NEEDED-Bolger's 21"4" Fisherman's Launch Construction Info

[D]

I just got finished reading about Bolger's 21'4" Fisherman's Launch in "Boats with an Open Mind". At the risk of sounding really lazy, I'll ask anyway. Does anyone know if there are detailed plans or construction methods for this boat? I tried searching for it in past Wooden Boat Issues but came up with nothing when searching for Fisherman's Launch. I'd like to build this in strip-planked cedar. This design is similar to Stimson's Ocean Pointer(plans on the way for this one also), only a little longer. Any help or advise would be greatly appreciated.

[John Bell]

The design is a stretch out of his 16'x7' 'Shivaree'. In the latest "Messing About in Boats" Bolger has an article about an intermediate stretch of Shivaree to 18'. This one has been drawn for glued lapstrake construction.

The 21'er was drawn for carvel construction, but the sole example is cold molded.

For plans and more info write or fax Bolger hisself at:

Mr. Philip C. Bolger, P.O. Box 1209, Gloucester, MA, 01930, Fax: (978) 282-1349

JB

[D]

Thanks JB. Trying to read the plans in the book is very difficult and I would like to build this boat in strip-planked w. red cedar with FG and epoxy. I have limited experience in lofting and it is difficult trying to figure out how to make the molds and strongback for this task.

[Bruce Hooke]

Yup, you need the real plans and I'm sure Mr. Bolger will be happy to sell them to you. Most plans in books and magazines (with a few exceptions) are not intended to provide enough information to actually build the boat in question. They're more along the lines of "study plans," to give you a feel for the boat so that you can decide whether to buy the full plans.

[UncleRalph]

I have the plans for the Shivaree 18 verion. I suspect the plans you get from Bolger for the Fisherman's Launch will not have much more detail than you see in "Boats with an Open Mind" - they will just be larger and easier to read. You will have to loft the design.

Ralph