Small Outboard Powerboat

[Murf247]

I am looking for a small power boat for my son and I to build this winter in the basement. I jave a 10hp outboard motor and would like a small power style boat to go with it. Any suggestions on which plans I should look at? I was thinking plywood and epoxy construction.

[TerryLL]

A small garvey is hard to beat. Doug Hylan has a nice 16-footer. Here's the link:

http://www.dhylanboats.com/dhbplanbg.html

Detailed plans are available from WB

Sam Devlin has several small garveys at:

http://www.devlinboat.com/designcatalog.htm#duckboxes

[Rick Tyler]

The Fast Skiff 12 would be perfect for that motor, and bunch of them have been built: http://www.bateau.com/products.php?cat=11

http://www.bateau.com/boats/FS12/slides/FS12_CEDAROCK_2.jpg

[Thorne]

Welsford's Rifleman is always a favorite, rated for 7.5 - 20 hp.
http://www.jwboatdesigns.co.nz/plans/rifleman/index.htm

http://www.jwboatdesigns.co.nz/plans/rifleman/rifleman1-Brogden.jpg

[Rick Tyler]

The Rifleman is a nice looking boat, but probably outside the patience level of most kids. This is why I recommended a simple ply/glass S&G boat. I know a bunch of the displacement-speed version of the FS12 (the FL12) have been built as class projects by elementary and high school kids. They are very simple. If Murf's son is older or he's just looking for more challenge, there are certainly some designs that are more complex and frequently prettier, too.

It just occurred to me that Bolger's Diablo would be a good fit, too, although 10hp might not be quite enough power.

http://www.hapby.v-nam.net/FREEship/designs/DiabloGrande.jpg

[Andrew]

Clarence River Dory‏
http://www.duckworksbbs.com/plans/jw/crd/CRD2.jpg
Designed for 10 hp. Relatively simple to build. 20ft or 16ft
http://www.duckworksbbs.com/plans/jw/crd/index.htm

[Cuyahoga Chuck]

Since nobody asked:
How much do you and your son weigh?
How much other truck do you anticipate taking on board?
Do you want to be able to plane?
What kind of boating environment will you usually be in?
Truth be told there are limits to everything and every hull is a whole bunch of trade-offs.
10 HP will get a few small, lightweight hulls on plane if the load isn't too big.
The bateou.com web site is a good place to riffle thru'. Even if nothing there appeals to you there is a lot of text for each design and you will get a feel for what 10 HP will get you.

[dredbob]

Go get Dynamite Payson's book _Instant Boatbuilding with Dynamite Payson_. Look at the flat bottomed dory skiff Sea Hawk. It's a good looking boat designed for low power. The construction is pretty easy. Everything you need is in the book, no more plans to buy.

There are 14 other boats that can be built from the book also, but the Sea Hawk is the one that fits your want list.

They are designed by Phil Bolger.

Bob

[Murf247]

Since nobody asked:
How much do you and your son weigh?
How much other truck do you anticipate taking on board?
Do you want to be able to plane?
What kind of boating environment will you usually be in?
Truth be told there are limits to everything and every hull is a whole bunch of trade-offs.
10 HP will get a few small, lightweight hulls on plane if the load isn't too big.
The bateou.com web site is a good place to riffle thru'. Even if nothing there appeals to you there is a lot of text for each design and you will get a feel for what 10 HP will get you.


Well if you must know, I go about 265 lbs and my son about 50 lbs (he is 5 yrs old).
No extra wieght and planing would be nice.
I was thinking of a runabout style, like the "Little Fellow".
I was hoping for something 10 to 12 maybe 14 feet in length.

[john l]

how about the rob white sport boat - http://www.robbwhite.com/sportboat.html

[Cuyahoga Chuck]

Well if you must know, I go about 265 lbs and my son about 50 lbs (he is 5 yrs old).
No extra wieght and planing would be nice.
I was thinking of a runabout style, like the "Little Fellow".
I was hoping for something 10 to 12 maybe 14 feet in length.

I found a hull that would plane with 8 HP and a load of 330 lb. but it wasn't a pretty traditionally built runabout. It was an epoxy glued, plain jane, 11 ft., Ben Garvey that had a design weight of 105 lb. With low HP weight is a primary concern if you want to plane. You are on the large side and your son's weight will probably double in the next few years so 10 HP may allow you to plane now but that ability will disappear when the load gets to a critical point.
Bateau's FS 12 would meet the requirements as well with 8 HP but, at 160 lb., it would be more sensitive to weight increases.
If you are willing to consider a displacement hull you can go much bigger and get something that has better ergonomics. 10 HP is more than enough to drive a 15+ foot rowboat style hull at hull speed and you could pack in additional passengers and not effect it's performence. Displacement hulls go thru' the water with very little power required but they don't plane so your speed is limited to 6-8 MPH.