Looking for small rowboat designed for 10hp outboard power

[kstokes]

Hi All,
For the last few weeks, I've been searching around on the internet trying to find the right plans for a boat to build.

I would like to build a small wooden boat to use with my 9.5 hp short shaft Johnson outboard. I would like it to be a clinker with a keel and garboards, not a flatbottom.

The photo below is the sort of boat I'm interested in, but this one is not a clinker.




I did purchase the following plans from Stanley Small Craft, but a 10hp outboard is more than double the recommended size. I'm worried that there is not enough buoyancy in the stern and she won't sit right.



I also found the Rifleman, which is a small clinker designed for outboard power, but I'm really not looking for a boat with a deck and steering wheel.




If anybody has any other suggestions I would appreciate it.

-Kevin

[keyhavenpotterer]

An Oughtred Fulmar might be what your looking for? You need to know your engine's weight, an older two stroke will weigh much less than a modern four stroke. Some engines weigh the same as a 'smaller hp' one as it just has bigger cylinders, depending on the model. The Fulmar is a planing sailboat, but can be used as a launch.



Ed

[JimD]

There are some very important differences between a small rowing hull and and a small hull designed for a ten horse motor. If its a use for the motor you want then its likely not a row boat that you want to clamp it on. So I think its not really a row boat you want. The pic of the rotten hull you posted may have oar locks but I bet it was a poor rower.

[BrianY]

"Dad's Ol' Outboard Skiff" http://greatwoodboats.com/articles/D...boardSkiff.pdf

As JimD says above, an outboard boat is not going to be a very good row boat - yes they can be rowed for short distances but you shouldn't plan on rowing as a primary means of propulsion. Any good rowboat that will also take an outboard is going to use a much lower powered/lighter motor than what you have (i.e. 2 or 3 HP)

[JimD]

Sam Devlin's Candlefish 13 would be just about perfect

[kstokes]

There are some very important differences between a small rowing hull and and a small hull designed for a ten horse motor. If its a use for the motor you want then its likely not a row boat that you want to clamp it on. So I think its not really a row boat you want.

You are absolutely correct, that I am not interested in a rowing. It is just that what I want is what most people picture in their minds when I say 'rowboat'.

The Fulmar looks like a great boat but a little too big, I was hoping for something 12 to 14 feet long.


BrianY - Dad's Ol' Outboard Skiff is pretty much precisely what I am looking for. 14' feet, clinker hull, and meant for a 10hp motor!

Thanks very much for the replies, hopefully the plans for the outboard skiff are still available..

-Kevin

[kstokes]

Sam Devlin's Candlefish 13 would be just about perfect

Wow yes, she's just the right size and the right kind of boat... but I had my heart set on building a lapstrake boat.

-Kevin

[JimD]

.... It is just that what I want is what most people picture in their minds when I say 'rowboat'.

-Kevin

Kevin, I didn't mean to sound quite the way I sounded. Sorry about that. We're not 'most people' around here. We're all a bunch of know it alls who can't pass up an opportunity to correct 'most people'

[JimD]

... but I had my heart set on building a lapstrake boat.

-Kevin

Hard to beat lapstrake in the looks department.

[djtil]

As the owner/builder of the Fulmar shown in post #2, I thought I might chime in on one point.

Even though Fulmar may be a planing sail boat, she is not a planing power boat. I did not realize the difference myself until it was pointed out that the center of effort in a sail boat is above the hull, which wants to push the bow down and provides a planing surface at the front/middle of the hull. In a power boat the thrust (center of effort) is underneath the hull, which wants to push the bow up. Thus a straight run aft is required to provide a planing surface at the back of the hull. This feature can be seen in Dad's Ol' Outboard Skiff and most/all planing power boats, but is not present in Fulmar and most other sail boats.

[Thorne]

I love the Rifleman, and bet it could be built without the wheel - the designer is fairly responsive to email and even occasionally deigns to visit us here. ;0 ) Remember that without a second person (or large weight) sitting forward, you'll need a long outboard tiller extension to let you sit further forward yourself to balance a boat that size at speed.

Nichols' Little Laker design may also be a contendah, if you're willing to go for a more modern design.


http://www.duckworksbbs.com/plans/ni...aker/index.htm

You could consider a semi-dory if willing to build a flat bottom design. Most small planing outboard skiffs will have a fairly flat bottom because that's what they need to get up on a plane. The old pointed bottom with shallow keel design is for rowing boats built from traditional materials, and might cause a bit of an issue in tight turns under power.

If you feel brave, you could see about turning an otherwise-perfect slab-sided design into lapstrake plywood, as the basic hull shape is the same. And the designer may have some lapstrake conversion plans tucked away, or be willing to work up a set.

[Tim Marchetti]

Dad'd Ol' Outboard Skiff featured in "Small Boats" 2008
http://greatwoodboats.com/articles/D...boardSkiff.pdf

[Yeadon]

Check out Harry Bryan's designs. He has several extremely efficient hulls designed just for your purpose.The Candlefish 13 is also a nice design.

Also, it's not really a rowboat once you stick a lousy motor on it, but rather a floating symbol of weakness.

[Geoff C]

John Gardner's semi-dory is avaiable in 12' and 14' versions. Look in Building Classic Small Craft and The Dory Book.

These are pictures found on the web.

[wdbeyer]

a couple of recent threads on the Macomber 15. I'm considering the Black Duck 16 as my next build.

http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthre...light=macomber

http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthre...light=macomber

the designer, Scott Gifford, is very responsive.

Good luck!

Wayne

[JimD]

15 ft power coble by from Selway Fisher:

[kstokes]

Thanks everybody for some great ideas.

The one I like the best is Dad's old 14' Outboard Skiff



I wrote to the email address at the end of the article 'jollydogboats@charter.net' and the email bounced.

[BrianY]

I wrote to the email address at the end of the article 'jollydogboats@charter.net' and the email bounced.

Contact Mike Kiefer directly at

7066 103 Avenue
South Haven, MI 49090

269-637-6805 phone

his website: http://www.greatwoodboats.com/

[JimD]

The one I like the best is Dad's old 14' Outboard Skiff

Good choice considering what you're after. Nice looking boat. I was a little surprised to find there aren't more small lapstrake power skiff plans around.

[potomac]

Good choice considering what you're after. Nice looking boat. I was a little surprised to find there aren't more small lapstrake power skiff plans around.

I agree. I think this is one of the most, useful cost-effective types of motor boats to build/ operate. Lots of old 10 HPs rattling around. Good for fishing, day-cruising, exploring, picnic.

[kstokes]

Contact Mike Kiefer directly at

I talked with Mike yesterday on the phone. He told me they no longer sell plans for the 14' Outboard Skiff, and didn't offer any alternative; He sounded rather busy.

Too late, I already fell in love with the boat, so I'm going to try taking the drawings that were in the PDF and make my own plans. It is kind of ambitious but I do have Ian Oughtred's book and a real example of a clinker-built powerboat hull in my garage...

[erster]

A rowboat is not always the best power boat and likewise. You can get by with a nice small runabout that you can row but they are not as stable if you plan on loading the boat. A ten hp outboard is really not needed for the ideal rowboat as you stated earlier.

I did purchase the following plans from Stanley Small Craft, but a 10hp outboard is more than double the recommended size

So if you want maximize the ability of the engine, change the direction of the mind and look for a small character outboard skiff and accept that style of hull or either look into a smaller and even less heavy engine and build a favorable rowing skiff with a properly built transom to hold a small bolt on outboard.

[rbgarr]

I like Dad's Old Skiff design, too. Remember that lapstrake will be more demanding to keep clean and looking good on the inside, finish-wise. Lots of nooks and crannies. A cover will help.