A small, simple and transportable boat
On his return to France, after a shipbuilding experience in Indonesia, Flavien Gaulard decided to launch his own shipyard. He then got closer to the naval architect Gildas Plessis who was designing the boats he was working on in Asia. The two from Nantes quickly agreed to develop a sailboat together. Self-financed, the boat will be of modest size, for budgetary reasons, but also because of the size of Flavien's workshop. Thus was born the Kaori 550.
Transportable, with a cabin for 2 people, it is designed for a day sailing program or coastal camping raid. As an integral dinghy, it allows you to land on the beach without any problem.
A scow for simple fun
For several years now, Gildas Plessis has been interested in scow hulls. We were able to share his projects in our columns. Once again, it is towards these very fashionable hulls, but stemming from a long tradition, that he turns. The objective is to make a boat that is both fun and easy to use, as evidenced by the minimalist deck plan and the rig without backstay or runner. In addition to the waves, it also allows you to surf on the taste for round-ended bows!
A sailboat combining wood in all its forms
The duo at the origin of the Kaori 550 has made a point of making a boat as environmentally friendly as possible. "The only ecological boat is the one that we don't build" ironizes Gildas Plessis. "But we have made a point of drastically reducing the boat's carbon footprint. We gain several tens of percent on the life cycle analysis. For the plywood, we are working on eliminating okoume for more local woods."
The construction method combines several modern woodworking techniques.
The hull, as well as the roof, are made of small larch slats according to the strip planking method, with a flax fiber skin and an epoxy resin partly bio-sourced.
The deck and bulkheads are made of epoxy plywood.
