Fast rowboat inspired by Monument River Wherry and the Drake Rowboats

[Clinton B Chase]

Re: Fast rowboat inspired by Monument River Wherry and the Drake Rowboats

Thanks for adding that history, Jon, and thank you for making your original lines available to us! And in reference to Overland's last post, I have already received inquires for this boat to be done in SOF. I think that could work.

Project update: I have been diverted to taking care of other business, but intend to pick up on the Monument rowboat project sometime quite soon. I think my hull shape is as good as it may get -- in comparison to Jon's boats, mine is asymmetric fore/aft, has a bit more displacement (~300#) to support a bigger guy or a little gear, a touch wider on the waterline, and a bit more flare to allow an 8' oar length and a little more stability. I plan to do one more iteration on the hull to optimize displacement and some other design ratios in as much as they can be optimized.

After comparison studies, I think the GB's are so competitive because 1) the rowers were very strong, 2) the boats are very light with their rowers sitting low, powerful, ergonomic position with lots of hand overlap at the oars (more efficient stroke) and 3) the AGB's wetted surface area is quite low which helps very much in the lower speed range especially going around a course like the Blackburn.

I will report back out here when I get back to it!

[rgthom]

After comparison studies, I think the GB's are so competitive because 1) the rowers were very strong

There was an interminably long thread over on boat design about designing the fastest rowboat. I bumped into one of the frequent posters a couple of years ago and asked if they had decided which boat was fastest. He said - The one with the biggest gorilla on the oars!

[Clinton B Chase]

Re: Fast rowboat inspired by Monument River Wherry and the Drake Rowboats

Haaa...yes I know that thread - I particiated for a while. Learned a lot.
True - I was able to hold my own in my Drake 17 agains a good AGB rower so I am hoping to get even better speeds with this "Monumental" rowboat.
Clint

[FF]

Re: Fast rowboat inspired by Monument River Wherry and the Drake Rowboats

Very nice boat and congrats with the WoodenBoat article, that was a pleasant surprise this morning. Frank

[DaveB.NZ]

Re: Fast rowboat inspired by Monument River Wherry and the Drake Rowboats

If you're going to be consistent with units, then g = 9.8m/s2, which is near enough 10, so 0.45kg goes to 4.5N

[Clinton B Chase]

Re: Fast rowboat inspired by Monument River Wherry and the Drake Rowboats

Thanks FF....been so busy with other work but I got a chance to do some personal projects.

Today I optimized the displacement a bit on my MRW. She displaces exactly 300# now which should offer just a few reserve pounds for a little extra gear. If she sits right on her lines, 5 knots should be no problem.

RICK- funny quote by that rower...lotta truth to it. Once thing I have been thinking a lot about in hull design is eliminating the aspects that count against you when it comes to drag. Optimized displacement is one, the full ness in the ends of the boat is another, and LCB is another. The faster one wants to go the more important it is to be in the right range for these factors. But throwing a strong rower in there is probably the biggest factor in speed!

Here is a screenshot of bow. Starting to working bulkheads and thin coamings.

[Ben Fuller]

Re: Fast rowboat inspired by Monument River Wherry and the Drake Rowboats

Looks like a good candidate for a short slide. That way the gorilla gets bigger. Weight goal? A dozen or 20 pounds makes little difference in the water but quite a little bit on land where this boat like most little boats will live for most of its life.

[Clinton B Chase]

Re: Fast rowboat inspired by Monument River Wherry and the Drake Rowboats

Looks like a good candidate for a short slide. That way the gorilla gets bigger. Weight goal? A dozen or 20 pounds makes little difference in the water but quite a little bit on land where this boat like most little boats will live for most of its life.

Yes the short slide would work. I have the boat down at 73 lbs with small anchor, oars and a bag of boat stuff. With my 225, we are at 298# thus the 300# displacement. Hull sides in 4mm ply, bottom panel 6mm and bulkheads 6mm w/ doublers. Aborn's was 65# and I think that was w/o anything in it. Should be able to hit that or better even thought I have a little more beam.

[Jon A]

Re: Fast rowboat inspired by Monument River Wherry and the Drake Rowboats

My boat is 68 lbs with no gear. The bulkheads are 4 mil and the decks are 2 or 3 mil, I forget. All real lumber is eastern spruce, hand selected fro the local lumberyard (a real lumberyard, not the big orange box)

Jon

[JamesCaird]

Re: Fast rowboat inspired by Monument River Wherry and the Drake Rowboats

HI Guys- following this thread. I have been rowing Gloucester Gull back and forth (1/3rd mile) each way to a small isand for years (like 50!) and it has been rugged and useful and uncomplicated. Jon A often rows by here on summer days. Is anyone thinking of a get-together for a number of these various designs so we can compare for ourselves? I am at top end of Cape Cod near the CCCanal. Can trailer. Cheers/ JC

p.s.-I have put a sliding seat in the G Gull ocassionally when rowing to Naushon or the Vineyard. (10-15 miles each way) Gets your legs into it-otherwise they cramp up.

[Ian McColgin]

Re: Fast rowboat inspired by Monument River Wherry and the Drake Rowboats

Didn't Bolger say that God would be obliged to let him into Heaven because he (Bolger) had designed the Gloucester Gull.

[Clinton B Chase]

Re: Fast rowboat inspired by Monument River Wherry and the Drake Rowboats

Didn't Bolger say that God would be obliged to let him into Heaven because he (Bolger) had designed the Gloucester Gull.

That's a bit much! It's a really great boat, don't get me wrong. Boats have their strengths, some more than others. Having rowed a couple, I can say the GG has lots of strengths for many waters. But many new rowers find it "tippy" which is why I'm a proponent of the new Caravelle we just launched. For us seasoned rowers, tippy often means fast!

I think my version of the MRW will be a touch more stable than Jon's versions, but still not enough to suggest it to beginning rowers.

[Wayne Poulsen]

Re: Fast rowboat inspired by Monument River Wherry and the Drake Rowboats

I built and rowed a Gloucester Gull.
I couldnt stand up in it without taking a swim.
But...If you and passenger remained seated it was super stable. Two of us set and pulled lobster pots easy.
I came to be believe the dory flare made it as safe in rough water as any similar sized open boat can be.
Waterline too short to be "fast" and had to be trimmed for the conditions to track well in any wind.
I sold it as I never found anyone else to row with. Whereas there were plenty of kayak buddies to be social with.
If I were to build another it would be after the style of the MRW like your proposal Clint.
By the way there is no quicker boat to build than a GG. I lofted mine and built it S&G without the external chines.
Wayne

[Jack Loudon]

Re: Fast rowboat inspired by Monument River Wherry and the Drake Rowboats

I built and rowed a Gloucester Gull.
I couldnt stand up in it without taking a swim.
But...If you and passenger remained seated it was super stable. Two of us set and pulled lobster pots easy.
I came to be believe the dory flare made it as safe in rough water as any similar sized open boat can be.
Waterline too short to be "fast" and had to be trimmed for the conditions to track well in any wind.
I sold it as I never found anyone else to row with. Whereas there were plenty of kayak buddies to be social with.
If I were to build another it would be after the style of the MRW like your proposal Clint.
By the way there is no quicker boat to build than a GG. I lofted mine and built it S&G without the external chines.
Wayne

Years ago I built a Bolger dory, but with the specified external chines. It was actually my friend's boat and we built it together in my shop. It wouldn't track straight, and drove me crazy. I guess the chines acted as long curved fins. If the boat tipped slightly so one chine was more immersed than the other, it would cause the boat to veer off course.

[Wayne Poulsen]

Re: Fast rowboat inspired by Monument River Wherry and the Drake Rowboats

Hi Jack

Years ago I built a Bolger dory, but with the specified external chines. It was actually my friend's boat and we built it together in my shop. It wouldn't track straight, and drove me crazy. I guess the chines acted as long curved fins. If the boat tipped slightly so one chine was more immersed than the other, it would cause the boat to veer off course.

I never liked the external chines.
Mine tracked ok with its skeg, trimmed bow down upwind and stern down for downwind with water bottle ballast.

PB used one as a tender for a long time but later went the other way with his "wall sided" June Bug tender.
Super stable but it wouldnt be nearly as dry in a chop.

The pass thru the pearly gates was in the Swiss Army Boat category. Although no use under power or sail.