Designed by Edward R. Weber
Gulf Coast is a double-ended centerboard sloop, to be built of plywood. She measures 20’ x l5’ó” x 6’71/2” x 5” draft and carries 175 square feet of sail
Winds are strong down on the Gulf and the barometer is often taking those exciting plunges which bring along endless foaming breakers from over Mexico way. Rain squalls drive in and small boats seek haven in the bayous and inlets where, from protection, one can hear the storm whistling overhead. Days during the summer are often as not enlivened with quick thrusting storms and squalls which back up against the wind and drive down rain in powerful gusts. The detested North winds that sweep down with heat and continue for days are known actually to drive water out of certain harbors. In the inlets and bayous are underwater stumps of old cypress and the water is never deep except over springs and in the channels. Along the coast proper are long chains of low sand islands and bars lying awash in blue Gulf water and hot sun. For such sailing grounds—among the best in the world—special types of yachts and boats are needed. Motor yachts with more than usual ventilation and little draft, insulated and able to stand heavy weather in the chop and steep seas the shallow waters develop. Sailing yachts need the ability to carry huge spreads of canvas and still shorten down quickly to storm rig. The South has many latent powers and possibilities—among the greatest are her shipping, fishing and yachting—and the day is here when the South can demand and get the boats she needs for her special needs and conditions. This little sloop, Gulf Coast, was designed with many of the foregoing needs in mind. She is double-ended and therefore easy to handle in a following sea or quartering chop. Her beam is ample for great stability and her bottom is broad for planing ability downwind. The rig is tall, with an aspect ratio of nearly three to one, getting that area up where it is needed on light days. When gusts snap down she will not be overpowered nor difficult to handle and the rig is always efficient. Sail can be shortened down to a reefed main of 73 square feet or jib alone of 62. She carries a spinnaker and genoa for that zesty racing all modern sailormen love. The draft is but five inches with the centerboard up and rudder tilted, allowing her to be sailed right up to the sandy beaches and over shallow bars. Construction is made V-bottom of plywood and utilizes the native pines to a great extent. Length is 20 feet l01/2 inches overall including rudder, 20 feet on deck, 15 feet 6 inches waterline and 6 feet 71/2 inches beam. The lines show her flare forward which is carried well aft for dryness in a chop. The after bottom is nearly flat and she nossesses great reserve stability.
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