Moving small boat around on land ...
A great way to make small boats easier for one person to handle on land is to
make them into push/pull carts ...
Simply install a PVC pipe straight through the hull from one side to the
other, usually just above the floor in the middle of the boat is a good
location. This is the only permanent modification to the boat. Make sure
the pipe is straight when you epoxy/glass it into place, and cut it off flush
with the outside of the hull so it doesn't drag in the water when you're
using the boat.
Then get yourself a couple of utility (wheelbarrow) wheels and a steel shaft
that fits inside both the wheels and the pipe. The steel shaft will be the
axle so it needs to be a foot or so longer than the installed PVC pipe, then
it will stick out the ends of the pipe enough for the wheels to slide onto
it.
Now all you need is a way to hold the wheels onto the ends of the axle (big
washers and trailer hitch safety pins work well) and viola -- your boat has
become a cart that's easy to push or pull around on land!
Yes this adds a small amount of weight to the boat itself, but a short piece
of PVC pipe and a bit of extra glass/epoxy don't weigh very much -- and you
do not have to take the axle and wheels with you on the boat (unless you want
to of course).
Sometimes it's not so bad to have a boat that's a bit heavier than you might
like it. Heavier often means stronger, and that's a good thing. Besides,
there are other ways of moving small boats around on land rather than
carrying them, and this is one of my favorites ... :)
Sincerely,
Kenneth Grome
Bagacay Boatworks
www.bagacayboatworks.com
make them into push/pull carts ...
Simply install a PVC pipe straight through the hull from one side to the
other, usually just above the floor in the middle of the boat is a good
location. This is the only permanent modification to the boat. Make sure
the pipe is straight when you epoxy/glass it into place, and cut it off flush
with the outside of the hull so it doesn't drag in the water when you're
using the boat.
Then get yourself a couple of utility (wheelbarrow) wheels and a steel shaft
that fits inside both the wheels and the pipe. The steel shaft will be the
axle so it needs to be a foot or so longer than the installed PVC pipe, then
it will stick out the ends of the pipe enough for the wheels to slide onto
it.
Now all you need is a way to hold the wheels onto the ends of the axle (big
washers and trailer hitch safety pins work well) and viola -- your boat has
become a cart that's easy to push or pull around on land!
Yes this adds a small amount of weight to the boat itself, but a short piece
of PVC pipe and a bit of extra glass/epoxy don't weigh very much -- and you
do not have to take the axle and wheels with you on the boat (unless you want
to of course).
Sometimes it's not so bad to have a boat that's a bit heavier than you might
like it. Heavier often means stronger, and that's a good thing. Besides,
there are other ways of moving small boats around on land rather than
carrying them, and this is one of my favorites ... :)
Sincerely,
Kenneth Grome
Bagacay Boatworks
www.bagacayboatworks.com
> I'm not sure how much mine weighs, but it's heavier than it looks. I
> added a foredeck and some foam floatation, and used fir for the
> framing lumber. Using cedar would reduce the weight by several
> pounds, I believe. With the boat upside down and holding the
> gunwales at the balance point, I can press it over my head and hold
> it long enough to carry it a short distance and horse it onto the
> tailgate of my pickup, but it's an awkward process. It's very easily
> handled if you have a helper. If I had to guess, I'd say it weighs
> between 60 and 70 pounds. My Michalak Robote, much longer at 14' but
> using cedar for all the framing, is about the same chore to carry.
Hi Jon, Charles,
Tortoise. As far as I know, everything else is the same, although
the plans amount to only one sheet and don't show the sailing rig,
daggerboard, or rudder. If you want to build a sailing version, you
should pick up "Build the New Instant Boats" by Dynamite Payson to
get those details on the standard Tortoise plans.
I'm not sure how much mine weighs, but it's heavier than it looks. I
added a foredeck and some foam floatation, and used fir for the
framing lumber. Using cedar would reduce the weight by several
pounds, I believe. With the boat upside down and holding the
gunwales at the balance point, I can press it over my head and hold
it long enough to carry it a short distance and horse it onto the
tailgate of my pickup, but it's an awkward process. It's very easily
handled if you have a helper. If I had to guess, I'd say it weighs
between 60 and 70 pounds. My Michalak Robote, much longer at 14' but
using cedar for all the framing, is about the same chore to carry.
I don't have any photos of mine in the water posted on my website,
but it seemed to have plenty of room for me and my 60 lb. dog. I
haven't tried it with two people or the full load of builder, wife,
and dog yet.
I only built this boat because it nests inside the FastBrick (which I
haven't actually tried yet) that will be the tender for our eventual
cruiser. Depending on what you want the boat for, I would suggest
that June Bug (also in Payson's book) is a lot more boat for not much
more effort.
Jon Kolb
www.kolbsadventures.com/boatbuilding_index.htm
> Hi, this is a very well built Big Tortoise.Hey, thanks for the kind words!
>
>http://www.kolbsadventures.com/tortoise.htm
>
> Mr. Kolb does good work. I have one in my garage, not
> as pretty as that one. My next boat I build will be
> much nicer.
> It' 8' long, 38" beam and proportioned accordingly.
> I'm putting a sailing rig on mine a believe it will
> be a good boat.
> Two people can move it without too much trouble.
> I don't know how much mine weighs.
> > Does anyone know the difference between the 6'6" Tortoise and theAs mentioned, the boat is 8' long, versus 6'-6" for the standard
> "Big
> > Tortoise" . What are the dimensions of Big Tortoise and how heavy
> is it. Is
> > it just a scaled up version of Tortoise or are there proportion
> changes and
> > design differences also.
Tortoise. As far as I know, everything else is the same, although
the plans amount to only one sheet and don't show the sailing rig,
daggerboard, or rudder. If you want to build a sailing version, you
should pick up "Build the New Instant Boats" by Dynamite Payson to
get those details on the standard Tortoise plans.
I'm not sure how much mine weighs, but it's heavier than it looks. I
added a foredeck and some foam floatation, and used fir for the
framing lumber. Using cedar would reduce the weight by several
pounds, I believe. With the boat upside down and holding the
gunwales at the balance point, I can press it over my head and hold
it long enough to carry it a short distance and horse it onto the
tailgate of my pickup, but it's an awkward process. It's very easily
handled if you have a helper. If I had to guess, I'd say it weighs
between 60 and 70 pounds. My Michalak Robote, much longer at 14' but
using cedar for all the framing, is about the same chore to carry.
I don't have any photos of mine in the water posted on my website,
but it seemed to have plenty of room for me and my 60 lb. dog. I
haven't tried it with two people or the full load of builder, wife,
and dog yet.
I only built this boat because it nests inside the FastBrick (which I
haven't actually tried yet) that will be the tender for our eventual
cruiser. Depending on what you want the boat for, I would suggest
that June Bug (also in Payson's book) is a lot more boat for not much
more effort.
Jon Kolb
www.kolbsadventures.com/boatbuilding_index.htm
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "Jon Stone" <jonathan@...> wrote:
Hi, this is a very well built Big Tortoise.
http://www.kolbsadventures.com/tortoise.htm
Mr. Kolb does good work. I have one in my garage, not
as pretty as that one. My next boat I build will be
much nicer.
It' 8' long, 38" beam and proportioned accordingly.
I'm putting a sailing rig on mine a believe it will
be a good boat.
Two people can move it without too much trouble.
I don't know how much mine weighs.
Charles Rouse
>
> Hi all,
>
> Does anyone know the difference between the 6'6" Tortoise and the
"Big
> Tortoise" . What are the dimensions of Big Tortoise and how heavy
is it. Is
> it just a scaled up version of Tortoise or are there proportion
changes and
> design differences also.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
Hi all,
Does anyone know the difference between the 6'6" Tortoise and the "Big
Tortoise" . What are the dimensions of Big Tortoise and how heavy is it. Is
it just a scaled up version of Tortoise or are there proportion changes and
design differences also.
Thanks in advance.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Does anyone know the difference between the 6'6" Tortoise and the "Big
Tortoise" . What are the dimensions of Big Tortoise and how heavy is it. Is
it just a scaled up version of Tortoise or are there proportion changes and
design differences also.
Thanks in advance.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]