Sliding Seat Rowboat

[DougC]

My 16 ft. Swampscott dory “Tringa” is in the water, and even though there’s still a lot to do (make a mast, sail and rudder) I find myself thinking about what’s next. Would love to build another Dory, but that would be redundant. What I need is a light boat I can cartop and go off exploring. I’m thinking either a sliding seat pulling boat (have wanted to get into that for a while now) lapstrake canoe.
I like Ken Bassett’s firefly a lot, simple design, V bottom looks fast and fairly stable. I searched the archives and came up with a bit of info on it. Anyone have any experience with this one? Also like his “Liz”, though it’s construction looks pretty complicated, I think I would go for cedar and rivets on that design, which would up the weight, time and degree of difficulty. The Annapolis Wherry from CLC would get my vote but only comes as a kit (no plans available). Their Oxford shell looks good, but a little narrow for a novice. Glen-L has plans for a simple and light “sculling skiff” with a sliding seat. Its specs (17' x 27")are close to the well-regarded Alden Ocean shell, but it looks like it has a flat bottom (anyone ever seen one of these?).
If I used a drop in sliding seat mechanism I would have some more options, including canoes. Then there’s the Adirondack Guideboat, but the only plans I can find are for cedar strip construction which I’m not too keen on.
Doug

[Steve Lansdowne]

No doubt about it, you've got woodenboatitis real bad. There is no cure!!!

Build 'em all so you can compare them firsthand.

[Wiley Baggins]

DougC,

You might consider Paul Gartside's Flashboat (he also has a similar double-ender). I believe that both are capable of use with a sliding seat, though it's best to check. The Flashboat has been discussed at length on this forum, and if you build it before the rest of those among us (self included) that are addicted to her, you'll be the envy of us all. ;)

[JimConlin]

I've built a 'Liz' in glued lapstrake.
http://www.conlin-boats.com/imageir52.jpg

It's light enough (65# without rigger) to car-top but still a bit awkward to handle.

Contact me off-list if you want to take a row. I'm not far away.

Jim

[Tim B]

I built the CLC oxford. Its pretty stable as far as rowing shells go. I didn't have much experience with sliding seat before I built it and didn't have any trouble getting used to it. However, a 21 foot boat is not very good for exploring. It takes alot of room to turn it around. I'd say that unless your intent is primarily to do sliding seat rowing, developing the techniques concerning rowing a shell, then stick to something shorter. Its nice to be able to take a passenger along too.

[EdenRose]

Doug,

Paul Fisher (www.selway-fisher.com) has a sliding seat dory called the ExeDory. It is cartopper but is not as elegant as a round sided Swampscott.
My hull is finished on my glue-lap Fisher Swampscott 16 and I am flipped over doing the inside. I will put off, just like you, the sailing rig till next year.
I am considering putting a sliding seat in this dory so I ended my frames at the chine log so the floor is open.
Lets swap pictures. My construction photos are on the Yahoo Group for Selway-Fisher design.

[ 10-17-2002, 11:34 AM: Message edited by: EdenRose ]

[KimApel]

I have one of the Glen-L sliding seat skiffs, built (not by me) very light with some beautiful aircraft-grade plywood. With the right materials, the hull is only about 40 lbs., and relatively simple to construct. Unless you really like a woodworking challenge, the Glen-L designed home-made riggers and sliding seat assembly, however, is complex and heavy. I'd recommend instead the Glen-L hull, with an Alden or Piantedosi rowing unit installed, like the CLC boats.

[LoonyToo]

Also take a look at:

Devlin's Oarling (http://www.devlinboat.com/dcoarling.htm) and
Welsford's Joansa (http://duckworksmagazine.com/store/plans/jw/joansa/index.htm)

Hal

[htom]

And Joel White's Bangor Packet.

[bob branch]

I have used the Pendiosti Ro Wing in several quite different canoes and found it to be a wonderful experience. The first canoe I tried was a 14 carbon fiber Bell Wildfire. At 31 pounds the portablility is excellent. It is a fairly tender solo wilderness river tripping canoe that is designed to be paddled kneeling. This was a bit too tippy to start out in. I then dropped it into a 17 foot by 32 inch fast tandem cedar stipper. Wonderful. The boat I used has considerable flair forward and in an excellent touring boat for rowing.

The depth of canoes requires about a 4 inch riser be added to the Ro Wing. This of course is what made the solo boat "interesting." Wayland Marine provided the Ro Wing, and carbon fiber skulls I use along with excellent advise. They have worked with canoe conversions before.

btw, now that I am more experienced, the solo boat is a delight. And much to my suprise quite fast. As to low impact excercise, I cannot think of a lower impact aerobic experience.

bob branch

[garland reese]

Hey Doug,
Have you ever done any sliding seat sculling? It sounds like you are familiar with rowing. Are you looking for a design that is open water capable and that you can carry gear in or are you looking primarily for a recreational rowing boat that can handle some chop? The Alden Ocean shell is very capable to be sure and is flat bottomed. It is a great boat for choppy water or adventures that you'd want to carry some gear. The Glen L shell, being similar in design would have some similar characteristics. The downside is that it won't take you long and you'll be wanting something a bit less burdensome,unless you plan to exploit the shell's load carrying and heavy water capacity.

The Oxford is a nice little design, and after you get some hours in it, you'll be able to handle a fair chop in it too. It is sort of like the open water single sculling shells from Maas and Alden. It would not accommodate much in the way of gear.

The Bangor from Joel White is very nice. Careful construction would net you a stunning boat.

Ben Louden's Aenous (sp?) design is very nice. The plans include all you need to build everything. Strip building results in a nice boat that is beautiful and durable. Ben's riggers are unique, as are his rails/seat configuration. I have his plans, but it is sort of an in-between design......too narrow for really serious chop (at least for me), but too heavily built and beamy for good sculling water. I'll build her some day, as she'll make a fantastic club boat for newer scullers. I think you could run full bore into a bridge and hurt the bridge with this design........she's built to last.
The Bassett designs Liz and Firefly are ones that I like a lot too. Both of them would get my vote

Iain Oughtred has a little ply (s & g) sliding seat shell too. Called Snipefish, it is 15' by 34", generous flare in the topsides, v bottom, could be done open or with some decking for rough conditions.

Balancing a sculling boat, well, at least a recreational type, is not that difficult after some practice. The oars are long and well balanced and can be set up to allow you to skim them accross the top of the water a bit if you need to check your balance, without having them bury themselves on the recovery (which could result in wetness). Before you know it, you'll be scootin across the water like there's nuttin' to it. The downside is that it does not take but a moment of inattention to get you in an inverted way, if you don't stay on top of things. A good turn of speed will sneak you up on hazards quickly.
Consider your desires as a sculler, and the condtions that you are most likely to use the boat in. That might help you decide on a general design parameter and would narrow your choices somewhat. If you are cartopping, a design that uses a drop-in unit may be best.......go with the Piantidosi rig, it is far better that the Alden type IMO.
Good luck.............I row modern rec singles (and a lot of doubles with my wife.....she's my "coach") myself, but I'm considering building myself a guideboat and making a sliding seat for it. This would give me a choice of fixed seat or sliding and the guideboats are pretty narrow at the waterline, so should give a good turn of speed. And so classicly traditional.....what more could one want. Good fishin' boat too :D

[DougC]

Everyone, thanks for all the info. Interesting about the guideboat, I've been thinking that might be a good choice for me.
Doug

[skuthorp]

I use my Mack with a sliding seat (MKII at the moment) and outrigger rowlocks. She tracks slightly to port which I fixes with a small copper skeg at the stern. Not too much trouble from windage and she's quite fast. Very good exercise and quite introspective, not unlike XC skiing by onesself. A great place to think.

[On Vacation]

I will throw a little change in here in lapstrake.
http://www.carolinawoodworks.com

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid36/p55ac43f86061005b21e169b17f78846e/fd23abb1.jpg

or this one can be modified to sliding seat.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid36/p4dc44355345ce49dfb52119856c59c72/fd23a748.jpg

[Norske3]

Does Ken Bassett have a website?..I can't find it if he has... :(

[JimConlin]

Last I knew, he was in North Hero, VT.
He gave me good advice re building my 'Liz'.