In 2019, I built a 14′ lug-rigged double-ender. It was lightweight, nimble, and smart looking, but lacked the gravitas to handle the Pacific swells and chop beyond the Santa Barbara breakwater. By 2021 I was ready for something just as beautiful but more capable, and spent a lot of time looking for a bigger trailer-sailer. The key constraints were space and weight. Our century-old cottage sits on a postage-stamp-size lot and our family vehicle is limited to 2,000 lbs towing capacity. The new design had to be less than 20′ long and under 1,500 lbs light displacement.When I discovered François Vivier’s extensive portfolio of Breton workboat-inspired designs, I was really smitten by his Stir-Ven 22—a beautiful gaff-rigged lapstrake sloop with a roomy cockpit, a cuddy cabin, and a history of swift passages in European raids. The problem was it was just a little too long and heavy. Bring on the Stir-Ven 19, the newer, smaller sister Vivier designed with similar attributes but with a simple water-ballast system to facilitate launching and retrieval. At just under 19′ long, 7′ wide, and 1,200 lbs light displacement (without water ballast), it would meet my space and towing requirements. The designer estimates a build time of at least 700 hours, depending on the level of fit and finish. The water-ballast tanks either side of the centerboard trunk add a level of complexity to the Stir-Ven build but are a vital component in keeping the weight down for trailer-sailing. We oversized the structure of the centerboard trunk to accommodate our custom-made plywood-lead centerboard. Beneath the seats there are generous storage bins and astern of these is a large flotation tank; a second flotation tank is built in under the foredeck.
Mark Gallo
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Boat looks beautiful!
Nice job, always liked the look of the Stir Ven. Would you mind asking what paint you used for the hull? I have a project boat, with water ballast by the way, that has a similar colored hull that I am trying to match. That color looks perfect.
Nice to see a small-boat builder in Carpinteria, where I grew up many years ago!
Thanks for the feedback Kyle. The paint is from George Kirby Paint Co. in New Bedford MA. The topside color is blue #19 in semi-gloss. It’s an alkyd-based paint rather than polyurethane. Maybe not as durable, but so far it’s taken a few hard knocks no problem. I followed George’s advice and added a splash of his conditioner to each working batch to facilitate flow.
Thanks for the info, I appreciate it. The blue hull with the tanbark sails looks fantastic!
Hope that you are enjoying sailing her.