Description
The Glen-L Kodiak, a rugged 29-foot motorsailer designed by Glen L. Witt in the 1970s and offered through Glen-L Marine Designs, exemplifies the firm's vision for versatile, amateur-built cruising vessels that harmonize auxiliary power with simple sail assist for reliable coastal or extended voyages in regions like the Pacific Northwest, Great Lakes, or Mediterranean. Measuring 29 feet LOA (25' LWL) with a 9-foot 6-inch beam and 4 feet draft on a full-displacement round-bilge hull (9,500 pounds displacement, including 3,500 pounds internal lead ballast for a 37% ratio and comfort ratio ~32), it prioritizes a stiff, stable platform with maximum hull speed of ~7 knots, enhanced by sails for motion damping and fuel savings in light airs. The masthead sloop rig deploys 400 square feet of sail (SA/D ~15 for balanced, low-effort handling: self-tacking jib and straight-leech main eliminate winches and battens, controlled from the protected deckhouse or deep self-bailing cockpit), achieving 5–7 knots under sail in 10–20 knots while reefing via slab system for heavy weather; auxiliary power via a 25–40 hp diesel inboard (e.g., Yanmar 3GM or Volvo Penta D1-30) delivers 7–7.8 knots motoring at 1,800–3,000 RPM with 150-gallon fuel range. Designed for "one-off" fiberglass construction using PVC foam sandwich core or solid fiberglass planking with outer laminates (build time 1,500–2,500 hours using full-size patterns and offsets), the Kodiak boasts a robust, low-maintenance hull with integrated chainplates and collision bulkheads; the interior offers 6'2" headroom, a cozy deckhouse saloon with convertible settees, full galley (gimbaled stove, sink, fridge), enclosed head with shower, V-berth forward, and quarter berth aft—sleeping 4–5 comfortably for week-long passages with 100-gallon water capacity. With a handful completed worldwide (e.g., Bulgarian examples sailing the Black Sea with genaker upgrades for 7–9 knot stability), the Kodiak excels in self-sufficiency and predictability, shrugging off chop while trailering feasibility (under 12,000 pounds on a custom cradle) suits occasional overland moves.
