Cartopper Honu Iti
Hello: I uploaded some photos of my finished Cartopper rowboat project to the bolger photo album section: Cartopper Honu Iti. I built the mast step to eventually support a sprit sailing rig, but, for now she is a rowboat and tender for my Yankee Dolphin sailboat. The name Honu Iti means "little turtle" in Polynesian. When I was building her upside down, her shape reminded me of a turtle's shell.
I am delighted at her rowing performance, and she practically floats above the water when towed behind another boat as a tender. You have to be careful getting in and out, placing your feet near centerline, but she is quite stable once you're seated. I'll take that trade-off any day to realize her gliding ability through the water.
While I was able to get her on top of my Volvo's luggage racks a couple of times, it was definitely a two-person operation. Since I wanted to be able to go rowing solo, I bought and built a Harbor Freight 8' x 4' utility trailer for transport that has turned out to be the best solution for me.
The oars I made from Ash closet poles, and are much too heavy for more than half-hour outings. I plan on refining the shape and adding fiberglass blades, as Phil suggested. The long thin blades are patterned after the late, great Pete Culler's oars-- with the concept that less windage is more important than torque, at least for long distance rowing.
My plans for Cartopper were supplemented by Dynamite's excellent, step-by-step, instructions in the book, "Instant Boatbuilding with Dynamite Payson."
--Cheers, Barry
I am delighted at her rowing performance, and she practically floats above the water when towed behind another boat as a tender. You have to be careful getting in and out, placing your feet near centerline, but she is quite stable once you're seated. I'll take that trade-off any day to realize her gliding ability through the water.
While I was able to get her on top of my Volvo's luggage racks a couple of times, it was definitely a two-person operation. Since I wanted to be able to go rowing solo, I bought and built a Harbor Freight 8' x 4' utility trailer for transport that has turned out to be the best solution for me.
The oars I made from Ash closet poles, and are much too heavy for more than half-hour outings. I plan on refining the shape and adding fiberglass blades, as Phil suggested. The long thin blades are patterned after the late, great Pete Culler's oars-- with the concept that less windage is more important than torque, at least for long distance rowing.
My plans for Cartopper were supplemented by Dynamite's excellent, step-by-step, instructions in the book, "Instant Boatbuilding with Dynamite Payson."
--Cheers, Barry