34-40' Lobster/Work boat designs.....??

[DiverDan]

Hello everyone,

Since we will be buying a house (with boat building space) within the next six months,I am really starting to look for plans for what I would want to build.

First off, let me describe what I want:
I like the layout of Lobster boats, we are SCUBA divers, and the open back deck is perfect for us. We do not need a huge cabin, but a couple bunks and some room to get out of the weather is really nice. Also, since we would like to go a good clip off shore, I would like something of heavy construction. Twin engines would be nice, and since I am becomming familar with them, I was thinking twin 120 Lehmans (or the Sabre equivilant). The reasons for twins are redundancy, so if one quits we can still limp back, and manuverablity in the tight marinas we have here in NJ.

Currently, I am running my rebuilt 32' Charles Hankins, which is pretty close to perfect except, the construction is fairly light, (7/8" Cedar Lapstrake over Oak frames) and she only has the single lehman.

So far I have looked at Glen-L's larger trawlers, but don't care for them. Have Buehlers book, and like the plans for Alaska, but I would square the stern and increase it's lenght by 10%. I like the heavey single chine construction of his designs.

So, any other suggestions for designs? Thanks so much.

d

[Pete Dorr]

Have a look at:

Boatbuilding Down East: How to Build the Maine Lobsterboat
by Royal Lowell

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0877420882/qid%3D1028818224/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/103-4009296-5676635

There is a hard-chine boat that I really liked. I don't remember the boat/plan name.

[ken mcclure]

Don't just look at it - buy it. It's a great book. Doesn't have a table of offsets tho. Get ahold of Wooden Boats to Build and Use by John Gardner from the WoodenBoat Store. There are a couple boats in there that may well suit your tastes. The one I'm thinking of in particular is the 37' Fishing Launch.

[holzbt]

Find a copy of "Wooden Boats To Build And Use" by John Gardner. Chapter 12, pg.146 37-Foot V-Bottom Fishing Launch. This boat looks like it could easily be converted to twin screw. You would have to re-design the keel and skeg and add stringer/engine beds. The plan calls for 7/8" plank but this boat could stand 1 1/8" or 1 1/4" if you felt that you needed it. Since you want twin screw you should have the power to handle the extra displacement.