I am trying to chooses a boat to start building this spring and Autumn Leaves very much meets my requirements and eye. But I would like to talk with current owners about sailing qualities, cockpit room and feel. Any changes they would make if they started over. There are very few sailing videos on line and I would love to see some more.
Pat
Hey Pat, John has a couple of good writeups here. I have an AL on the Eastern Shore of MD. If you're close you're welcome to have a look and maybe come out for a sail. Mine is the jib headed version. Respond with your email address and we'll take it from there.
Eric
https://smallcraftadvisor.substack.com/p/lugs-and-jibs-an-autumn-leaves-update
Eric, thank you for responding. I would love to talk with you about how Autumn Leaves sails, and what, if anything you would change on the boat.
You can email me at pmcb41@yahoo.com, or just respond here if you like.
My goal is to sail the upper Missouri River and the entire Mississippi River. The Missouri in South Dakota is very rough. Strong winds very short chop that can build to 2' to 3' fast. I also am having wrist issues, that I hope will be resolved after surgery this week but there is a chance that rowing will be very limited. Is there a way to mount very small outboard for auxiliary and emergency?
I would be mostly sailing small reservoirs and overnight camping.
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
What trailer are you all using?
I have an Autumn Leaves 90% finished, hope to finish this summer.
The guy I bought it from said get a trailer with rollers, but the links on the internet show bunks.
ron.rorrer@gmail.com
My Indigo sits an old out of production galvanized Long trailer, with bunks. Terrapin tours on a slick aluminum job but I forget the make. Also on bunks. Another AL in build may ride on a flat bed trailer, or BB might revert it to bunks.
If you go with rollers you’ll want a Lot of them. They create point loads and you’ll want to spread them out as much as possible to keep from denting your plywood bottom. Because the bottom is flat and has a skeg bunks seem ideal to me. More important is the height of boat on the trailer. You’ll want is as low as possible to be able to launch at shallow pitch ramps. If you have shallow ramps you might also consider an extending tongue although I’ve never had occasion to need one. My trailer was a Craigslist find. If you go that route make sure you get a trailer with a title. Titling trailers aroound here is a total pain.
If you’re in the mid Atlantic post when you complete the build and sail with your sister ships.
Cheers,
e
Looking good Eric!
- bk
Thanks for the reply on trailers.
I grew up in Baltimore and Virginia, but now live in Colorado. Not moving back!
I may swing through that area to visit friends without telling family I am there to see your boats!
Trying real hard to finish the boat asap.
Ron
I have a few questions I would like to ask someone who has built an Autumn Leaves.
I bought mine partially completed and need some advice on construction details which are too involved to bat back and forth here.
My email is ron.rorrer@gmail.com.
Thanks,
Ron
Hi Pat -- I haven't been checking here lately so I missed your post. I just saw your query on the WoodenBoat forum, too. Autumn Leaves is a very well sorted boat that does what it's designed to do extremely well. It's also a very compact design. You asked about space in the boat. I think you'd be comfortable in the cockpit, but you might find the cabin tighter than you'd like. The lugsail version I have does have notably more headroom forward in the cabin. Both versions are the same by the companionway. It would be a good idea to either inspect one or do a rough mockup of the interior with cardboard or light ply so you have a feel for the space. The sleeping flat area is roughly comparable to a pup tent. There is just headroom for me (5'9") to sit by the cabinets on the aft end of the berth. The "lounge chair" below it makes for a very comfortable spot, sitting low down.
I did put an 80-pound thrust trolling motor on mine. It works very well. I'm currently adding a second battery pack to extend the range under power so I can run narrow rivers and canals.
The Autumn Leaves is narrow and heavily ballasted. It never misses a tack and carries a long way after you drop the sails. It's a great light-air boat -- ghosting is my favorite sailing mode in the boat. If you anticipate choppy water, definitely build the alternate rudder with the drop plate that John sketched. You'll need the deep bite it affords.
I did write a review of my boat in Small Boats Monthly. That's still available but you might have to subscribe. https://smallboatsmonthly.com/article/autumn-leaves/
I assume you've read John's write-ups and seen the videos on this website. Nothing misleading in any of it. Happy to answer any other questions.
-Dave