PRAM : a dinghy inspired by the historical yachting of Ile de France
With PRAM, the BOW (Be On Water) Naval Architecture firm signs its first sailboat. Officially launched in December 2020, the design office brings together Alan Le Cavez, formerly with BeFoil, and Youri Guedj, an independent naval architect for several years. He was contacted by the Guinguette Pirate, an association that campaigns for the reappropriation of the banks of the Seine by Parisians and the Ile-de-France, in a more popular way than big restaurants and theaters. For its first major action, a large nautical festival held despite health restrictions in September 2020, the Guinguette Pirate wanted to sail original boats in Paris, inspired by the yachting that made the reputation of the Seine in the twentieth century (Moth, Monotype de Chatou, Sharpy ...). The company commissioned Youri Guedj to design a custom dinghy. "The first boat was built by a work camp with the Salvation Army. The plywood allowed us to have something not too complicated. Due to lack of time, the second boat was built by the marine carpenter Nicolas Arnould in Saint-Philibert" explains Alan Le Calvez.
A small ecological sailboat for raids and solo sailing
In response to the program, BOW proposed a dinghy of 3.35 meters long and 1.50 meters wide. Equipped with a daggerboard and a non-tilting rudder, its draft is 85 cm on the daggerboard and 10 cm on the vertical daggerboard. Built in plywood, it benefits from epoxy joints and an outer skin made of flax fibers to protect the bottom of the hull. Why go looking for non-natural fibers, when we work with wood" summarizes Alan Le Calvez. The announced weight is 75 kg.
In terms of ergonomics, the wide, flat-bottomed cockpit allows two adults to lie down for a nap. "It's not made for long raids either," moderates the naval architect.
A boat available in kit form or ready to sail
To be able to offer the PRAM ready to sail, BOW has partnered with the marine carpenter Nicolas Arnould. The amateurs can also build themselves the dinghy whose dimensions fit easily in a garage by buying the construction kit. A double-handed dinghy is currently being studied.
