Re: Decisions decisions. A first time builder.....
I recall seeing the plans for Fast Brick. Not sure I'd call it simple,
from what I recall. I think if you're going to build something large,
you might want to consider a small, nice rowing boat first. You will
probably end up using it more, and you can use it as a tender. Much less
of a monstrously size project, too. Meanwhile you will develop
preferences for your bigger project before committing to doing it any
particular way. The smaller the boat, the more it gets used. I have a
weakness for Michalak's QT Skiff, but I'm not you. If you really don't
want it, just send it to me! (But I already have two rowing boats.)
from what I recall. I think if you're going to build something large,
you might want to consider a small, nice rowing boat first. You will
probably end up using it more, and you can use it as a tender. Much less
of a monstrously size project, too. Meanwhile you will develop
preferences for your bigger project before committing to doing it any
particular way. The smaller the boat, the more it gets used. I have a
weakness for Michalak's QT Skiff, but I'm not you. If you really don't
want it, just send it to me! (But I already have two rowing boats.)
>donschultz8275" <donschultz@...>snip
>Subject: Decisions decisions. A first time builder.....
>
>After decades of owning factory built boats of wood, aluminium and
>fibreglas, I'm about ready to build what I want, not what others
>thought I should have. My needs are simple but the boat needs to be
>flexible in the missions it can address. Definitely a 50' finish,
>and I like the idea of it being an eyecatcher because of unusual
>appearance. It'll spend most of its life on a trailer under a roof
>in Northern Illinois, with occasional major trips to Canada. Rivers,
>smaller lakes, and some careful forays on the Great Lakes are what's
>planned.
>
>I am close to deciding what to build first. I had considered a
>really simple project, like a Fast Brick, or one of the prams from
>free plans. But I really didn't want to own such a boat.
>
>is
> 1. Build a stretched Bolger Cabin Clam Skiff. I would build from
> BWOM and include a stretch to 22'. The slot-top cabin doesn't seem
> difficult enough to justify buying the plans. All the info needed
> in the book.On the cabin plans the sheer is different. It is higher and flatter
in the middle along the cabin sides ( about 2 inches in the middle).
The wales are also doubled to 3 inches outside from the cabin
forward. The interior layout is different also but you would build
that to suit. Michalak recommends a fabric cover with snaps for the
slot as being more user friendly than a sliding board.
Charles
After decades of owning factory built boats of wood, aluminium and
fibreglas, I'm about ready to build what I want, not what others
thought I should have. My needs are simple but the boat needs to be
flexible in the missions it can address. Definitely a 50' finish,
and I like the idea of it being an eyecatcher because of unusual
appearance. It'll spend most of its life on a trailer under a roof
in Northern Illinois, with occasional major trips to Canada. Rivers,
smaller lakes, and some careful forays on the Great Lakes are what's
planned.
I am close to deciding what to build first. I had considered a
really simple project, like a Fast Brick, or one of the prams from
free plans. But I really didn't want to own such a boat.
I seriously considered a Bolger Idaho, but it is a rather single
dimension "picnic boat", and 30'+ long to boot. My older boys and I
like to water ski occasionally. The AF4 and AF4G are handsome boats,
but a bit on the lightly built side for what I"d like to do.
So I've settled on 2 designs, both of which will need mods to suit my
desire for a rugged flat bottomed outboard powered boat that will
serve as an occasional camper/water skiing/cruising boat. It is
possible I'll actually change motors when changing missions, till I
have the bucks for a 4 stroke Yamaha. For now, it'll be a 50HP 2
stroke Suzuki, and/or an older 18hp Evinrude. The Evinrude would be
mounted in place of the Suzuki when I intend to cruise slower for
longer distances and don't need the Suzuki's power or fuel
consumption.
1. Build a stretched Bolger Cabin Clam Skiff. I would build from
BWOM and include a stretch to 22'. The slot-top cabin doesn't seem
difficult enough to justify buying the plans. All the info needed is
in the book. Each side is still 3 pieces of of plywood with the
excess utilized in the shoe. The stretch will require no more than
about 2 sheets of 1/2" plywood. I'll keep the same beam, and cabin
size, so the extra length will be expressed in an extended forward
cockpit. I have the thought of making the glass house removeable.
2. A "beefed up" AF4G. It would be better to think of it as a
Bolger Clam Skiff built using the AF4G lines. The AF4 as designed is
intended for smaller motors and "gentle" cruising, but I want to run
50hp, and do some occasional water skiing. This would be foolhardy
w' a plans built AF4x. I'm confident the boat would disintegrate in
short order. The CCSkiff bottom and transom are designed to handle
the HP. Building to CCSkiff specs including the Bolger "shoe" on the
bottom will provide the strength to do the job. The slot top cuddy
supports the camping I wish to do, and the boat is handsome.
Either would be glassed only on the bottom to maybe 1 foot above the
chines.
Either boat above seems to meet my wants. The key differences are
the choice of a traditional fwd cuddy, or the aft glass house
approach. The inate ruggedness of the CCSkiff is good, and I like
the roominess of the glass house compared to the cuddy of the AF4G
So whatcha think?
fibreglas, I'm about ready to build what I want, not what others
thought I should have. My needs are simple but the boat needs to be
flexible in the missions it can address. Definitely a 50' finish,
and I like the idea of it being an eyecatcher because of unusual
appearance. It'll spend most of its life on a trailer under a roof
in Northern Illinois, with occasional major trips to Canada. Rivers,
smaller lakes, and some careful forays on the Great Lakes are what's
planned.
I am close to deciding what to build first. I had considered a
really simple project, like a Fast Brick, or one of the prams from
free plans. But I really didn't want to own such a boat.
I seriously considered a Bolger Idaho, but it is a rather single
dimension "picnic boat", and 30'+ long to boot. My older boys and I
like to water ski occasionally. The AF4 and AF4G are handsome boats,
but a bit on the lightly built side for what I"d like to do.
So I've settled on 2 designs, both of which will need mods to suit my
desire for a rugged flat bottomed outboard powered boat that will
serve as an occasional camper/water skiing/cruising boat. It is
possible I'll actually change motors when changing missions, till I
have the bucks for a 4 stroke Yamaha. For now, it'll be a 50HP 2
stroke Suzuki, and/or an older 18hp Evinrude. The Evinrude would be
mounted in place of the Suzuki when I intend to cruise slower for
longer distances and don't need the Suzuki's power or fuel
consumption.
1. Build a stretched Bolger Cabin Clam Skiff. I would build from
BWOM and include a stretch to 22'. The slot-top cabin doesn't seem
difficult enough to justify buying the plans. All the info needed is
in the book. Each side is still 3 pieces of of plywood with the
excess utilized in the shoe. The stretch will require no more than
about 2 sheets of 1/2" plywood. I'll keep the same beam, and cabin
size, so the extra length will be expressed in an extended forward
cockpit. I have the thought of making the glass house removeable.
2. A "beefed up" AF4G. It would be better to think of it as a
Bolger Clam Skiff built using the AF4G lines. The AF4 as designed is
intended for smaller motors and "gentle" cruising, but I want to run
50hp, and do some occasional water skiing. This would be foolhardy
w' a plans built AF4x. I'm confident the boat would disintegrate in
short order. The CCSkiff bottom and transom are designed to handle
the HP. Building to CCSkiff specs including the Bolger "shoe" on the
bottom will provide the strength to do the job. The slot top cuddy
supports the camping I wish to do, and the boat is handsome.
Either would be glassed only on the bottom to maybe 1 foot above the
chines.
Either boat above seems to meet my wants. The key differences are
the choice of a traditional fwd cuddy, or the aft glass house
approach. The inate ruggedness of the CCSkiff is good, and I like
the roominess of the glass house compared to the cuddy of the AF4G
So whatcha think?