General arrangement for cat rigged ketch

Designer Ben Lexcen (1936 - 1988)

Object numberANMS1543[283]

NamePlan

MediumInk on tracing paper

Dimensions710 x 1105

ClassificationsMaps, charts and plans

Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection Purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds

Terms

DescriptionA Ben Lexcen, 38-foot, classic ‘cat-boat’ cruising yacht, based on his 1977 REVOLUTION design. Shown with a centre cockpit, the yacht has forward and aft crew cabins, and a low draft centre-board for cruising and anchoring in shallow waters.HistoryDuring the late 1970’s Ben Lexcen was studying the important aspects of ‘the perfect cruising boat’. The length overall, the beam, sail-plan, and ease of handling by a small family, were all considered. The initial result was the 36-foot yacht ‘REVOLUTION 36’, designed by Ben Lexcen in March 1977. It was based on the cat rigged, ‘Freedom 40’, designed by Halsey Herrshoff in the US, whom he greatly admired. Ben Lexcen rigged his yacht with a free-standing cat boat rig, but also offered the yacht with different deck layouts and rigging plans. Based on the same hull concept, he designed several sizes at the time, including a 35-foot version and the later, the GRP production-built ‘REVOLUTION 38’. The hull of the 36-foot model was 36’1” overall with a 10’ 9 ¼ “beam, making a very comfortable, roomy boat. With a 3’ 8” draft, with the centre boat raised, the yacht could sail and anchor in shallow waters. He offered the same classic hull design rigged as a simple sloop, cutter and also rigged as a gaff ketch. The REVOLUTION 38-foot cutter was later production built in GRP with furling headsails for both the genoa and stay’sl. All these yachts featured the same attractive long keel hull with a pleasing sheer line, well protected side decks, built up bulwarks, and aft cabin windows in the transom. During the early 1980’s ‘J.K. Price Boatbuilders’ in Western Australia, built a number of the REVOLUTION 38 in a GRP production. Also, Steve Cunard built twenty-two cat-boat rigged ‘REVOLUTION 38’s’ at his Mona Vale Boatyard in Sydney. SignificanceThe prominent Australia yacht designer Ben Lexcen, is widely known for his 12mR Class America Cup racing yachts, and other smaller IOR racing yachts. It is often overlooked that yacht designers, and naval architects, are called upon to design a wide variety of other yachts and boats which do not reach the media or become famous. This often allows the passionate designer to explore and create other work closer to his heart. This 38-foot classic cruising cat boat, by Ben Lexcen, is an example of him using the same traditional, low draft voluminous hull, to offer varying deck and rig layouts to suite his clients.