Thoughts for a fishing boat...

[Nauvoo]

My good friend Ben and I like to fish the waters at the Jersey shore, mostly around Sandy Hook but also Great Bay and other areas. While we both love to be out on the water, his 20' deep-v is not my favorite form of conveyance; it uses a lot of fuel, it's loud, has less than optimal handling when things get rough, and tends to snap-roll in a chop.

Usually it's just the two of us, but on occasion we fish up to 4 people. We like to go out despite a little rain or rough water, and stay out all day in hopes of bringing home several weeks worth of fillets. It's also great therapy.

I'd like to build us a new (trailerable) boat, one that addresses the above issues.
I'm thinking of a semi-displacement hull, about 23-25 LOA', 7-8' of beam, 20-25hp diesel inboard, with a pilothouse.
I find the following boats appealing:

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/homefront5/Bonny_Lad.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/homefront5/bluemarlin.jpg

I'm looking at hulls that might fit the bill; Bill Atkin's Little Silver looks promising. I don't need to go faster than 12-14 knots, but I'd rather not be limited to 6 knots either. I'm wondering what a practical cruising speed/top speed would be for this hull, with a 20hp diesel? I realize that weight would be a big variable. All thoughts are welcome :).

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/homefront5/LittleSilver-3.gif

[Jim Ledger]

5 knots, tops, and you might want to bring a raincoat.

[Nauvoo]

Bill Atkin predicts 8 mph, with 10 hp.
http://www.boat-links.com/Atkinco/Cruisers/LittleSilver.html

Any thoughts for an alternative design?
The Spalding launch looks interesting as well:
http://books.google.com/books?id=Z-l5QSB7J_gC&pg=PA60&lpg=PA60&dq=eliot+spalding+launch&source=bl&ots=AZQEQ5Whiy&sig=Uve_9N565ZSGt4HyucyV33ZT0aA&hl=en&ei=KB4ES_LzMMqjlAeLuYjYAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=eliot%20spalding%20launch&f=false

http://www.woodenboatstore.com/20-Spalding-Utility-Launch/productinfo/400-124/

[Jim Ledger]

Bill Atkins would be wrong in that case.

If you ask Erster, he might be able to help you. Erster knows a little about building plywood boats for fishing.

[Spokaloo]

Sam Devlin is your man:

http://www.devlinboat.com/images/dunlin22-510px-2.jpg

http://www.devlinboat.com/images/dunlin22-57.jpg

And she can scoot!

http://www.devlinboat.com/images/dunlin22-61.jpg

The boat is called Dunlin, and is a new design in his portfolio.

E

[chicagoross]

I love that Dunlin! Kinda wondered, though, as it's the same length as Surf Scoter (another great looking boat from Devlin); both are listed as "semi-displacement". What are the pro's and cons - speeds, hp., etc.?

[Spokaloo]

CR, the Dunlin is a VERY similar hull shape to Nina (or Ninigret), being a Hand-type semi planing boat, where Surf Scoter is more akin to a planing hull that is very shallow vee'd aft to run with low power. Dunlin has those same round sections amidships as my boat, so she's going to be a more efficient boat at those middle speeds than SS, but won't have the overall speed potential.

E

[chicagoross]

:cool:I better order study plans for Dunlin...might have to build one.:)