The first proa Rob built was sheet ply for the long hull, tortured ply for the short one. The second was bendy ply, stiff in one direction, flexible in the other until it was glassed. The next couple were strip planked. They were all messy, sticky, dusty, wasteful jobs requiring a lot of physical labour… Continue reading Intelligent Infusion
Category: About
SHUNTING
Proas do not tack, they shunt – meaning they go in both directions sailing forward and… well, forward. It is a fairly simple process of letting go the main sheet, turning the rudders, sheeting in and away you go… Shunting like this is not as quick as tacking, and a lot slower than gybing. However, it… Continue reading SHUNTING
The Harryproa Concept
It has long been observed that the main requirements of any boat are space, speed and low cost, and that while any two of these are possible in a particular boat, all three are not. However, if you are prepared to sail a boat that looks different, and requires a slightly different tacking technique, it… Continue reading The Harryproa Concept
The Proa History
A proa is a double hulled vessel with all or some of the following attributes: The rig is mounted in or on a hull. The hulls are frequently different lengths and shapes. Steering and leeway prevention are also in one hull, generally but not always, the same one as the rig. Steering can be achieved… Continue reading The Proa History