Thread: displacment motor launch

You probably stumbled onto the Atkins site (www.atkinboatplans.com). These designs are well founded, by two classic and well known designers. I in fact have a double ended John Atkins 39' box keel, trawler, built in 1960 and one of John's last designs.

This said, these designs are dated, though a more modern upper works could be designed. They also don't incorporate any of the modern design and build techniques, so they're heavier and have less accommodations then recent designs. Lastly, they're both dead, so giving them a call to hash out an issue or questions, isn't possible.

There are other sites that have similar designs, that being well dated and in the public domain. Many of these designs don't even use plywood or refer to it as "laminated lumber" and have material lists that aren't possible to obtain in today's markets.

All these things can be addressed with some help. Old designs can be updated, construction methods changed, etc., but it usually requires some help from a pro.

So, I guess it depends on what you're truly after. Round bilge, chine, picnic boat, harbor launch, build method preferences, etc.

Can you refine you desires, maybe a picture of the style of craft you're interested in?

What PAR hasn't told you is that he is a designer & might just have a launch
or two that you'd be interested in. (How about it Paul?)

The launch available thru Boatcraft Pacific is a David Payne design.
He has several others direct off his website.

Google <build-a-boat boat plans> for more choices than you can poke
a stick at. You may well come across the site you had seen earlier.

Phil Bolger has done a couple of rather stunning old-style launches that might
fit your taste. "Alice" & "Fantail Launch" spring to mind. No web-site.

Old designs will be cheaper, but you won't get much support from their
designers. If you finish up paying someone to come out & advise you, the
cheap plans advantage evaporates real quick ! Also, 28-30' is a bit long for
trailering to be high on a designer's 'must-be' list. Might have fun locating
something under 8' wide. Unless you are willing to look at a sharpie cruiser,
in which case MIK is your man - also frequents these fora, website in his sig.

cheers
AJ

Well PAR has yacht designer printed right under his name so I don't think he's pulling a swifty.

I am aware of all those sites and the issues you raise. I'm not planning to build a fully framed lapstrake motor yacht from brazilian rosewood, bronze nails and bitumen.

I am mostly interested in looking over the lines of those designes. I find them more attractive than many modern offerings. I am a sailor, as in fabrick hung off a stick with the wind blowing on it, and find most motor boats not very appealing.

Finally if your going to introduce practicality into boatbuilding you'd never start a project.

PAR, thank you for the link. That is the site I was looking for. I had bookmarked it but lost it over time.

Thank you both for your replies.

I do have a few harbor launch designs, most round bilge a few hard chine. I also have several designs that have an "old school" look to them. If interested in seeing what I have, drop me an email (click on my name).