OZ Goose Plans PDF

To purchase printed plans for OZ Goose, click HERE

A kit for this boat is available from JO Woodworks.

• fast - 12 knots is easy and top measured speed is 13.8 knots on a tideless lake
• excellent carrying capacity - it sails very well in very light winds with three adults aboard (or two adults and several kids) making it an excellent family boat and TEACHING BOAT
• Easy to handle - when heeled in a gust the helm is very balanced and neutral - a small child can steer very easily.

The Goose was introduced as a larger family version of the OzRacer some 6 years ago. But it was overlooked as "just a bigger OzRacer" until three years ago when Ian Henehan in Texas started to put videos of the boat going very fast with one on board (up to 12.9 knots) and sailing well with a payload of two adults and three or four kids. We have put some of Ian's videos below.

It became clear that the Goose was a boat with unusual capability.

Since moving to the Philippines in 2012 Michael, along with the members of the PHBYC (an internet group for home boatbuilders in the Philippines), have been developing the OzGoose through a number of refinements with two group builds of 10 boats and development of a plywood production boat with Monsoon Marine. The boat is now simpler, faster, prettier and easier to build and importantly much easier to sail.

Set up properly it is almost difficult to sail badly.

The fleet of 27 boat in the Philippines are regularly being used as sail training boats with three adults aboard - instructor and two students. The boat is very responsive with these payloads moving very well in very light winds while being predictable and stable in strong breezes.

They are raced with one or two adults as crew in all weathers, often experiencing big waves common on Taal Lake and the ocean (photo).

If you are interested in the shorter, lighter, simpler boat, look at the OZ Racer, or the more family style OzRacer RV.

Some of the Back Story

Bob Alston contacted me a couple of years ago wondering how to change the just under 8ft (2.4m) OzRacer into a just under 12ft (3.5m) boat more suitable for two people. The standard OZ does take a passenger fine and sails well, but it is not a particularly participatory place to sit.

However, stretching the boat to 12ft allows two people to sit side by side as in the cover illustration. So it would be simple to share the sailing responsibility. One with the rudder and one with the mainsheet. Much better for sharing and learning.

The nice point about the PDGoose (Bob's name for it) is that it uses ALL the bits the same as the OzRacer - so rudder, tiller, centreboard, mast, the same two sail options. So if you have an OZ ... you can build a OZ PDGoose hull and go sailing with friends

The 12 footer will be able to carry quite a lot of weight and might make a good boat for events like the TEXAS200 event, though a lot of preparation and knowledge about the boat is necessary for tough events of this type. We recommend the lug sail with an extra reef point.

A bigger boat when friends drop round

The PDRacer is the ultimate in cheap, light and easy. It is a boat that a sailor can dominate because it is so small, simple and light. Not to mention easy to store and transport.

There are lots of arguments for not getting a bigger boat if you really don't need it. Listen to them! The great thing about the original PDRacer is that it is so simple and quick to use. The hull only weighs about 65lbs.

However I think some PDRacer owners will enjoy having a PDGoose as well as more people can go sailing with you and it will be a little bit faster than the PDRacer which might be useful sometimes.

The goose has the same enclosed side tanks as pioneered on the OzRacer so if you do capsize the boat will float on its side and then will come upright with very little water aboard. See the capsize sequence for the PDR here.

Uses the same bits as the OzRacer

Everything for the OzRaceracer and the OZ Goose is identical except for the hull. This means if you have a PDRacer, you can just build the Goose hull and transfer all the working bits across.

One Caution

The mast for the OZ is strong enough for one person leaning out hard - so you can sail the PDGoose very hard singlehanded. However when sailing Two up I would recommend that the crew only sit comfortably on the side decks and not lean out hard - otherwise the mast might break. If you do want to build a real two person OZ PDGoose mast I will be designing a new mast for it later.

Some videos from Ian Henehan (pictured above) below

From Bob

I will bet you thought I dropped off the end of the world when I never got back with the results for the PDR Goose version.

I must confess I did not take the boat out at all last year, but, the goose is FANTASTIC!!! I had a bout with the "big C" last year, and didn't get much done at all.

However, the hull you designed is so great I intend to build another one just for use with a motor.

In 2007 I took the PDR GOOSE out a couple of times with a motor before my health probs kicked in, and I went in the water, on purpose, and brought all 155 kilos of me up over the side of the boat with NO problems. got caught out in a sudden blow where the wind was hitting 38 miles and hour with my wife on board and took no water in. the hull design is fantastic.

(Michael says: this is probably an exaggeration as to wind speed and probably represents a high point for the day taken from the weather report in the evening. I don't recommend that beginning sailors go out in that wind strength and some experienced sailors will probably decide not to as well!)

Do I owe you something for the hull I am building now? this one is only for use with a motor, but adhering closely to your design.

Sorry I took so long to get back in touch, but just thought you would like to know about the goose.

Have a great day, and have some FUN with it

Bob Alston

From Bob

I will bet you thought I dropped off the end of the world when I never got back with the results for the PDR Goose version.

I must confess I did not take the boat out at all last year, but, the goose is FANTASTIC!!! I had a bout with the "big C" last year, and didn't get much done at all.

However, the hull you designed is so great I intend to build another one just for use with a motor.

In 2007 I took the PDR GOOSE out a couple of times with a motor before my health probs kicked in, and I went in the water, on purpose, and brought all 155 kilos of me up over the side of the boat with NO problems. got caught out in a sudden blow where the wind was hitting 38 miles and hour with my wife on board and took no water in. the hull design is fantastic.

(Michael says: this is probably an exaggeration as to wind speed and probably represents a high point for the day taken from the weather report in the evening. I don't recommend that beginning sailors go out in that wind strength and some experienced sailors will probably decide not to as well!)

Do I owe you something for the hull I am building now? this one is only for use with a motor, but adhering closely to your design.

Sorry I took so long to get back in touch, but just thought you would like to know about the goose.

Have a great day, and have some FUN with it

Bob Alston

 

Rigging

Goose Rigging details for many lug boats - rudder fittings, three blocks, stainless ring and a 4" horn cleat. All other fittings are 4mm spectra. We have worked out how to bypass some of the cost and the fleet allows us to check reliability of the solutions.

Click HERE for rigging details