Aurai - according to Greek mythology “the breezy daughters of the Wind Gods, the nymphs of the breezes - subtle, gentle and very difficult to pin down.”
Overview - the Aurai 17
The Aurai 17 is hand-built of wood in Europe by
artisan craftsmen using the finest grade materials. The result is beautiful, elegant and fun.
The wood is prepared meticulously, and each boat receives deep, rich paints and varnish to
produce a mirror-like finish. Virtually every piece of hardware is handmade and cast in bronze. Plus, we only build a small number of boats each year, which allows close attention to every detail.
The Aurai 17 is a boat that beckons you from afar. A beautifully proportioned design, the Aurai 17 quite simply looks perfect on the water. Old world, new world, science and beauty come together in a design that employs modern materials and construction methods. Collaborating closely with Arch Davis, the designer of the venerable Penobscot 17, we have developed a masterful work of art.
But it isn’t enough to just build another attractive boat. We’ve made certain the Aurai 17 sails well, too. Her versatility, ease of sailing and safety makes her a joy to sail. She’s an excellent choice for novices, yet fast and nimble enough to challenge and satisfy the more experienced sailor. What’s more, the Aurai 17’s spacious, comfortable cockpit will easily accommodate four adults.
Without question, the Aurai 17 is a magnet that draws attention wherever she is sailed. This handsome craft is targeted at the discerning sailor who appreciates the allure and indulgence of an authentic, handcrafted wooden boat of the finest quality. Consider these details:
- A 17-foot, gunter rigged, centerboard daysailer, with lapstrake hull, spruce spars and cream sails. Her simple, efficient rig ensures excellent performance under sail in light to moderate winds. She is a pleasure to sail with crew or singled-handed, as the centerboard and jib are easily managed from the helmsman’s position. The mainsail has fixed reefing points for reducing sail easily. Moreover, she tracks straight and rows fast, in the tradition of her sleek cousins of the Whitehall family of pulling boats.
- The hull is hand-built in Europe by Orion Yachtbuilding using a stringer-frame system, with a glued-lapstrake skin of 6 mm Lloyds’ certified okoume plywood. The hull is carefully faired, then sealed inside and out with multiple coats of epoxy resin before finish painting. The exterior is also sheathed with a single layer of fiberglass set in epoxy. Paint and varnish are Interlux® Perfection throughout. Built-in buoyancy compartments fore and aft provide positive flotation. A short keel to improve tracking runs aft from the stem. Two small storage coolers are set on either side of the mast, and slotted seat fronts provide access for lots of storage. The handsome satin-gloss varnish teak gunwales and bright gloss mahogany transom form a striking contrast against the deep gloss and color of the hull. The hull’s artistry is further enhanced by the use of laid teak for its foredeck and thwarts. A bronze stem plate and tough teak keel shoe protect the hull.
- The centerboard, constructed with stainless steel plate, is clad with wood and then housed inside a fiberglass envelope. The oiled iroko floorboards lift out in sections for cleaning.
- Great care has been taken with her hardware. Polished bronze is used throughout. The artists and engineers at Port Townsend Foundry have custom-crafted many bronze fittings for the Aurai 17.
- The mast and spars are crafted from Sitka spruce. The keel-stepped mast is triple-stayed with two shrouds and a forestay of stainless steel wire with quick release pelican hooks. The boom and gaft are affixed by bronze goosenecks, and bronze sail track is used along the luff of the main so that rigging only takes 10 - 15 minutes. What’s more, all spars stow neatly inside the hull, making for a clean and smart package for towing.
- The hand-sewn sails are supplied by HT Sails and are crafted of cream-dyed Dacron. Bronze jib hanks complete the package.
- The Aurai 17 is supplied with two sets of bronze oarlocks, enabling her to be rowed solo or tandem. Shaw & Tenney oars are available as an option.
- An optional custom trailer is available as well. Powder coat finished to coordinate with the hull, the trailer incorporates guide rollers that ensure the boat is self-aligned as she is winched on.
| Aurai 17 |
| LOA |
17’-0” |
| Beam |
5’-4” |
| Weight |
475 lbs. |
| Height |
21 ft |
| Draft |
3 ft. |
| Sail Area |
132 sq. ft. |
| Main |
95 sq. ft. |
| Jib |
37 sq. ft. |
| Hull Color / Rubbing Strake |
Mauritius Blue / Chili Red |
| |
Chili Red / Mauritius Blue |
| Interior Color |
Oyster White |
| Callisto Sailcraft Aurai 17 Prices |
| Complete Aurai 17 |
$30,000 |
| Optional color-coordinated trailer |
$ 1,500 |
| Optional Shaw & Tenney spruce oars |
$ 390 per set
|
All Aurai 17’s are constructed in batches, which means there are usually boats readily available, so please phone or email to inquire about availability. If a boat is not immediately available, please plan about two months from deposit until delivery. A non-refundable deposit of $5,o00 is required to reserve a production slot. Prices do not include shipping. Owners have the option of picking up their Aurai 17 or receiving free delivery within the Puget Sound area. Cost for shipping elsewhere, depending on distance, ranges from $600 - $900.
Coming summer 2010. Created for the pure joy of simple sailing, the new Taras 15 is aimed at sailors who are looking for a touch of excitement. Easily handled, she’s a flat-bottomed skiff with lapstrake sides and a ticket to speed over the water. Exhilarating to sail in a good breeze yet forgiving to the exuberance of young sailors, the self-bailing Taras 15 has a large flotation compartment in the bottom, and large freeing ports in the transom. Built by same artisans who handcraft the Aurai 17, and using the same exacting attention to craftsmanship, fit and finish, the Taras 15 is an outstanding choice for new sailors.
Overview - the Taras 15