Thread: Sea going rowboat design considerations

Hi all,

I built a Herreshoff rowboat out of Gardner's "Building classic Small Craft" however slightly modified it to an overall length of 15 feet and went for the lightest possible construction using 6mm gaboon for the bottom and 4mm for the sides with WRC gunwhales, seat and trim and 3 midhsip frames plus a couble of athwartship stiffeners to stop sticking my foot through the bottom.

I built a pair of spoons but offhand dont know their lengths.

It rowed beautifully the only minor issue was that it had slightly disproportionate rocker, having been shortened from 17 feet. I played with a masters design coz im stupid and wanted something more easily car toppable, which I achieved. It is light but still as bulky as id like to go for regular manhandling. Weights overall would not be much over 20kg. I was a nut about keeping it light.

Having more rocker in proportion to its length made me think a small skeg might help as it is a definate one person only boat (therefore wont be rowed 'backwards' as the original was intended when going double).

I havnt got any pics to show at the moment....oh and as a final comment if lightweight for car topping and carrying aline wasnt highest on the list id go for 6mm topsides and 9mm botton.

I did love the feeling though, that it almost wanted to plane pulling hard ont he oars or down a wave although of course it wasnt.

Regarding the lenght I dont think I lost much by shortening it due to its weight but I should have flattened the rocker out as well.

And finally the versoin I built was the original (not the slightly Gardner mod) in Building Classic Small Craft.

Mike

Originally Posted by Compass Project

I am tempted to shorted Drake, cut the V off slightly enough to make a plank keel, and really use light timbers and you'd be able to go anywhere.....

....If he wants to hand carry solo, the only way that is going to happen is with a guideboat built very, very light, which was the point with all the guideboats, to be portaged.

Clint

So.......

the perfect coastal rower.... launch and retrieve anywhere.. a rowing "sea kayak" in delivery of pleasure

a shorter, lighter, narrow flat bottom Drake, built in vacuum infused kevlar epoxy for hand carry, just like the Guideboats who build 200 boats a year

http://www.adirondack-guide-boat.com...evlarboat.html

Sound great

Brian

Regarding a sea-going row-boat, that's what I am building right now so you might be interested in the research I have already done. I wanted a boat that can run along easily and was adaptable for one or two people. Like you, I live on the coast so the ability to negotiate chop and waves is my priority also. I decided on dimensions of about 5.5m long and about 1m wide with a bit of 'banana' for better sea going qualities. A critical point here is that the boat must be able to get rid of any shipped water.

There are tons of kit boats with those dimensions around the world but non are self draining so you would need a pump. (CLCBoats.com have the Annapolis Wherry and Chester Yawl). Another beautiful boat is the "Derwent Skiff" by Allan Whit is Hobart which is available fully built by him or as a stitch and glue kit. There are aslo quite a few self-draining boats but I couldn't see any in DIY form. Examples are the Coastal Rowing boats eg "Yole" from Virusboats.com. The main problem I foresee with the
high-stern boats (Wherry, Yawl, Skiff) are that they would be a pain in ster-quarter following conditions and without a steering system I reckon you would rowing one side most of the time - this is due to the unnecessary rising freeboard in the stern of those traditional boats.

...So, I decided to design my own from scratch for strip-plank contsruction out of Huon Pine (best boat-building tmber in the world.) I drew 1/10th plans then scaled up to full size templates and have mounted 12 forms on a jig which is nearly ready to take the first strip...I machined the rough sawn Huon down to 35mmx10mm strips and have the bead and cover router bits to apply to each edge. My cramped workshop smells a treat at the moment with deep huon pine and king billy dust.

The boat is going to be self draining by installing a false floor and internal tanking and a "no-back transom" like the racing yachts. Givien my background as one who has competed in surfboats, my boat has a lot of influence from those craft and aslo the surf skis.

Your requirement about steerability is one I have thought about too - I am going to start with a tiller over a rudder mounted under the craft at the the end of the skeg so that it doesn't tend to pop out when on a "steepie" (wave). The idea is, I row onto the wave, lay back to allow the oars to trail along the sides of the boat, then I go aft and take the tiller facing forward (just as surfboat rowers do). Plan B is to have a small flat bladed oar mounted in a rowlock on the transom which I use just like the sweep of a surfboat. I may do both and also attach the rudder to a foot tiller or pedals...

Anyway, that's what I've been up to.

Drosso, anyway of showing us what she looks like?

Talking of commercially available self draining open water rowing boats, the Echo has to be right at the top of the choices. You can climb back in if you fall out, I have done it, she is self draining even has a dinghy self bailer. You can sit on the side decks and lift your feet inboard as you launch from the beach. She is a terrific boat, and if the import costs weren't so great I would import one from the US. My son luckily managed to buy one in the UK and it is a terrific boat.

This video of rowing in very rough tidal waters, like our own, sold it to us.

http://www.echorowing.com/images/LornaRough.MPG

Brian

Yes Brian, I will put up some photos after I have a few planks on.

The Echo would be perfect for someone who just wants something off the shelf and not wooden.

If you want a similar boat, have a look at : virusuk.demon.co.uk and check out the Yole and Turbo.

Drosso

I was rather taken by the Brightside's Handliner design. It's history as a working man's coastal rowing and fishing boat struck a cord. Some of the best cod fishing in the UK lies of the beach where I live. The plans are very reasonable so I ordered a set, which have just arrived.

They are very clear and concise and include a 67 page building manual. One thing in particular is nice to see. The complaint by epoxy clinker builders is that S&T is a floppy mess while assembling the hull, offering no reassurance that the hull will be straight and true. These plans come with a simple building jig/frame which ensures the stitched hull is straight and true and that the beam and gunnel heights are held at the correct position and heights.

The boat calls for just three sheets of 6mm, so even I may risk a go.

Brian

Originally Posted by keyhavenpotter

So.......

the perfect coastal rower.... launch and retrieve anywhere.. a rowing "sea kayak" in delivery of pleasure

a shorter, lighter, narrow flat bottom Drake, built in vacuum infused kevlar epoxy for hand carry, just like the Guideboats who build 200 boats a year

http://www.adirondack-guide-boat.com...evlarboat.html

Sound great

Brian

Brian, You betcha about the Guideboat. I know them well in that I am usually right behind the good rowers in Guideboats. I chased one for 8miles around a recent race. My 135lb 17'4 plywood boat did OK against the 40 lb Kevlar guideboat. It got me thinking about a more competitive boat for racing and the boat I plan to build for this purpose is Gartside's Flashboat. I won't even bother to design something as good...would rather design other things and build the established rowboats. I do think Drake could be cutoff along the bottom, lightened up, and become competitive both in speed and marketing. You have to be ready for guideboat rowing...it is a different style and flow than Drake. I like a low, slow, powerful stroke without crossover in the hands on the pull. Guideboats require a lot of crossover and a faster rating for them to work well.

Daddles, what is your latest thought on the rowboat for your waters?

Do you have a link to this Brian?You've piqued my curiosity.
Cheers,
Dave.

HI Dave

here is the link to Larry Westlake's, the designers website.

http://westlakeboats.ca/

on the right hand side there is a list of his designs and Brightside is listed there.



Brian

Originally Posted by Compass Project

a more competitive boat for racing and the boat I plan to build for this purpose is Gartside's Flashboat.

You have to be ready for guideboat rowing...it is a different style and flow than Drake. I like a low, slow, powerful stroke without crossover in the hands on the pull. Guideboats require a lot of crossover and a faster rating for them to work well.

While we wait for Daddles......

Clint, the Gartside Flashboat has been a favourite of mine for some time. There was a superb article by Paul in Water Craft of rowing it 2000 miles in the Yukon. Did you see that? Could fax you a copy if you liked. I feel sure people would pay for a professional built Flashboat.

Thanks for the description of rowing the two different types of boat. Helps when you have never seen a Guideboat in the flesh.

Brian

Brian, I would love the article. You could scan and email it...cheaper than fax overseas?

I'm glad you think the Flashboat would be marketable. Maybe not this year but next I'll put one out there.

Clint

Originally Posted by keyhavenpotter

While we wait for Daddles......

I have no interest in composite boats.
I have no interest in sliding seats or other stuff like that.
I have a need to carry passengers and my dog.
Nah, this discussion, while remaining useful, has moved outside of my requirements, but that's okay, you blokes keep talking, the thread's serving other useful purposes.

Richard

And possibly that last post reads grumpily whereas it wasn't meant that way.
I'm tired.

Richard

We'll help Daddles in the other thread, but for now this is a good thread.

Here is another good (biG) discussion on BoatDesign.net

http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/boa...oat-14250.html

Cheers,
Clint