Retreat houseboat

[Dolly Varden]

i really like this design. its not sleek or sexy and you probably couldnt move it against a headwind, but something makes me keep looking at this boat. atkin shows no propulsion other than the oars, but if you built in a small well area on one of the ends coouldnt she be made a bit more mobile? ji dont know what trailering would be like, but he lists her at only 1900 pounds- not a lot for all the interior accomodation.

ill probably never get the chance, but ever since i saw retreat in the 3rd ( or 4th?) book of good boats ive wanted one. im wondering if she might actually be more practical than she looks for someone taking extended crusises on sheltered waters

from the website
The over-all length of the hull is 18 feet; the breadth is 7 feet; the depth from bottom to deck is 2 feet. The sides are flat and stand plumb: just like a long box having slanting ends. With everything aboard the hull will draw close to 5 inches of water.
http://www.boat-links.com/Atkinco/Misc/images/Retreat-1.gif

http://www.boat-links.com/Atkinco/Misc/images/Retreat-2.gif

[ 03-08-2006, 09:37 AM: Message edited by: Dolly Varden ]

[Steve Paskey]

I really like Retreat too (I bought the plans) but I like Harry Bryan's Shantyboat even better:

www.harrybryan.com/harrybryan/plan11.html (http://www.harrybryan.com/harrybryan/plan11.html)

Very similar but less boxy. Among other things, Harry added a bit of rocker in the bottom, a curve in the sheerline, and tilted part of the roof. Still a good, practical little boat, not at all pretentious, but with a touch of style.

[ 03-08-2006, 11:05 AM: Message edited by: Steve Paskey ]

[Steve Paskey]

And just to round things out, another variation on Retreat: Sam Devlin's "Millie Hill," designed for ply construction.

http://www.devlinboat.com/dcmilliehill.htm

You'll note that Devlin shows an outboard on the stern.

[Mike Vogdes]

Get yourself a nice garvey to use as a tug and maybe something like this.

http://www.macnaughtongroup.com/evening.htm

[PaulC]

There are FREE plans here for the Lisa B Good!

http://geezerboatworks.photosite.com/

[Ian McColgin]

While in university I was pulling solo all-nighters in a marine rresearch station in the middle of miles of marsh, trying to do my homework, monitor the tanks, and watch late night horror films on the station's black&white, so when something would go splash . . .

But I could calm down by pulling out my old Rudder or where ever it had appeared and admire Retreat as the right abode for the serious esturine biologist.

I like the idea of a sweep to ease it along through the marsh.