centerboard trunk) for two friends, or a cruising couple, to sleep comfortably under the stars (or a boom tent). On the other hand, beam should not be so excessive as to preclude rowing.

Shoal-water Capability

The ideal explorer boat should have shoal (shallow) water capability. Nothing is more pleasant than to have an entire cove to yourselves for a night, because other larger boats could not sneak in due to their deeper draft. Furthermore, with a flat-bottom, the ability to sit upright on a mudflat, on an outgoing tide, is most handy!

The bottom material used should be able to withstand repeated beachings and intentional groundings. The foils should also be able to withstand the occasional bumps and bruises that are the inevitable result of poking a boat into tiny/shallow places.

Design Summary

Condensing the above, we believe that there are 5 fundamental requirements to creating an optimum open-boat design:

1. Light and Strong. Low Maintenance.
2. Flat-bottomed. Shoal Draft.
3. Seaworthy. Safe.
4. Multiple Means of Propulsion.
5. Multiple Use Categories.

We are pleased that our Matinicus 18 -- based on the Maine peapod -- fits these requirements very nicely.