Thank you for telling Mr Sven's story and sharing interesting facts. My prayer is that God will extend our lives many decades and continually show us favor on his majestic oceans. ❤
Thank you so much for this video! I've been watching Captain Sven for quit some time now. It's sad, his story of growing up!! He is a treasure! Many people I know are subscribers. Lovr his mind and smile! He has more energy than I do and he is 27 yrs older than me. GOD BLESS you both!🙏❤🇺🇸⛵🤙
SUBSCRIBED!!! Great video featuring a legend and sailing patriarch! From the time I was a young lad, I was fascinated with ocean travel. But one thing always concerned me was either the boat capsizing or at least getting swamped to the point where you near are sunk or at the least your stores, provisions and any electrical/electronics were damaged or destroyed. Also that in sailing extreme north or south, that you could become soaked and freeze to death. So I had the same vision, that the boat would have to be watertight, self-righting and impervious to swamping and sinking. Additionally, I also realized (even then) that ‘big things break’ whereby small things seldom do in a similar manner. To me as a neophyte, would-be designer/builder, the person needs a watertight place to escape from and shelter during extreme weather events. Additionally, you need to be able to steer, and if ingenious enough maybe control the sails and keel configuration. In short, I always thought you wanted a floating submarine with windows! So Sven’s boat, is simply a straightforward and sober look at the intended-application, the physics and human survival/comfort factors-this is Sven’s ‘Polaris’ and he stays on course. His other strength, is mechanical innovation and understanding of material-science. This coupled with his mathematical-mind, unhesitatingly willingness to empirically experiment, and real world sailing experience allow him to push the limits and take advantage of advanced and unique materials. I hope the very best for Sven and look forward to completion of his current boat and the voyage he’s charted…
Sven, Roger Taylor, Yann Q are on to something about size/seaworthiness and solo sailing. I have always been drawn to small craft over the past 15 years I’ve had 26’ 23’ 19’ 18’ decreasing in size sailboats and currently a Montgomery 17 which is by far easiest to single hand. The M17 has made some impressive voyages including California to New Zealand. I am currently building a Paradox 14’ with slight modifications like a waterproof hatch for solo high seas voyages. I met a guy recently who was a “sailboat enthusiast” and I told him about my boat(s) and he laughed, saying 17’ was ok for small inland lakes. He has had a @50’ Hunter at the Marina now for 5 years and it’s never left the slip but it’s fun “to party on during the weekend” lol
What a legend!!! So much to admire about and learn from guys like Sven, Roger Taylor and Ming Ming is another one. Their integrity, determination and ingenuity is just amazing. Would be hell on earth though for me to be shut up in cigar tube for days on end. Horses for course I guess.
Great job on building that “skeg” although for some reason I was thinking that you might add some weight of some kind into the part. Guess my mind was thinking along the lines of a keel because of a self righting design feature of the boat and the location where it is going to be installed, but it came out looking great.
If the price of materials ever goes back down to acceptable levels, I plan of following through with my idea of going into small craft building. I have been designing a 20ft-8ft beam monohull sailboat for some time, hoping to one day make boat building a profession.
The strength law is possibly why my dog is still alive after jumping from a 3rd floor window onto concrete four years ago. He 'only' broke both back legs. He's very stupid but cubed loveable. Aside from that, I only discovered Sven through Sam Holmes' channel a week or so ago, and already think him one of the most inspirational people I've ever heard of. I'd love to learn more about the materials and techniques he employs to create his incredible and exceptional vessels, and maybe even follow his inspirational path. Thank you kindly for this presentation, it's now bookmarked for posterity. And best wishes in your own dreams becoming reality.
I have been following Sven since his Bris I days. It's interesting to note that he sailed Bris I the most miles of all of his creations. But to round the Horn East to West, he needed more form stability. Bris II provided that. But the aluminum she was made of started corroding away quickly. The company that supplied the hull materials for free took her back. She may have been the best of the lot. Had she been built of better materials, he may have sailed her around the world. It seems that his later creations were built to last forever but used only once, then more or less discarded. I agree with most of his ten points. But it's just as possible to make a relatively large boat with a 180 stability curve as it is to make a small one. The secret is simple: just have relatively tall sections of enclosed volume and a low center of gravity. The length of the vessel really doesn't really add to its righting ability at extreme angles of heel. The enclosed cross section of such a vessel should look more like that of a muffin than a pancake. After that, it needs sufficient weight for its beam. If it has too little and has a low house, it will be quite stable while upside down. This is because (when upside down) the center of buoyancy shifts to the low side faster than the center of gravity does. The deeper the immersed hull sections are, the less the center of buoyancy shifts when the boat heels (per section shape). This is as true when the boat is right side up as it is when it's upside down. This is where the much maligned "capsize screening" number comes from. It tries to take what I have just said into account. It is possible to scale this principle up or down. It is also possible to make a workable sailboat that meets these criteria with very modest ballast. The catch is that the sail plan has to be modest and low. This is what Sven has done with his two Ex Lex creations (He's on his third one now). It will be interesting to see how it performs. I suspect the side by side mains will prove to be little more effective than just one alone on any point of sailing other than down wind. But the down wind enhancement of having twin mains may prove worth the trouble. And he can strike the one on the windward side to make the boat less likely to round up. Being able to play the centerboard against the distant rudder may well make for excellent directional stability. I think he may be going a bit too far with his apparent obsession with high length to beam ratios (perhaps not with this boat, but certainly with his conceived future boat). I see two reasons to be skeptical: 1.) Trim issues. As he works the boat, he will have to move quite far forward or quite far aft. When he does this, the boat could trim too far forward or aft. This could cause the boat to weatercock the end he is ar into the wind. This could be dangerous in scary conditions. 2.) Workability. As we can see with his present boat, he has a bit of an obstacle course while moving forward or aft. This is not good if he ever has to do this quickly (such as when tying up at a dock or handling some emergency). Also, space dedicated to allowing movement is space not available for other purposes. True, a longer boat can be moved faster through the water than a shorter one with the same sail area . This is why ships tend to be very long for their beam. But such is but one consideration among several needed to make a successful boat. Personally, I prefer beam/length ratios that are between 0.2 to 0.3 for anything more than say 5 meters or less than say 15 for these reasons. But I wouldn't hesitate to go wider if other design goals required it.
My granddads olde mutt, chased a rabbit over some local cliff's, known as Flamborough head in UK. He fell, 2 3 hundred feet. He survived, tough old jackrussel. The rabbit was never seen again.
I love small boats and have completed a number of ocean passages on engine less 24-26 ft sailboats. Going small is not all upside. Ultimate seaworthyness demands the ability to sail to windward off a leeshore in a gale, or even a storm. This is really hard to do in a mini or micro yacht. At these sizes hull and rig proportions will usually result in drag exceeding drive, in wave action forcing your boat downwind and if the weather continues an inevitable impact with the shore. Of course size alone won't solve this, farming acres of solar panels to keep the freezer running, building hard spray dodgers , dinghies on davits and all the other paraphernalia associated with cruising will also kill your ability to claw of a leeshore, but additional size and communications equipment may have given you the sufficient warning and speed to get out of harms way. Mostly in guess people just pray that the big diesel will fire up and power them out of trouble.
Good points. For small boat voyaging route planning (avoiding lee-shore) is priority #1 Roger Taylor did @4 voyages in highly modified Trailor sailors from England to the high Arctic engineless. His philosophy of route planning is worth study.
Thank you for telling Mr Sven's story and sharing interesting facts. My prayer is that God will extend our lives many decades and continually show us favor on his majestic oceans. ❤
This is absolutely brilliant. Love this holistic approach to boating and simplicity being a key factor. Keep up the great videos!
Thank you! Making another one right now.
@@ocean_capable_small_sailboat Please make more videos like this. The way of life. food prep weather gear, etc for small boats. thank you
I watch him nearly every day!
He is a legend
Thank you so much for this video! I've been watching Captain Sven for quit some time now. It's sad, his story of growing up!! He is a treasure! Many people I know are subscribers. Lovr his mind and smile! He has more energy than I do and he is 27 yrs older than me. GOD BLESS you both!🙏❤🇺🇸⛵🤙
I'm glad you enjoyed! Thanks for your comment.
SUBSCRIBED!!! Great video featuring a legend and sailing patriarch!
From the time I was a young lad, I was fascinated with ocean travel. But one thing always concerned me was either the boat capsizing or at least getting swamped to the point where you near are sunk or at the least your stores, provisions and any electrical/electronics were damaged or destroyed. Also that in sailing extreme north or south, that you could become soaked and freeze to death.
So I had the same vision, that the boat would have to be watertight, self-righting and impervious to swamping and sinking. Additionally, I also realized (even then) that ‘big things break’ whereby small things seldom do in a similar manner. To me as a neophyte, would-be designer/builder, the person needs a watertight place to escape from and shelter during extreme weather events. Additionally, you need to be able to steer, and if ingenious enough maybe control the sails and keel configuration. In short, I always thought you wanted a floating submarine with windows!
So Sven’s boat, is simply a straightforward and sober look at the intended-application, the physics and human survival/comfort factors-this is Sven’s ‘Polaris’ and he stays on course. His other strength, is mechanical innovation and understanding of material-science. This coupled with his mathematical-mind, unhesitatingly willingness to empirically experiment, and real world sailing experience allow him to push the limits and take advantage of advanced and unique materials.
I hope the very best for Sven and look forward to completion of his current boat and the voyage he’s charted…
That's right! Thanks for the subscribe!
Thanks. Yes. All good points. I watch Yrvind quite often. Nearly every day. Amazing guy. Can’’t wait to see the new boat.
Sven, Roger Taylor, Yann Q are on to something about size/seaworthiness and solo sailing. I have always been drawn to small craft over the past 15 years I’ve had 26’ 23’ 19’ 18’ decreasing in size sailboats and currently a Montgomery 17 which is by far easiest to single hand. The M17 has made some impressive voyages including California to New Zealand.
I am currently building a Paradox 14’ with slight modifications like a waterproof hatch for solo high seas voyages.
I met a guy recently who was a “sailboat enthusiast” and I told him about my boat(s) and he laughed, saying 17’ was ok for small inland lakes.
He has had a @50’ Hunter at the Marina now for 5 years and it’s never left the slip but it’s fun “to party on during the weekend” lol
Yep, the bigger you go, the less use it gets. It's more hassle, more cost, everything's heavier and takes more time.
What a legend!!! So much to admire about and learn from guys like Sven, Roger Taylor and Ming Ming is another one. Their integrity, determination and ingenuity is just amazing. Would be hell on earth though for me to be shut up in cigar tube for days on end. Horses for course I guess.
I definitely learn a lot from them. Thanks for watching.
A very interesting story.. both about the man and the small ocean sailing boats. Thanks for sharing.
Great job on building that “skeg” although for some reason I was thinking that you might add some weight of some kind into the part. Guess my mind was thinking along the lines of a keel because of a self righting design feature of the boat and the location where it is going to be installed, but it came out looking great.
Excellent! Thank you for this great summary !
You're welcome!
Great channel 👍 It's amazing what you do 🤞
Thank you very much!
you're so right; I switched 3 yrs ago from a 19ft to a 31ft and I can confirm all your listed pros/cons
Thank you, great video.
he is a genius can't wait to see his new boat completed . or your boat for that matter
I've got to admit I was wrong about my hasty assessment of this man of the sea.
This is brilliant and inspiring !!
If the price of materials ever goes back down to acceptable levels, I plan of following through with my idea of going into small craft building. I have been designing a 20ft-8ft beam monohull sailboat for some time, hoping to one day make boat building a profession.
The strength law is possibly why my dog is still alive after jumping from a 3rd floor window onto concrete four years ago.
He 'only' broke both back legs.
He's very stupid but cubed loveable.
Aside from that, I only discovered Sven through Sam Holmes' channel a week or so ago, and already think him one of the most inspirational people I've ever heard of.
I'd love to learn more about the materials and techniques he employs to create his incredible and exceptional vessels, and maybe even follow his inspirational path.
Thank you kindly for this presentation, it's now bookmarked for posterity.
And best wishes in your own dreams becoming reality.
Great video! Thanks for that!
Sven is amazing
I have been following Sven since his Bris I days.
It's interesting to note that he sailed Bris I the most miles of all of his creations.
But to round the Horn East to West, he needed more form stability. Bris II provided that. But the aluminum she was made of started corroding away quickly. The company that supplied the hull materials for free took her back.
She may have been the best of the lot. Had she been built of better materials, he may have sailed her around the world.
It seems that his later creations were built to last forever but used only once, then more or less discarded.
I agree with most of his ten points. But it's just as possible to make a relatively large boat with a 180 stability curve as it is to make a small one. The secret is simple: just have relatively tall sections of enclosed volume and a low center of gravity. The length of the vessel really doesn't really add to its righting ability at extreme angles of heel.
The enclosed cross section of such a vessel should look more like that of a muffin than a pancake.
After that, it needs sufficient weight for its beam. If it has too little and has a low house, it will be quite stable while upside down.
This is because (when upside down) the center of buoyancy shifts to the low side faster than the center of gravity does.
The deeper the immersed hull sections are, the less the center of buoyancy shifts when the boat heels (per section shape). This is as true when the boat is right side up as it is when it's upside down. This is where the much maligned "capsize screening" number comes from. It tries to take what I have just said into account.
It is possible to scale this principle up or down. It is also possible to make a workable sailboat that meets these criteria with very modest ballast. The catch is that the sail plan has to be modest and low.
This is what Sven has done with his two Ex Lex creations (He's on his third one now). It will be interesting to see how it performs. I suspect the side by side mains will prove to be little more effective than just one alone on any point of sailing other than down wind. But the down wind enhancement of having twin mains may prove worth the trouble. And he can strike the one on the windward side to make the boat less likely to round up.
Being able to play the centerboard against the distant rudder may well make for excellent directional stability.
I think he may be going a bit too far with his apparent obsession with high length to beam ratios (perhaps not with this boat, but certainly with his conceived future boat). I see two reasons to be skeptical:
1.) Trim issues. As he works the boat, he will have to move quite far forward or quite far aft. When he does this, the boat could trim too far forward or aft. This could cause the boat to weatercock the end he is ar into the wind. This could be dangerous in scary conditions.
2.) Workability. As we can see with his present boat, he has a bit of an obstacle course while moving forward or aft. This is not good if he ever has to do this quickly (such as when tying up at a dock or handling some emergency).
Also, space dedicated to allowing movement is space not available for other purposes.
True, a longer boat can be moved faster through the water than a shorter one with the same sail area . This is why ships tend to be very long for their beam.
But such is but one consideration among several needed to make a successful boat. Personally, I prefer beam/length ratios that are between 0.2 to 0.3 for anything more than say 5 meters or less than say 15 for these reasons. But I wouldn't hesitate to go wider if other design goals required it.
wow great stuff
Inspiring Insights!
My granddads olde mutt, chased a rabbit over some local cliff's, known as Flamborough head in UK. He fell, 2 3 hundred feet. He survived, tough old jackrussel. The rabbit was never seen again.
At 10. 16:15 you show a video clip, I'm curious where it comes from.
I will binge watch your videos from now on. great content!
haha, got in in the next video.
Thanks. It's one of Yann's videos. You can search for "A four-meter sailboat crosses the Atlantic."
Woooohoooo this is a good one.
Thanks!
I'd like to see more people take up small boats.
Me too.
I love small boats and have completed a number of ocean passages on engine less 24-26 ft sailboats. Going small is not all upside. Ultimate seaworthyness demands the ability to sail to windward off a leeshore in a gale, or even a storm. This is really hard to do in a mini or micro yacht. At these sizes hull and rig proportions will usually result in drag exceeding drive, in wave action forcing your boat downwind and if the weather continues an inevitable impact with the shore. Of course size alone won't solve this, farming acres of solar panels to keep the freezer running, building hard spray dodgers , dinghies on davits and all the other paraphernalia associated with cruising will also kill your ability to claw of a leeshore, but additional size and communications equipment may have given you the sufficient warning and speed to get out of harms way. Mostly in guess people just pray that the big diesel will fire up and power them out of trouble.
Also, small boats are a bit hectic in a choppy sea aren't they? I like everything about them except that.
Good points.
For small boat voyaging route planning (avoiding lee-shore) is priority #1
Roger Taylor did @4 voyages in highly modified Trailor sailors from England to the high Arctic engineless. His philosophy of route planning is worth study.
cool!
Wu wei !
As with most things the truth lies somewhere in tbe middle.
Sven changed his diet. He is now doing KETO. It shows. He is much thinner.
And fasting. I think at sea he still does the muesli diet, 1 meal per day though.
Can't live on a dingy
Disturbing nisch music at video entry drowns your voice. I think you lose audience.
Yes, I learned better audio mixing in later videos. I have a clip on mic now too.