My SOF sliding seat rowing wherry project.

[DGentry]

Last year, after rowing my 8' Gardner nesting pram (see it here: http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=86267&highlight=gardner+pram ) as much as 3 miles at a time, I realized that I really liked rowing and that I wanted a serious rowboat.

I really like the looks of the CLC Annapolis Wherry, as well as both the Liz and Firefly wherry designs - but I wanted one in SOF, for the obvious advantages (obvious to me, that is: Easily cartoppable, very inexpensive to build, very, very fast to build, and unique.).

So, I sat down with the computer (who knew they had uses other than surfing the internet?) and came up with a design that is similar in shape and function to those three boats, but that I could build as a skinboat. I am using non-traditional SOF construction methods, with marine plywood frames and WRC stringers - just like most of the SOF kayaks I have built.

Anyway, I usually don't share until I'm done building, but I'm fairly excited about the project, so here are some pics. The boat is 17'11" x 33" and I'll use a (removable) sliding seat, with oarlock pads that fold out to give them the needed spread. It should row with or without the sliding seat.
There will be a passenger seat, aft, as well. Just in case.

The pics are of the frame as it is right now. Still very crude and obviously unfinished, but it shows the basic shape. Yes, my strongback is a 2x6 (perfectly adequate), and my sawhorses are pretty rickety. And, yes, I'm building this in a storage unit - I'm moving back to Colorado next week, so that's where everything is right now!

Should be finished by the end of the week, if all goes well, at a cost of about $175.

As always, questions and comments are welcome!

Dave Gentry

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/alias1719/Baidarka027.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/alias1719/Baidarka030.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/alias1719/Baidarka037.jpg

[Candyfloss]

That's a cool shape.

[Yeadon]

I covet your boat. This is your own design?

[Wiley Baggins]

Very nice! Thanks for the "preview."

[PaulT]

Ohhhhh, I like it!.. I would not have thought I would have become a big SOF fan until I got mine built and started using it. It is so nice to be able to just pick it up and plop it in the water. Please.. More pics? That is very cool.

Thanks for posting:
Paul T

[Bobcat]

What a beauty. Do you have plans or measurements for it?

[DGentry]

Thanks, everyone!
Yes, I'm pleased with the shape - it looks even better in person, to my eye. I should be skinning it tomorrow, if all goes well today.

It is my own design, yes, though of course it is based on a number of other pre-existing boats. I used Carlson's Hulls (boat design freeware) to come up with the specific shape and the offsets for the frames.
All the rest of the details are based on my building of a pile of other skin boats - and, of course, studying as many other small boats as possible.

I'd be happy to share the design specifics if anyone is interested and I can figure out how to do that with the software. I'm calling this design, and boat, "RUTH" after both of my Grandmothers.

Anyway, thanks again! I'll add more pics as things noticeably progress.

Dave Gentry

[James McMullen]

I wish you weren't moving back to Colorado. :(

How are you going to brace the gunwales against the strain of the oar's leverage? Even my much heavier and stouter umiak frame would visibly flex with a hard stroke. I remember some of Platt Monfort's designs having a sort of a thwart/outrigger brace right across the boat to stiffen up the light frame.

[DGentry]

James, this boat will zoom through the water so fast that it won't have time to flex! Your heavier and stouter umiak flexed because it had to overcome being heavier and stouter. And because you were just pulling too hard.

But, more seriously, there will be inwales and such, of course, but flex is something I've been concerned about. We'll see how it works in practice, and I won't mind beefing it up, or even adding said outrigger brace across the boat, if necessary.

And, thanks. I have to leave, though - Boulder reservoir is calling.

[Spokaloo]

Boulder reservoir over the San Juans/B-ham bay? Have you lost your mind Dave?

Neat project, and Im watching this one with baited keyboard. Id like to try to do a rowing shell based on something of this nature, so I am excited to see how she rows.

E

[Philip Maynard]

That looks great, I have the plans and kit for Monfort's classic 12 but I have not started it, I see that you have chosen a much heavier but many fewer pieces approach to framing, it would be much quicker to build that way.

[DGentry]

Some progress has been made, though I'm about a day behind schedule.

Completed the frame and skinned and coated it. The skinning job is obviously not completed in this pic, and the polyurethane varnish coating had yet to go on the skin (9 oz polyester from George Dyson), too. The skin is now semi-translucent cream/beige, rather than snowy white. That'll do for now, though I might paint the skin later if I really can't stand the color.

Tomorrow another coat or two, then add the rubrails and skeg, oarlocks and floorboards, etc. Gotta build the sliding seat set up, too, though that's secondary as I can always row it from the stationary thwart until I get time finish up the slider. Moving day is Tuesday . . . .

Weighs about 37-40 lbs, so far.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/alias1719/Wherry009.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/alias1719/Wherry022.jpg


Bonus points if you know what the 140.6 window sticker refers to!

[Spokaloo]

Triathletes have a mental condition.... Sicko....

Turning out great DG, any chance you could stay in Oregon for a while longer so I can row it?

E

[emf]

I get to row it first.:D

[Scot L T]

Wow! Nice Dave. Cannot wait to see the launch photos.

You going to make some SOF oars to go with it too? Now, that would be the ticket...........just kiddin'!

[B0bber]

Thread Bump...
Great looks! Can you provide an update with progress steps showing your cloth transitions from hull to transom and the keel and rubrail trimmings. :)
I'm about to take on similar activities with my old Dedham Kayak's SOF "dingy"...
http://s617.photobucket.com/albums/tt256/b0bber/?action=view&current=MVI_1013.flv (http://s617.photobucket.com/albums/tt256/b0bber/?action=view&current=MVI_1013.flv)

[davebrown]

i join in the request.

[DGentry]

Hmm, here's the thread for the finished boat, with more pics:
http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99286

I don't have too many more pics of building her, but if you have specific questions, pm me and I'll be happy to answer them as best I can!

Thanks!
Dave

[johngsandusky]

Dave, nice work. What kind and dimension plywood are the frames? What is their cross section?

[htom]

How'd I miss this? Beautiful.

[skuthorp]

What a stunner! I have two West Greenland skin on frame kayaks planned for the new shop. Only a couple of months away.