Thread: wanted plans for a small cartopper punt

I reckon driving a punt sucks, they wander all over the place with that flat bottom. I have been quite happy with a pram I built from the plans available here which I made from 4mm external ply from Bunnings. I've left it out in the weather for the past three years without any appreciable deterioration and it gets used by quite a few people down the hardstand to get out to their boats. Just leave out the centercase if you are going to power it (it lowers the LWL a lot).

Darce,

Nice little boat , but too small at 2.39 meters, I will be using on Dams , creeks and rivers,.

Thanks,
jeff
vk4

http://www.bowdidgemarinedesigns.com/Bowdidge_Marine_Designs_1/Magnum_10.html
Cheers,
Dave.

Dave,

I have the first MANGROVEJACK plan set No1, .The Magnum is only 15Kg's lighter and would not suit my needs.

I have drawn up a sketch for a 3.3Mt punt with a 1.2Mt beam and hull depth of 400mm , this I can build from 3 sheets of ply $.5mm thick, and it will weigh bugger all.

I intend to carry this on the roof of my Dual cab ute, when we go caravaning , as the MANGROVEJACK is too heavy for me to get up there,

hi vk4, I went through a similar situation myself about 18 months ago and I ended up getting a Porta-Bote the 10' model. They have several models available, I feel it would be worth the time to investigate it. You might be surprised.
Cheers Alby

Hi Alby,

Yes I have checked them out and the cost is prohibitive , even the 10Ft is over $1800.00 , I can build the Punt for less than $800.

I have trawled the free plans etc, and saw several boats that come close to what I want, but did not quiet fill my requirements.

So i have drawn a sketch plan for a n 11Ft V nose punt, with a 1.136Mt beam and hull depth of .4Mt, I will build with "E-LITE PLY 9mm"
This is a balsa ply and weighs-in at 10.5 Kg per sheet and will be for the bottom and seats, and 4mm ply for the sides,.

Jeff

vk4

Jeff
Talk about coincidence!
I 've spent the last hour watching videos and reading accounts of you building that mangrove jack on mark bowdidge's website.
I was seriously thinking of building one as a car topper.
How much does yours weigh? ( the boat )

Caliban

The boat weighs in at about 65Kg's, and as I tend to over build , that could be shaved down a couple of Kg's.

I used Pacific Maple Ply, and it is a bit heavier than the Kakoda , that Mark can source.

I have found a 9mm Balsa plywood , from JANDEN PLYWOOD , at Brendale QLD, that comes in at 10.6Kg per sheet , which is about 1.5Kg's lighter than the 6mm Pacific Maple.

I also watched the Magnum 12 , that Mark designed for car topping, and it weigh's the same as my Mangrovejack, and I think it is a bit more fiddlely to build , with the underfloor stringers and half frames , all of which have to be coved and glassed in. a good boat though.

Jeff
vk4