bassboat

[3pepper]

hi
i am looking for plans for a wood bass boat / jon boat . i will use it for fishing a medium size reservior and a rocky river with a few class 1 rapids . the largest chop will be from a ski boat wake and the roughest the river gets will be when the hydro dam is letting out water , i have paddeled up stream in a canoe with little trouble while the dam was running . i want shallow draft and be able to stand up and fish . it will be trailered and never left in the water . i may get a jetdrive out board for it but i don't care if it goes fast , it just needs to beat the current .

i am a professional wood worker with 25+yrs expierience and i've built several boats , stitch and glue kayaks , a canoe , a yellowpine plank jon boat , and a 12' 6" fishing boat out of 3/8 ply that just got smashed by a pine tree during our last thunder storm .

i am wanting to build this boat out of solid wood . no plywood , glass cloth or epoxy . and i would like to not use paint if i can get away with it .
the only exception is that i may coat the bottom with epoxy and graphite to give me a little protection from the rocks in the river .

i have access to inexpensive air dried wood , white oak , cherry , black walnut , short leaf yellow pine , eastern red cedar , black locust , etc .

am i crazy to want to do this ?

do any plans like this exist ?

if not i may just build an ozark style river boat and put a trolling motor and battery compartment

thanks
any help will be appreciated

steve

[3pepper]

i would like to keep it 16' or under in length .
i realy like the aluminium flatbottom jon/bass boats that are so popular here . but i am a wood person and dont' care for aluminum or fiberglass .


i had considered copying an aluminum bass boat , make paterns and copy it in wood . could this work?

i have searched the internet and this forum , but there does not seem to be anything like what i am wanting .

maybe i am crazy

thanks

steve

[J. Spira]

Not crazy at all, Steve. Your idea of copying an aluminum boat is fine. It should give you a fine hull shape - though count on the wooden boat being quite a bit heavier so not being able to carry as much load. I'd spend some time studying the framing of similarly sized wood hulls to give you a good idea of how the framing is usually done. My site has downloadable study plans that usually include framing specifics. How had you planned on sealing the planking edges?

[3pepper]

thanks jeff
i wasn't sure if i was wishing for something that was undoable .
i haven't got that far in my planning yet , i use alot of clear silicone , and waterlox in my work and i had planned on experimenting some ,but i will end up useing whatever is most recomended .

i would like to stick with something like a penetrating oil with or without pine tar or varnish , linseed etc , i don't mind reapplieing twice a year . it will be stored in a carport that is very sheltered .

what plank thickness would you go with 1/2" or 3/4 " for the bottom ?
i wanted to use white oak but not sure

great link too .
love the carolina and the mullet great looking boats

i'm in south carolina about 50 miles sw of charlotte nc .
thanks
steve

[J. Spira]

Not sure I'd use oak for the planking, though it might be fine for framing. I'd think you'd be happier with something softer and more flexible, like pine or mahogany. As far as thinkness, it depends on how tough a use you want it for, how much weight you're willing to tolerate and how closely spaced your frames are. It's not an easy answer.

I've done some brightwork finish on boats using gunstock oil - basically BLO, but with some fast drying agents and such - and been happy with the results, particularly if you keep it clean and dry between usage. It's not someting you want to keep on a mooring in saltwater, but for a dry stored boat and for a guy who likes to care for wood, it should be fine and look fantastic.

[brad9798]

[URL="http://glen-l.com"]

See this site ...

[Steve Paskey]

How about this? SEDGE, a 15-foot outboard boat by William Atkin:
http://www.boat-links.com/Atkinco/Oar/Sedge.html

http://www.boat-links.com/Atkinco/Oar/images/Sedge-1.gif
http://www.boat-links.com/Atkinco/Oar/images/Sedge-2.gif

Built from real wood and designed by one of the best.