PD Racer

Welcome to my personal site devoted to the wonderful world of Puddle Duck Racers.

For all of the information about this unique class of sailboats, visit http://www.pdracer.com.

My first boat is Puddle Duck Racer #174, christened Simple Simon.  Click on Simple Simon in the navigation bar to view a photo gallery of its build. 

The idea behind Simple Simon was to build my first PD Racer as simply and as inexpensively as possible.  This rig uses plank sides of 1x12 shelving board, 1/4" plywood bottom, bamboo mast and boom, polytarp sail held with zip ties, leeboard and fixed rudder.  Total cost came in just under $100.

September 18, 2007.  Simple Simon sailed today.  First came the paddle test to check for leaks...there were none.  Then came the rigged sail to test the set-up.

The set-up had two major problems.  One was my tiny rudder.  In a good blow, the sail overpowered the rudder and the boat took off where it wanted to.  The second problem came from sailing in a relaimed phosphate pit.  Gobs of thick green gook growing kept wrapping around the leeboard and rudder.  The effect was to drag the boat and slow it down.

I have a better lake to sail in, but it is a 45 minute drive.  I'll redo the rudder and try Simon over some open water without green gook.

Sorry for the lack of pictures of my sailing efforts.  This was a shake down test and I did it alone.