16' Great Pelican Plans PDF

Cabin or open light cruiser

For printed plans click HERE

In lieu of study plans we have this: Pelican Sailboat Article Compilation

GREAT PELICAN

The big sister of the immensely popular, 12' San Francisco Bay Pelican, the Great Pelican (16') was designed by Bill Short for long or short distance cruising. Her cockpit is spacious for a sixteen footer, and the cabin can be fitted with small berths with plenty of room for stowage of gear and supplies. The building plans show a choice of cabin, (standard, cuddy or flush deck) or a boom tent over the open cockpit, and room for an aft cabin. With the kick-up rudder and centerboard raised, she draws only 4" of water, making it easy to land on a beach, or explore mud flats on her flat dory bottom.

The centerboard weighted with lead is housed in a case equally divided between cockpit and cabin. For single handed sailing or offshore cruising, increased ballast is recommended. This can be installed inboard in the form of plastic water jugs or tanks firmly secured in a frame along the sides of the centerboard.

The Great Pelican is stiff and offers a brisk turn of speed to windward. With three full length battens in the standing Lug mainsail, under favorable conditions she will plane an surf along serenely even when larger boats are looking for shelter. This versatile compact cruiser is sturdy and safe - a real winner!

Here are some hand written notes from Captain Short to an early builder of a Great Pelican

click the images above to enlarge

The GREAT PELICAN is ideal for home or special project building.

What's in the plans?

(2 in 1 package) All the material from the San Francisco Bay Pelican plus three sheets of scale drawings and additional building instructions, sail plans, lists for materials and hardware, and sailing and handling information. All drawings and plans come in PDF format and can be printed to hard copy..