How big can a SOF boat be ?

[PeterSibley]

I have plans for an 18 ' x 5'6'' Selway Fisher JIM .She's a canoe yawl ,lug rigged and designed to be built either glued lap or stitch and glue .There are no reverse curves .

Yesterday a random thought entered my head ...would it be possible or wise to build her SOF ? I've been very impressed with the speed of build and the beauty of the SOF product .

Could those that know please advise me !

[Peerie Maa]

It depends on whether you are thinking of kayak style slender stringers or including currach and canadian canoe in your SOF definition. If currach style, where the skin makes a leaky planked boat watertight, then yes. Umiacks come in at about that size, so I don't see why not for the kayak tradition.

[PeterSibley]

I was thinking some form of synthetic fabric over stringers Nick ,perhaps every 3 or 4'' ?

[jerry bark]

with the right fabric I think it would be fine, the real issue is frame strength for supporting the rig IMO.

[62816inBerlin]

20' and more.
Not sure how long the Brendan was, but certainly more than 18'.

See http://currachs.thisbetterworld.org/index.htm...
I believe there are/were Umiaks exceeding 18' .

Gernot H.

[PeterSibley]

with the right fabric I think it would be fine, the real issue is frame strength for supporting the rig IMO.

Yes , that would be a very real consideration as they would be independent and unsupported by the rest of the structure .The station moulds are quite a long way apart too so there would need to be a lot of internal framing ! Hmm .

[Peerie Maa]

http://cronus.rockisland.com/~kyak/boat.html

Scroll down a bit to the Umiak

[PeterSibley]

http://cronus.rockisland.com/~kyak/boat.html (http://cronus.rockisland.com/%7Ekyak/boat.html)

Scroll down a bit to the Umiak

Thanks Nick ,an excellent suggestion .http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6SgZXdOaxA

[Paul Montgomery]

Child's play gentlemen. Dyson built the Mount Fairweather, a 48 foot kayak.

[James McMullen]

Peter, have you ever heard of a little boat named Angyapik? I built her using the same sections and general overall dimensions as a Ness Yawl. Yes you can build a Jim in SOF.

http://inlinethumb13.webshots.com/3212/2607566710088484686S600x600Q85.jpg (http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2607566710088484686NPScFl)

[hokiefan]

Is Michael Beckman's boat an Umiak? How big is that?

Doug

Michael's boat is the Umiak that James showed right above you. Nice boat.

Cheers,

Bobby

[PeterSibley]

OK ,this is looking hopeful or at least interesting .Thanks all .

I guess now that have to think about which course I prefer .

[Peerie Maa]

The center board slot will be interesting.

[PeterSibley]

It would need to be well braced of the whole frame and batten structure ....ply is sounding simpler !

[DGentry]

I've been working on plans for a SOF canoe yawl, off and on, for a while - one of those out of WP Stephen's book, very similar to JIM. {I've put it off, lately, in favor of some other projects} It's definitely more complex than a kayak, but certainly do-able. Of course, I plan on non-traditional construction, with plywood frames, rather than lots of steam bent ribs. Either way will work fine, though. I suggest taking a look at Robert Morris' "Building Skin on Frame Boats" which has almost all of the info you'll need (for traditional SOF construction). Interlibrary loan may be your best bet.

Good luck!

[Michael Beckman]

Skin on frame is excellent. I find myself more and more drawn to the Zumiak (http://www.skinboats.org/skinboats/Zumiak.html) though.

[PeterSibley]

I've been working on plans for a SOF canoe yawl, off and on, for a while - one of those out of WP Stephen's book, very similar to JIM. {I've put it off, lately, in favor of some other projects} It's definitely more complex than a kayak, but certainly do-able. Of course, I plan on non-traditional construction, with plywood frames, rather than lots of steam bent ribs. Either way will work fine, though. I suggest taking a look at Robert Morris' "Building Skin on Frame Boats" which has almost all of the info you'll need (for traditional SOF construction). Interlibrary loan may be your best bet.

Good luck!

If you ever get that to a showable stage please let me know ,even by PM if I miss it .I'd be very interested .|:)Y>

[thedutchtouch]

one of my dream projects for the near future http://capefalconkayak.com/jwboat.html

[Michael Beckman]

one of my dream projects for the near future http://capefalconkayak.com/jwboat.html

Go for the more traditional umiak style ends. They make great handles for carrying the boat up the beach.

[CapnJ2ds]

Tim Severin's "Brandon" was somewhere close to 12 metres. The Celts voyaged to Iceland from Ireland in pre-viking times in big currach-type SOF boats, some of them big enough to carry cattle and horses.

I have no idea what the upper limit of SOF construction might be, but I'd guess that with proper design and the right materials, it would be quite possible to go even bigger than "Brendan" or "Mt Fairweather". Probably it's more a question of what's practical than what's possible.

[obscured by clouds]

spotted this on a link over at Duckworks

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BDaCvKozINM/TjJFQJ985II/AAAAAAAAAg0/N6oNpS4HYlg/s1600/Boat.jpg

[Chip-skiff]

There are traditionally-built Irish currachs that are quite large: 40 feet or thereabouts.

http://www.stephenbiesty.co.uk/jpegs/bigIrishCurrach.jpg

Here's the website for the illustration: http://www.stephenbiesty.co.uk/galleries_Atmospheric_Cutaways_IrishCurragh.html

I saw one in NZ, at Tryphena on Great Barrier Island, built by a fellow from the Dingle, who was a ferryman to Great Blasket Island, that was 20 feet or larger, for three rowers.

With epoxy, high-strength lashings, and a synthetic cloth skin, you could build a strong hull.