Quick-Build

[Ken_Potts]

A friend of mine has suggested putting together a quick, cheap boat for a season or two. The catch is we want to take it out to the coast for the second week in april so it has to be a really quick build.

We want to put it together with 3 sheets or less of cheap plywood and hopefully finish it in a weekend or two (but not three).

Suggestions?

Actually it's the perfect project for throwing something vaguely boat shaped together by eye and finding out through experience what's wrong with it...

[Ed Hawkins]

I'd vote for either a weekend skiff or a Dave Carnell version of Windsprint. I build one of the Dave Carnell boats last year and had a good bit of fun with it. As directed, it's a bit flexible. I'll probably add a little framing this spring.

[Ken_Potts]

Thanks for the advice, guys.

I like the Weekend Skiff and the Windsprint but I forgot to mention that I will be carrying the boat in the back of a small pickup.

The Elegant Punt does look like a very quick build. With the short waterline and all that rocker I can picture it riding right over steep chop as dry as you say it is.

The intended use is for puttering about on the sound, fishing, and tending a couple of crab pots. Nothing too serious. I like the suggestion of donating the boat. I can't imagine what it would be like to be 9 or 10 years old and suddenly have a FREE, REAL boat.

I'll show my friend the boats and see what he thinks. One of these days I need to buy that Payson book...

[Ken_Potts]

Ray,

The more I look at that Elegant Punt the more useful it appears. Thanks for the recommendation - When I build one I'll use decent wood.

My friend and I have decided to take the foolish route, though, and build something to our design. It's vaguely jon boat shaped but small enough for the back of my truck (or hopefully the roof of his car).

The (cheap) wood has been purchased and weather permitting we're going to see how far we can get on the project this weekend.

I'll post an update with the progress next week.

Hmm... I wonder if I should post here or in the main forum?

[brian watkins]

I recently recieved a set of plans for jeff Spira's Nova Scotia Grand Banks dory. The boat is designed to be built with easlily available materials. Althogh not as simple as some of the instant boat-type skiffs, it looks like a very good boat for salt water. The interior is left largely to you to figure out. There is a very simple rudder and mast design included, although I think the sail rig itself is too complicated for a non-centerboard dory. I would use a sprit or lug-sail, not worry about a centerboard and expect to row to windward or make a lot of tacks. I understand dories can sail (somewhat) to windward without a center-board because of their underwater shape (comments from experienced dory users?). Spira offers other boats and dories as well.

I had heard mixed reviews of his stuff in the past. I can only say that I got my plans in 4 days and they are clear and well-drawn. I believe this boat would be as simple as many less-capable boats to build, as long as you understand the fact that it is a basic workboat (which is what attracted me to it). Anyway, some food for thought for you!

[brian watkins]

I just read your requirements more carefully. This dory is probably too big. Oh well, I'm still interested in comments regarding this design, as I like the simplicity and purity of it. Thanks!

[Ken_Potts]

My friend and I decided to go ahead with a quick-build of my design. It resembles the Elegant Punt a bit but the design started with a jon-boat shape and sort of evolved towards a doryish thing before we started to build.

Thanks for all the good suggestions. I'm going to post a pic or two in the main forum (the boat is nearly finished).

And Ray - I advocated marine ply but my friend (the boat's owner) didn't want to go to the extra expense/bother/time of buying it. we used cheap stuff and there is a photograph of the exact moment that Mike decided he would rather have used marine ply (see the post in the main forum for the picture)