The Bluenose Sloop is a traditional wooden design: relatively long, low and narrow with a full, weighted keel. The wooden boats are Bermuda rigged and are constructed of carvel planking (planks flush, not overlapping) over steam-bent frames. The fiberglass boats are made of glass-reinforced plastic (GRP). They have a small cuddy at the head of the cockpit, but are otherwise built along the same lines as their wooden counterparts.
The full specification of the Bluenose Class draws from three separate documents: the original Roue plans, the Class one-design sail pattern, and the Class Association constitution. These are discussed in the sections that follow.
The following dimensions have been gathered from a variety of sources. They should in general be fairly accurate, but should not be considered authoritative.
| Length, overall | 23' 5" |
| Length, waterline | 16' 0" |
| Beam | 6' 3" |
| Depth | 2' 4" |
| Draft | 3' 8" |
| Displacement | 2,050 lbs |
| Keel ballast, wooden design | 750-755 lbs lead |
| Keel ballast, fiberglass design | 815-900 lbs cast iron |
| Height of mast above deck | 28' 9" |
| Length of boom | 12' 4" |
| Sail area | 218 sq. ft. |
The original Roué plans are easily the best source of design information for the class. In addition to providing the lines of the hull itself, they also give complete specifications of the rigging, many aspects of which are not available elsewhere. For example, the position of chainplates and attachment points of stays and shrouds must conform to the Roué plans for a yacht to be eligible for Class Association events.
Copies of the original plans are available from the Roué family. Further questions or requests should be directed to RoueInfo@aol.com.
If you want your Bluenose Sloop to meet current Bluenose Class code, upfit requirements are covered explicitly in the by-laws of the Class Association.
May 2007 NOTE - The Bluenose Class Association has recently passed a new by-law for a new sail plan. Please visit their site for more details.
The original design called for a mainsail, jib, working jib and spinnaker. Some time later a genoa was added having a considerably lower aspect ratio. It sheeted in well aft of the shrouds, often attached to movable blocks on deck tracks parallel to the toe rails. In the early 1990s, the genoa was replaced by a blade jib as the officially sanctioned primary foresail. It just clears the mast during a tack and sheets to a position between the mast and the attachment point of the shrouds.
The by-laws of the Class Association specify a number of characteristics of the rigging and other dimensions. In some cases they supplement the Roué plans and in others they establish allowable bounds of variation. The following excerpt is taken from the constitution of the Class Association and represents all of the rigging specifications included there. It is reproduced here in order to encourage uniformity throughout the fleet.
A. The mast shall be made of wood in accordance with the Roué Plans or straight section aluminum.
B. Rotating masts or permanently bent masts are prohibited. Adjustable mast steps or partners are prohibited.
C. The boom must be wood or straight section aluminum. The foot of the mainsail must fasten in a straight line in both plan and profile.
D. The spinnaker and whisker pole shall be a maximum 7' 8.5" overall, including fittings when measured square off. The pivot point on the forward side of the mast shall not project forward more than 1.5" and must be seated home against the mast.
E. In building the mast, backing blocks may be inserted at points where fittings are attached.
A. Rigging shall be as shown on Roué Plans as to position, number and length of stays except as otherwise specified in this Constitution.
B. Spreaders shall be made of one piece, rigid wood, aluminum or steel.
C. The method of attaching the rigging to the spar is optional.
D. Running backstays as shown on the Roué plans shall not be used.
E. The method for sheeting the mainsail and headsail is optional, but the fittings for the sheets must be placed so that they do not protrude outside or beyond the hull.
F. Specific dimensions and restrictions as outlined below correspond to the measurement points as shown on the attached diagram. Those identified as mandatory do not have grandfather clause provisions for existing yachts. All dimensions apply to new yachts or replacement of existing equipment.
G. Other restrictions; adjustable forestays, adjustable jumperstays from deck level, hydraulics of any kind, foil headstays, as well as on board computer systems are not allowed.
The following side and top view drawings were made by Scott Flinn based on a half-hull model crafted by Brian Steves and measurements taken directly from B68 (Freedom, owned by Alan Chandler).