Should I build an Adirondack Guideboat?

[Garret]

Re: Should I build an Adirondack Guideboat?

Yes

[Thad Van Gilder]

Re: Should I build an Adirondack Guideboat?

I need another boat like a hole in the head and already have my glued lap
15' Rushton pulling boat for rowing, but for years I've had an urge to build
an Adirondack guideboat.
I spent many years in my teens and early 20's living and boating in the Adirondack
mountains of New York. I was young and stupid and my boats were fiberglass. This was also at the lowest point of wooden boat building as the world turned to fiberglass.
So, back then, guideboats were few and far between and I don't know that I'd even heard of them.
Now that I've hit the age of 70 I'm starting to think that it's now or never to build one of these classics.
One of the main issues is that I feel that the Adirondack guideboat is one boat whose design and construction method must remain unchanged: feather-lap wood construction, ribs and about 3,000 brass tacks holding it together. I need
a boat that can survive bouncing along on a trailer and also be totally leak free as it will be dry stored.

As for the feather lap, in my research I've seen that some were built lap-strake and that would look OK if I went glued lapstrake. If I were to build the boat, I'd put in all the ribs for stiffness and authenticity. I would never, ever build it in strip plank/fiberglass. That method is fine for other boats but in my mind not for this classic.

I purchased a set of plans from Mystic Seaport Museum for the Warren Cole guideboat of 1905. Via a PM with the forum's guideboat guru, Chris Woodard, I was told that would be a fine boat to build.
16' long with a beam just over 3'.

The materials for the boat wouldn't be that much but authentic hardware from Shaw and Tenney would be $500, pretty much as the cost of materials for the entire boat.

Unless you fine folks can talk me down off this ledge, I just might jump and start lofting this summer.

start scrounging grown knees right now.... that was so much easier when you could just buy them from Newman Gee.

and are these the oarlocks you are looking for: They are definitely not $500.

https://www.sailboatparts.com/products/vintage-solid-brass-oar-locks-with-bases-pair

[Thad Van Gilder]

Re: Should I build an Adirondack Guideboat?

wow I stand corrected... here is another company that started cutting hack knees

http://jwswanandsons.com/timber

[SKIP KILPATRICK]

Re: Should I build an Adirondack Guideboat?

Yes!

[Rick in Pender Harbour]

Re: Should I build an Adirondack Guideboat?

Not those oarlocks for a guideboat, straps on the outside of the gunwales and pinned oars.
adirondack-guide-boat-PBO278.feature_boats2.guide_boat_oarlock-300x169.jpg

[Rich Jones]

Re: Should I build an Adirondack Guideboat?

Not those oarlocks for a guideboat, straps on the outside of the gunwales and pinned oars.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]137217[/ATTACH]

True. Authentic guideboat hardware is unique. The set you show goes for $500 at Shaw and Tenney.
Of course, if I was Jim Ledger, I'd cast my own!

[Rich Jones]

Re: Should I build an Adirondack Guideboat?

I'm afraid I've decided to put the guideboat on the back burner for now.
While it would be fun to row, I now realize my wife wouldn't be that comfortable in
a narrow and somewhat tippy boat. Also, the plans do leave something to be desired.
When building a boat using traditional molds, those molds can be adjusted if they prove to be
out-of-fair. With the guideboat, there are no molds. They ribs are the molds. Once in place, they really can't be added to or shaved down. I've no idea how fair they are. These plans are a historical document and are simply the lines taken off an old boat. I've no idea if they are fair. There is a disclaimer on the plans stating that they are not meant for constructing a boat.
I suppose I could find another set of plans somewhere, but the narrowness and tippy factor for my wife is enough to make me re-think it. It is very important to me that my wife can also enjoy my boats. I'm seventy, she is 72 but a bit timid around boats. We are both in good health, but time will be making us less limber in the coming years. For any solo rowing, I still have my Rushton pulling boat.

There is another boat that has been on my mind for the past twenty years and that is a Rangeley Lake boat.
These are 17'x4', very stable, fast and easy on the eyes.
The plans are included in John Gardner's Building Classic Small Craft and are very complete. It would be a simple matter to convert the plans from traditional lapstrake to glued lapstrake.
I now realize that this vessel would be a better choice at this time.

[hawkeye54]

Re: Should I build an Adirondack Guideboat?

'Rich's thought process revealed' For what it's worth, Rich, I agree that the extra foot of beam, extra 2 feet in length , as well as documented plans would be a powerful arguement in support of building the Rangeley Lake boat. (Just this one man's opinion )



Rick

[WI-Tom]

Re: Should I build an Adirondack Guideboat?

You have a precious gift in a wife who enjoys boats (well, some boats). I think you're wise to prioritize the need for a boat that will appeal to both of you. The Rangeley Lake boat sounds great too.

Tom

[Garret]

Re: Should I build an Adirondack Guideboat?

Rich ain't no dummy - happy wife = ....

[Fitz]

Re: Should I build an Adirondack Guideboat?

Being from Rangeley, a

Rangeley Lake boat

gets my vote.

IMG_3312[1].jpg

[Rich Jones]

Re: Should I build an Adirondack Guideboat?

Rich ain't no dummy - happy wife = ....

It's been working for 43 years!

Now if I can only get her to row while I troll...

[Garret]

Re: Should I build an Adirondack Guideboat?

It's been working for 43 years!

Now if I can only get her to row while I troll...

Let us know how that goes!

[Ben Fuller]

Re: Should I build an Adirondack Guideboat?

Rangeley is indeed more stable and bigger all around. The 17 is considerably heavier, traditionally built well over 150. The small one, the Barrett of which we built about a dozen at Mystic ( which has plans) is cartoppable at around 100 still quite stable. But pretty close to the Rushton.

For guideboats, the lines are quite accurate. A fairing batten is used to bevel the ribs the tiny amount needed. Both the Viginia and the Chase have been built by lots of folks and the two books that are out detail the work.

[dwr9]

Re: Should I build an Adirondack Guideboat?

It's been working for 43 years!

Now if I can only get her to row while I troll...

There are a lot of people on this forum who know how to troll without rowing. Doug