Lightest ply whitehall or double ender for...

[Dan St Gean]

rowing solo, yet capable of taking the wife and two kids on a spin around the lake? Cartopable is a plus but not mandatory. Lapstrake or strip preferred. Kit a possibility. Length 15-18. Inland lakes are the target waters.

Possible candidates:

CLC Wherry, Chester Yawl, Wherry
Ian Outred's many lovely designs
?
?

Dan :confused:

[AngWood]

If you're willing to accept 14 feet, you can't get much lighter than this:
http://gaboats.com/graphics/classic14_400.jpg

See http://gaboats.com/boats/classic14.html

Edited to add: the above boat weighs 54 lbs.

[ 03-04-2005, 11:48 AM: Message edited by: AngWood ]

[Dan St Gean]

I'm familiar with that boat and like it fine, but two rambunctious kids might do a number on the skin. I'm thinking glued lap.

Dan

[JimConlin]

The CLC Annapolis is basically a one person boat. Maybe two if they're dainty.
You might also look at the Cosine Wherry and Joel White's 'Shearwater'.

[Dan St Gean]

Thanks Jim,

I'l do just that.

Dan

[Dick Pendergast]

You might consider Doug Hylan's 13'Peapod. It rows great. Built with plywood lapstrake construction. Could be a car topper at about 135 lbs.

[George Roberts]

I have built 17' wood stip canoes suitable for 2 adults and 2 kids that weigh 40# or so.

I expect that with care any small boat design could be made light enough.

[Chris Stewart]

Originally posted by Dan St Gean:
I'm familiar with that boat and like it fine, but two rambunctious kids might do a number on the skin. I'm thinking glued lap.

DanIf you prefer glued lap, go for it, but if your only problem with the geodesic boat is the lightweight skin, you could use a heavier skin - 8 to 12 ounce nylon or 13 ounce dacron bought from:

Dyson, Baidarka & Company
435 West Holly St., Bellingham WA 98225
telephone: 360-734-9226 — fax: 360-671-9736

Much stronger than the 3.7 ounce dacron specified in the plans. (Of course, now the light ribs and stringers become the weak links.)

[BDann]

Check out Arch Davis Designs. He has a few designs that you might want to look at. He has excellent support available for the beginning builder as well.

Brian

[Tonyr]

Dan, a stretched Cosine Wherry would fit the bill. At around 16 feet it would probably weigh 125 to 150 pounds, would row nicely, and would take a (very small) outboard comfortably. The design is nominally 14 feet, but stretches easily.

A light duty trailer would be needed, of course.

Tony.

[ 03-04-2005, 09:08 PM: Message edited by: Tonyr ]

[JimConlin]

I haven't got 'em here, but I recollect that the Cosine Wherry book and plans had some methods and details which I thought could be improved upon. It's an appealing design, but if you decide to build one, i'd suggest that you carefully study other builders and designers' methods and details.

[rbgarr]

Brooks PEREGRINE might suit your rowing needs:

http://www.brooksboats.net/plansavail.html

[Scott P]

Pygmy Kayaks have a Whineglass Wherry that weighs in at 90lbs. Have built several of their kayaks and their kits and instructions are excellent. www.pygmyboats.com (http://www.pygmyboats.com)

[Tonyr]

RBGarr. After looking at it, I agree with your suggestion of Peregrine over the Cosine Wherry. It is better to go with a design which already meets a person's specifications, instead of trying to adapt a design to meet them. Peregrine's weight at less than 100 pounds for an 18 footer is pretty attractive.

Tony.

[ 03-05-2005, 01:13 PM: Message edited by: Tonyr ]

[Cuyahoga Chuck]

If you really want to go light you can't ignore S&G.
Boatplans-online offer the R13. 13½' x 52". In 6mm-9mm it's 100lb. In 4mm-6mm it's 65 lb.
It's not a whitehall but a traditional rowboat nonetheless.
http://www.boatplans-online.com/proddetail.php?prod=R13
Charlie

[rbgarr]

'Whineglass Wherry'... I like that term!

[Bruce Taylor]

Blackfly is primarily a sailboat, but weighs about 80 lbs.

http://www.comnet.ca/~btmo/

[Paulyboy]

Bruce, I have a stoopid question. I followed your link and looked at the construction photos. Is there only enough room for 1 person on a seat/ Or is there just a seat missing? I only see seating for 1 in this picture, unless you're really skinny.

[Christopher Locke]

Suggest Whisp by Stuart Redmond. 68 lb plywood, around 16', I think. Sort of a flatbottomed canoe with a transom and sail. Very simple to build (although I haven't done so).

[ 03-10-2005, 05:09 PM: Message edited by: Christopher Locke ]

[Bruce Taylor]

Or is there just a seat missing?The drawings specify an optional (or removable) thwart behind the fixed one (which has a structural function). I never installed the seat on my prototype, mainly because I usually sail alone.

As Christopher said, Redmond's Whisp would be an excellent choice.

http://www.sredmond.com/

[Hwyl]

Bolger light dory AKA Gloucester Gull

[ErikH]

Agree with the comments re CLC wherry--basically a 1 person boat, though you could certainly take a single kid in it. Great boat with a sliding seat; ours is a blast to row. but we're going to need another boat for family rows.

I love the shearwater but think it's a tad fat for serious rowing. the 'stretched' Shearwater plans I just got (18' long) are more to my taste; that boat should weight about 200 pounds and also be able to sail as well as row, with multiple rowing stations. let me know if you have any questinos about them.

Will it be just you rowing or will you need multiple rowing stations? Do you plan to use-now or later-a built in or drop in sliding seat? Do your kids wiggle and fuss a lot (in which case you'll need a more stable boat; rocking slows you WAY down) or do they stay still? Do you have any interest in sailing it?

Whitehall designs can frequently carry some decent weght (I've seen Shenadoah's used to ferry groups of passengers with ease) but some lighter built wherries may run into more trouble.

certainly the gloucester light dory is great heavily loaded; I've rowed one around Lake Tashmoo many times with 4 adults. It just gets more stable and increases waterline as it loads up. And, of course, it's relatively easy to build, fairly indestructible, and has a good opportunity for resale. Sort of a pain to row though when it's just you, as the high sides are less efficient.

[Steve Paskey]

Newfound Woodworks ( www.newfound.com (http://www.newfound.com) ) has a 17-foot strip-planked Whitehall. 95 pounds, available as plans or a complete kit. They also have a 17-foot Rangeley Lake boat and a 16-1/2 foot wherry, both of which have a bit more beam than the whitehall (48" vs. 42").

The Whitehall first, then two Rangeleys (a 15-footer to left, a 17-footer to right):

http://www.newfound.com/images/whitehall2.jpg
http://www.newfound.com/images/two-rangeleys.jpg

[ 03-13-2005, 08:34 AM: Message edited by: Steve Paskey ]

[Christopher Locke]

I'd be curious to know whether anyone has built either Steve Redmond's Whisp or his 15.5' Bluegill (a very simple, flatbottomed single-sail skiff for 4 people). I've ordered plans for both in a fit of plan-collecting. I've liked Whisp for years b/c it avoids the need to buy (and find a place to park) a trailer since you can cartop it.

[Dan St Gean]

Thanks for the responses guys.

At this point I have seen some great options.

CLC Skerry--but no whitehall transom
Glen L Whitehall
Outrehd's Acorn
Prymy's kit--but no lapstrake :(
Arch Davis Penobscott 17
Cosine wherry
Joel White Shearwater
Duck trap wherries
Kyrylko's Cottage skiff among others

Lots of plans out there. I know my friend with the 2 kids loves the strip look and the lapstrake look--and most of all the heart shaped transom.

Dan

[ChrisS]

Check out John Welsford's boats, he has several that may fit your bill, Joansa or Rogue perhaps?
http://www.jwboatdesigns.co.nz