Rowing boat for trolling big lakes/ some what sheltered ocean waters vs Hobie Kayak

[greenmtnfisher]

Long time lurker. I've read years worth of material on this site on the subject trying to narrow down the designs but... Dabbled in wooden boat repair, built a couple of models, have a past that includes some cabinet making and carpentry.

I would love to build a rowing boat that would be good for trolling the some of the bigger mid sized lakes in the region (Sunapee, Winnie, Conway) in the early season for trout and salmon, I could take to down to Mass.or Maine and fish tube and worms for stripers, and would be ok for standing and casting when conditions allowed (maybe one day put a bow mount trolling motor on for fishing structure. Rigging for sailing would be dead last on my list of concerns. Adding measures for increased flotation would be a consideration.

Boats Currently in the running:
Bolger Sweet Pea-Checks a lot of boxes, I May prefer the looks of glue lap vs stitch and glue, good in the $ department
Persson's Atlantic 17- Cant find to much info on these
Oughtred's Amberjack-I love the looks of Acorn 15 (but think it wouldn't be enough boat) and Tammie Norrie (too much boat?)
Hylan's benjamin river pea pod-Prettier that the bolger boat, Probably sea worthy enough.
Savo Saajuu 470-No Plans available?


Is there a boat I'm missing. Should I just out right scrap some of these from the list. T

he end goal would be a boat that could compete with a hobie fishing kayak for seaworthiness(what would a novice builder post be with out mentioning seaworthiness) and capability. Hopefully drier, able to carry more stuff and better looking.

[rgthom]

Re: Rowing boat for trolling big lakes/ some what sheltered ocean waters vs Hobie Kay

I like all those boats. If I was planning to build a rowing only boat around that size for that kind of water it would probably be a Drake from Cint Chase. It is proven quick and capable, and can be built from a kit or detailed plans for beginners. The designer is also available and helpful. https://www.chase-small-craft.com/drake-rowboat-17



I have done a bit of row trolling, for salmon. Not very successful, I am afraid.

[kbowen]

Re: Rowing boat for trolling big lakes/ some what sheltered ocean waters vs Hobie Kay

The classic boat that hits some of your goals might be a Rangeley Lake boat, but I haven't heard of anyone making a kit. They took everything Rangeley lake threw at them with a capable oarsman and were stable enough to fly fish standing. Some of them had more flare in the first 18" at the deck level than others and thus had more power to lift over a wave.

Ken

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

Re: Rowing boat for trolling big lakes/ some what sheltered ocean waters vs Hobie Kay

It is possible to cast a fly line sitting down - standard practice hereabouts.

[MushCreek]

Re: Rowing boat for trolling big lakes/ some what sheltered ocean waters vs Hobie Kay

I'm currently building John Brooks' Peregrine 18 with some of the same usage in mind. I went with a longer boat so my wife and I can row tandem. I'm building with 6 mm ply instead of 4 mm for a little more burdensome boat, and it's hoped, a bit more stability. Time will tell if she's stable enough to cast standing up. It's a transom boat, and can take a small outboard for when I'm too old for rowing. Right now, it's a race to see if I can get her done before I'm too old to row! Once she's done, I'm going to do some stability testing in warm, shallow water to find out what the limits are.

[Rob Hazard]

Re: Rowing boat for trolling big lakes/ some what sheltered ocean waters vs Hobie Kay

I've been toying with the idea of adding a rod holder to my Clint Chase Drake 17. I think you've just pushed me over the edge!

[greenmtnfisher]

Re: Rowing boat for trolling big lakes/ some what sheltered ocean waters vs Hobie Kay

The Drake 17 is a boat that was not on my radar thank you for sharing that idea.

[SaltyD from BC]

Re: Rowing boat for trolling big lakes/ some what sheltered ocean waters vs Hobie Kay

For entertainment purposes if nothing else look up "Tyee row boat". Its a thing nearby has been for decades where Tyee (30 pound plus chinook salmon) are trolled for in a row boat. They started out wood and lapstrake but the Tyee club use mainly the same design in fibreglass now. I believe the original design was taken from Ireland. Hilmark boats in Campbell river still make wood ones true to form:

[Ben Fuller]

Re: Rowing boat for trolling big lakes/ some what sheltered ocean waters vs Hobie Kay

For fun, check out the Finger Lakes Trout boat. https://www.flbm.org/the-rowboat-hall As I recall WB did an article on them and I believe the museum has plans. Note the stern deck design to run trolling lines.

[greenmtnfisher]

Re: Rowing boat for trolling big lakes/ some what sheltered ocean waters vs Hobie Kay

For entertainment purposes if nothing else look up "Tyee row boat". Its a thing nearby has been for decades where Tyee (30 pound plus chinook salmon) are trolled for in a row boat. They started out wood and lapstrake but the Tyee club use mainly the same design in fibreglass now. I believe the original design was taken from Ireland. Hilmark boats in Campbell river still make wood ones true to form:

I have read about the Tyee River fishery it is unique and very interesting. Unfortunately I have not seen drawings of those boats published anywhere.

On a side note I hear there have been some conflicts recently between rowers and motor boats on that section of river.

[Ben Fuller]

Re: Rowing boat for trolling big lakes/ some what sheltered ocean waters vs Hobie Kay

I could not find the Finger Lakes trout boat in the WB index, but I know they have plans. Somewhere I have the little book that the museum published on them. Looking at their store, I see they are selling plans.
These boats developed for trolling for lake trout etc. Many have short stern deck over which the trolling lines ran. Stable enough to stand.

[heimlaga]

Re: Rowing boat for trolling big lakes/ some what sheltered ocean waters vs Hobie Kay

Saaju 470 is a plywood version of the classic Finnish lake boat. The type originated in Savo.
Theese boats are probably the best lake boats in the world for the conditions they were intended for. Most Finnish lakes are rather full of islands and not very deep so you get an annoying short chop often crisscroosing between reefs and islands. There is hardly ever open water for more than 10 nautical miles in any direction and rarely more than 5 nautical miles so no large waver can build up. The rather round bottom and fine rather low bow and only rudimentary outer keel is great for those conditions. However there on the coast of the Baltic sea a safe boat must have a higher bow with more flare (reserve buoyancy) so it lifts over the waves instead of cutting straight through. We also want more deadrise in the first strake so the boat rolls less. We call the lake boats "Finn drowners" here on the coast. Not because they are bad boats. They are excellent boats. Just not suitable for the very steep waves we get when fairly large waves from the open Baltic sea rolls into shallow water.

[rgthom]

Re: Rowing boat for trolling big lakes/ some what sheltered ocean waters vs Hobie Kay

Saaju 470 is a plywood version of the classic Finnish lake boat. The type originated in Savo.
Theese boats are probably the best lake boats in the world for the conditions they were intended for. Most Finnish lakes are rather full of islands and not very deep so you get an annoying short chop often crisscroosing between reefs and islands. There is hardly ever open water for more than 10 nautical miles in any direction and rarely more than 5 nautical miles so no large waver can build up. The rather round bottom and fine rather low bow and only rudimentary outer keel is great for those conditions. However there on the coast of the Baltic sea a safe boat must have a higher bow with more flare (reserve buoyancy) so it lifts over the waves instead of cutting straight through. We also want more deadrise in the first strake so the boat rolls less. We call the lake boats "Finn drowners" here on the coast. Not because they are bad boats. They are excellent boats. Just not suitable for the very steep waves we get when fairly large waves from the open Baltic sea rolls into shallow water.

Mike, a fellow TSCA member, imported this English training gig and refurbished it. He recruited me as doubles rower for races on SF Bay. The boat was fast, but with narrow beam, low freeboard and little rocker it was more of a lake and river boat. We did fine on races well inside the Bay, but decided once to take an outside course around the Golden Gate Bridge. The waves at the S tower completely swamped us and we had to get a rescue tow.



Mike went to work after that little incident, putting in decks and flotation bags:



The boat was fine set up like this, waves would wash over the deck but we stayed mostly dry. If the boat is for mostly sheltered water this might be an option, but I think it better for big wave rowing if the boat has more rocker, forward buoyancy, flare and freeboard. It is faster to ride over big waves, not punch through them.

[Tallman]

Re: Rowing boat for trolling big lakes/ some what sheltered ocean waters vs Hobie Kay

For row trolling, the NewFound WoodWorks has kits/boats specifically used for that:

https://newfound.com/design/strip-rowing-boats/

Various sized and such.

Built light they can be quite fast.
Located in Bristol, NH

[heimlaga]

Re: Rowing boat for trolling big lakes/ some what sheltered ocean waters vs Hobie Kay

What about a jaktkanot?

https://batritningar.se/sv/batritningar/jaktkanot/5-jaktkanot