 | Sir William Rule supervised the design of this hull in 1797 as the brig Cruiser, armed with sixteen 32 lb carronades and two 6 lb guns. The design was very successful, and was made the standard for 18 gun brigs for nearly 20 years. More than one hundred of these ships were built. They were fast sailers and very seaworthy. The Dutch 18 gun brigs Zwaluw, Mercuur and Kemphaan are very similar in design, in one instance recorded as being built to these lines, but without the square tuck stern. The Russian brig Olymp was also of the same mold. The design was later modified (the square tuck again being removed) to produce the 1812 class of 16 gun brigs, of which the Epervier (taken by the US in 1812) was one. We chose this ship for her simpler brig- as opposed to ship-rig, her excellent documentation in the book Modelling the Brig-of-War Irene by EW Petrejus ( a few copies in English still available!), and her suitable size. Our ship is armed with your choice of 6 lb guns and/or 32 lb carronades, has seven sails, the jib, forecourse, foretopsail, foretopgallant, main topsail, main topgallant and driver mainsail. The latter sail is supplied as a single-reefed version as well. The minimum sail she can carry is a reefed driver and full foresail. She has the standard servo configuration. A remarkably nimble sailer, she has tacked in winds gusting to 21 knots. Length on deck is 50" (1.27m) Hull weight is 31 lbs (14.1 kgs), Sailing weight is 72 lbs (32.7 kgs) Ballast keel weight is 41 lbs (18.6 kgs) Ready for sailing she is (extreme) 85" long, 72" high and 29" wide (2.2m x 1.8m x .74m). You can buy this kit as a series of component sets or as the complete kit. We will even do all or part of the building for you - prices for this are available upon application.
Component sets:
A. Hull decks and hull fittings: this is for the builder who perhaps has their own plans and a fair amount of knowledge of ships of the period. For the person who wants to make their own masts, spars, rigging, sails and deck fittings yet retain the choice of having the ship be a working model. Price $1,025.00, plus shipping.
B. Masts, standing rigging, sails and deck fittings: this allows the build of the complete ship (with A) without the working components required to allow her to sail. In building the kit you will be able to add the working components later or design and add your own. Price $1,050.00, plus shipping.
If you buy A and B together it would be $2,025.00 because we save a little packing time.
C. The working components: running rigging and fittings, servos and fittings, ballast keel and launching cart. This set allows you to turn your completed ship into a working sailing ship using our proven methods. Price $950.00, plus shipping.
The complete kit: Alternatively, buy the complete kit (and it is complete!): hull, decks, hull fittings, masts, standing rigging, sails, deck fittings, running rigging and fittings, servos and fittings, ballast keel and launching cart. Everything you need to build and sail except the 4-channel transmitter and receiver. Price $2,900.00, plus shipping. | |  | | | Grasshopper sailing | |  | | Grasshopper sailing large |
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