Ilur Classic

The most popular sail and oar boat

For a digital Study Plan for Ilur, click HERE

Drawing    See photo albums    Go to “clinker-kit” Ilur

Ilur was designed after Aber, in order to get a larger boat, able to family day sailing. She can be used for fishing and even coastal cruising. Three 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! The 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 one thousand copies sold). It has been built in many places, from the very heart of Alps, to Pacific islands!

If you have to choose the best boat for your intended use, just notice than Ilur is not as an easygoing rowing boat compared to others of my sail and oar designs. She is mainly intended for sailing, oars being used when the wind is falling or to reach some narrow inlets. However, the clinker version is lighter and rows well.
The dagger-board was initially preferred in order to give room for the crew. It is now replaced by a pivoting centreboard and a low centreboard case which is not at all cumbersome. Many other improvements are continuously brought. As an example oars may be stowed under the floorboard, leaving a free cockpit when sailing.

Ilur was designed at first with the simple lug sail in the Breton style (said “misainier” rig). A lug sloop rig is now proposed and is a valuable option. A balanced lug rig (lug sail with boom) is an other option, interesting for river or single-handed sailing. More recently, I have added a very attractive lug yawl rig.

Construction is either strip planked or plywood clinker. In both cases, laminated or steam bent frames give a very traditional and beautiful looking. However, very detailed plans and instruction booklet allow construction by any home builder. Full-size patterns may be purchased in addition to the building plan to make construction easier.

Blogs to visit:

An Ilur has been built in Ireland by Tim Cooke.
Blog of Esger and Vincent van der Post about the building of a clinker Ilur, with many details.
Website of Lukasz Kumanowski who is building an Ilur in Sweden.