Small barge plans

[slaterturf]

I just returned the kayak I have been using in my pond to paddle around.  I used it to go to the drain and clean out the debris which had built up on the drain screen.  As the debris builds up, the level of the water in the pond rises.  I have to clean it out every couple of months.  The kayak worked OK.  Now however I have to come up with something else. I have used a canoe, but that canoe is no longer available. 

I have thought a barge would work best.  I could pole the barge around. The pond is only about an acre and a half and about 12 feet deep at the dam.

I googled for barge plans without much immediate success.  Then I figured the readers here would be my best resource. 

I expect you would ask for my design parameters ...  I want it to carry about 250 pounds. I weigh @ 185 and I want some extra capacity. It will be about 6' x 10' and shallow drafted.  I would say shallow drafted would be 4 to 6 inches.  I would be able to walk to the edge without it tipping over. I would propel it with a long pole.

Any experience out there?  Anyone know of any Internet resources at which to look?

Thanks.

[Peter HK]

Not sure if this helps but it would probably be stable enough and you could put an outboard on it and use it for fun in other places as well.

http://www.instantboats.com/skimmer.htm

My brother built a modified one for a quick & dirty boat building comp...with a 3.5hp outboard he estimated he was doing 15 knots :grin:

Cheers

Peter HK

[John Turpin]

What a fun little boat the Skimmer would be.  With no visible keel, I wonder how it would track.

[Peter HK]

With no visible keel, I wonder how it would track.

It has three 1.5 inch square skids full length along the bottom.

Cheers

Peter HK

[slaterturf]

Thanks, the Skimmer  looks suitable to my purposes.

[Johnny Socko]

A PDRacer hull with oar locks or a pole would be perfect. You could get it done in a weekend.