Piccup Squared

Description

The Piccup Squared is a lightweight, simple wooden sail/row pram designed by Jim Michalak (a prolific designer of easy-to-build, practical small boats using plywood and "instant boat" or taped-seam methods). It is an evolution or variant of his popular Piccup Pram (often just called Piccup), with the "Squared" referring to its more square-ended, boxy hull shape for easier construction and better stability. Plans are sold as PDFs through retailers like Duckworks Boat Builders Supply (around $27–$30), and it is strictly an amateur/home-build project—no mass production or factory builder. Hundreds of Michalak designs (including Piccup variants) have been built worldwide since the 1990s, with the Piccup series prized for extreme simplicity, low cost (often using just 4 sheets of 1/4" plywood plus lumber and epoxy), car-toppability, and surprising performance for such a tiny boat. It features a multichine hull (for rounded sections without complex curves), leeboards (removable side-mounted boards for steering/lateral resistance), optional balanced lug or sprit rig for easy setup, and excellent rowing/sailing versatility as a daysailer, tender, or short camp-cruiser (sleeps one ashore or under a tent).