Ross Turner

Ross Turner is designer of all JARCAT catamarans.
His first trailer-sailer was a fibreglass Redwitch monohull. He then built a fibreglass cruising monohull. Promised a level ride and easy trailering, Ross built a trimaran which he used extensively both racing and cruising. When the kettle jumped out of the stove rails and his replacement vehicle was found lacking in towing ability, Ross decided to design a boat which would fulfil his requirements for a trailer sailer.

The boat needed to sail level, tow very easily and have plenty of room for his family to live aboard during holidays. Get rid of a deep keel (Moreton Bay is very shallow) and your left with a tri or cat. The cat does not have surplus weight in floats to keep balance and has double the room.

Based on a tall friend for interior dimensions, the then legal towing weights and the premis of the beam = half the length for stability, a J5 evolved. A rough boat was built using the "stitch & tape" method which proved the layout, hull form and gave surprising performance.

The next prototype was then built using the traditional ply over timber method. This proved to be quicker to build, lighter and gave a fair hull form without filling. At 270kg "Mudskipper" was a success. Mudskipper is still sailing.


Updates over the 20 years have given the J5 improved tacking and better looks, a more refined interior and an alternative wing mast rig.

Ross went on to design the CC29, j282 dinghy, CC24, J6, CC30S and J7. Building or closely following construction of each boat. Ross has built and owned J282s /J5s / J6s / and a J7. Ross has had his own CC29 which he built in 1983.

All the designs are based on the same plywood over timber technique which has proven to give a strong, fair hull at minimal weight, effort and cost.

Email:
Alan Turner (alan.turner1@optusnet.com.au)

Phone:(07) 33958668

Mail Address :
296 Richmond Rd,
Cannon Hill
QLD 4170, Australia

Sailboats Designed By Ross Turner

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