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www.francois.vivier.info
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Clinker Ilur built by Icarai |
Ilur was
designed after Aber,
in order to get a larger boat, able to family day sailing. It
can be used for fishing and even coastal cruising! Two Ilur have
been to Ile of Sein, at the extreme West of France, one of the
worst place to go with tremendous tides and the worst sea conditions.
However, do not consider this as an invitation to go there! Length
was increased by 20 cm only, but Ilur is mostly wider and higher,
with a generous freeboard. This makes a very different boat, with
good seakeeping ability, but still in the "sail and oar"
spirit. Its superior quality makes Ilur my best-seller plan (with
nearly a thousand copies sold). It has been built in many places,
from the very heart of Alps, to Pacific islands!
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The light clinker version is easy to row |
Ilur is built with a strip planked or a plywood clinker hull.
In both cases, Ilur is very close to a traditional construction
(steam bent or laminated frames, timber sheerstrakes, seat risers...)
and this gives the boat a high level of authenticity. Ilur is
now fitted with a pivoting centreboard. The case is lowered and
is not cumbersome. The oars may be stowed either above or under
floorboards in order to free space when under sail. Ilur is a
very friendly boat able to welcome 4 or 5 persons.
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A lot of space, thanks to the lowered centreboard
case |
Three rig options are offered. The standing lug sail (misainier
in French) is the most popular. It is simple and efficient (but
be careful not to haul taut the sheet). The sail is tacked between
mast and stem and remains always on the same side of mast. When
tacking, the helmsman has just to take the sheet from one thumb
cleat to the other side. There is no boom and this is comfortable
for fishing or family sailing. It is recommended to have a pole
when running.
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Well tuned, this strip planked Ilur has good
windward ability. |
The lug sloop (next photo), is closer to modern rigs, with a
mainsail and a jib, and gives improved performances. It is possible
to shift the mast forward and have to boat rigged as a balanced
lug with a moderate size sail. This is useful for single-handed
sailing or is case of strong wind.
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The lug sloop |
The last option is the balanced lug, the sail being fitted with
a boom. This rig is a good choice for river as well as single-handed
sailing as there is no need to use a pole. It is also more powerful
than the standing lug.
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Balanced lug |
A boat for the home builder Ilur is not an "instant boat"
you can built within a few week-ends. The aim of the designer
was to have an exquisite traditional boat which may be built by
any people able to make something with their hands. Plan package
is very complete and detailed. Dimensioned drawings for stations,
stem and transom profile (including bevels) allow construction
without any lofting. To make construction easier, optional full
size patterns on mylar (polyester film) may also be used. For
the clinkerversion, they give the profile of each strakes to be
cut directly at final dimension. The only adjustment is at ends.
For the clinker version, it is also possible to buy a plywood
kit with all parts cut on a NC machine. This results in better
quality and a big saving of working time. Professional are now
always building that way. The average time to build Ilur from
a kit is 500 hours. A perfect strip planked hull may take much
more. It is also possible to build the clinker version with timber
instead of plywood. In that case, there is 15 strakes per side
instead of 10. For more information, ask the designer.
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Sculling |
Of course Ilur is a trailerable boat and the simple rig is raised
in a few minutes. She is very easy to launch and recover even
by a single person.
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Launching of an Ilur built by Icarai in Cherbourg |
Plans for Ilur are available in the Duckworks
Store.
Ilur builders and kits suppliers: France: Icarai: Centre d'activités,
4 avenue Louis Lumière 50100 Cherbourg - phone: 33 2 33
41 38 91
e-mail : nvivier@icarai.fr
- Internet : www.icarai.fr
USA: Clint Chase Boat Builder: 25 Deblois Street, Portland, Maine
- phone: 1 207.879.7782, clint@clintchaseboatbuilder.com
www.cncboatkits.com
François Vivier
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