If you want a small cheap boat that is easy to build and sails really well with the most detailed plans then consider our OZ Racer. It is a boatbuilding course in a book covering a whole range of modern boatbuilding methods step by step.
For those wanting a bigger boat consider our GOOSE class boat that is 50% longer (12ft) with much more room for sailing two up.
The builder is to understand that this plan DOES NOT produce a boat that complies with the rules of the PDRacer class - we are operating separately. We welcome PDRacer builders to purchase a plan to use any of the items in this plan to improve their boats – particularly the mast, sails, foils and rudderbox, which are state of the art for simple home building. But Puddle Duck builders are responsible to ensure the compliance of their own boats by working with the PDRacer class rules published on the class website.
An Oz Racer in action:
I
want to take a minute to emphasize how good these plans
are. These are not your run of the mill cheap plans. There
are three PDF files totaling 5 megs. The first is a set
of excellent drawings suitable for printing. Those are
followed by instructions for making a high performance
sail from polytarp. Finally, there is the main construction
file. Even if you already have a PDRacer, this file contains
information that you can use to improve its performance.
For instance, the masts, rudderstocks and foils are lighter
(and still economical) than most found on PDRacers.
The OZ Racer experience has strongly influenced Michael Storer to produce other boats that are oriented towards both new boaters and experienced boaters who want something cheap, reasonably quick to build and simple. The Quick Canoe family of boats is being developed to bring new people to canoeing in a boat that can be put together in a couple of weekends.
Feedback:
You are right, these really are
excellent instructions and worth every penny. (The exchange-rate
in the UK makes it even better, hardly the price of
a pizza for two, and the trimmings, when delivered at
home.)
Much obliged, Tony.
*****
I ordered the plans for the Goat Island Skiff and the little OZ Racer awhile ago. Now I have ordered many mail order sheet plans before and that is what I expected to get from you. Not so. This was my first set of plans that I was able to download to my computer and print out. I was amazed! To all first time buyers, make sure you have a fresh ink cartridge and lots of paper. It was like printing out a book! Even the smallest details are covered. I put the whole set of plans in a three hole binder. I still cannot get over the detail and quality of these plans. ANY first time builder should have no problems building these boats. It is so nice to see a designer who takes the guess work out of building a boat. Makes it a fun family project. That's the whole point of home boat building. Well done!
I
want to take a minute to emphasize how good these plans
are. These are not your run of the mill cheap plans. There
are three PDF files totaling 5 megs. The first is a set
of excellent drawings suitable for printing. Those are
followed by instructions for making a high performance
sail from polytarp. Finally, there is the main construction
file. Even if you already have a PDRacer, this file contains
information that you can use to improve its performance.
For instance, the masts, rudderstocks and foils are lighter
(and still economical) than most found on PDRacers. 
