Very much enjoying the forum, and lots of great knowledge being built within its pages. Regarding New Product Requests - my request is that rather than any specific new products, I am wondering whethe Colin might "curate" some of the best ideas for tweaks & variants as "options" on his core designs? Things like slightly modified configurations on forward bulkhead/compartments on the sailing rowcruiser, or hatch designs etc. - assuming those who came up with the tweaks were happy to share!
I would also be interested in options for folding amas/akas - split aka designs allowing them to be brought alongside the hull for better mooring, ease of getting in & out of the main hull when moored alongside a pontoon!
Just a couple of thoughts...
That sounds like a fantastic idea, and I'll try to come up with a few tweaks and customizations I've seen that seem to work well. There's been a lot of creative mods that cusomters have made that seem to work really well. On the topic of folding amas, one day, when I have time, I'd love to create a retractable ama design for the Cambridge Racer. The amas would be very small, and, ideally, only add about seven lbs to the whole setup. The amas would be free of the water in calm conditions, but when it gets rough, or you need a rest, the amas could be dropped down, turning into a stable seaworthy boat.
I think one of the mods I've seen that would be most popular is the "double" RowCruiser created by Joachim Roesler. The number one request we get is for double RowCruisers - a boat that can be rowed and house two people. Perhaps I'll choose that modification as the first to talk about...
Sounds good! I would certainly be supportive of the two man rowcruiser - shouldn't add much weight, but hugely increases the usefulness of the boat for two-man adventure racing or row/sail camping trips.
I had though about simple "upscaling" the design to use the 10ft x 5ft marine plywood sheets available through Robbins Timber here in the Uk, then some tweaks to the aft storage.
At some stage, I may also fashion a simple tent for the cockpit - I have some of these aluminium hoops spare from the allotment which are strong, weigh next to nothing and might do the trick!
If I ever get round to it, I'll upload some photos!
