Small(est) lapstrake boat

[Thermo]

Howdy again :)

This is hypothetical at the moment, until I get the nerve up:

If I wanted to do a build, solely for the purpose of trying my hand at a clinker hull, what are some wee boats that would serve well as candidates for this 'practice' boat?

I considered maybe a scale model of something, but...

* I want full-sized tools in my big hands, I think It'll learn me better.
* I also need something big enough to practice finishing on.
* I'm testing out the merits of a new building space/location.

That said, can anyone suggest some nice little lapstrake boats that would get me out there planking with a minimal outlay for materials?

The smaller the better, as long as a person can fit in it. I'll likely end up wasting planks and such while learning, and I want my mistakes to be as inexpensive as possible.


thanks,
thermo

[paladin]

well...there's a lapstrake baby bed if you have need......and several dinks to cheese from, from about 7 1/2 feet to 8 1/2 feet long......and if you're gonna build a larger boat the dink will come in handy.

[Ben Fuller]

Human occupancy is the key here. There are some of nice open double paddle canoe designs in the 9-10 foot area. Rushton based/ Nessmuk based, some interpreted by modern designers. Sairy Gamp is the smallest, on loan to the Adirondack Museum, 9 feet, 10 1/2 pounds. Check the WB forum out on this boat. Having spent some time looking at it, it is by no means of the fit and finish of some of Rushton's slightly heavier boats. More realistic are the designs that scale to around twenty pounds.

[Thermo]

well...there's a lapstrake baby bed if you have need......and several dinks to cheese from, from about 7 1/2 feet to 8 1/2 feet long......and if you're gonna build a larger boat the dink will come in handy.

I'm building Chebacco for campin' with the Missus and the 8 year old. But she's gonna be sheet-ply with glass. Hopefully we won't need a baby bed soon!

A little dink would be just about what I'm looking for.

Edit:
Human occupancy is the key here. There are some of nice open double paddle canoe designs in the 9-10 foot area. Rushton based/ Nessmuk based, some interpreted by modern designers. Sairy Gamp is the smallest, on loan to the Adirondack Museum, 9 feet, 10 1/2 pounds. Check the WB forum out on this boat. Having spent some time looking at it, it is by no means of the fit and finish of some of Rushton's slightly heavier boats. More realistic are the designs that scale to around twenty pounds.

A little canoe would be more useful where I live (upper Potomac) than the little sailboats I'm infatuated with. One for my lightweight kid would be good as a practice boat.

[rbgarr]

This may be too big at 10' but it would be a satisfying project and tender. I believe the similar Herreshoff pram is a bit smaller.

http://www.jordanwoodboats.com/home.cfm?dir_cat=5064

[sv Lorelei]

I like the lines of Atkin's Handy Andy, although not originally intended for lap construction has and certainly could be built thusly. I'm intending to build one that way 8 feet and use a lug rig similar to Vintage.

http://www.boat-links.com/Atkinco/Dinks/images/HandyAndy-1.gif

[Matt Middleton]

Paul Gartside has some nice looking small lapstrake boats. See http://www.gartsideboats.com/7pram.php

http://www.gartsideboats.com/pgimages/7pramvarnish.JPG

Matt

[keyhavenpotterer]

Have a look at Bumble of Lochdubh

http://bumbleoflochdubh.blogspot.com/

Iain Oughtred's Humble Bee. Very small, very pretty, and of value if you wished to sell or use as a tender to your next bigger boat. As they say - build the tender first. Brian

[JimConlin]

Tom Hill's little canoe would be a good choice. Buy the book.

http://www.thomasjhillboatdesigns.com/images/book_cover.jpg

[Yeadon]

Oughtred's little Acorn. That's a nice little plywood lapstrake tender.

[JimD]

Selway Fisher - or not - they are plywood: http://www.selway-fisher.com/GPDinghyup13.htm

http://www.selway-fisher.com/GPRowSailup10.jpg

[StevenBauer]

Harry Bryan's Fiddlehead is a sweet boat:

http://www.harrybryan.com/harrybryan/1fiddlehead10.6.jpg



PLAN # 1 10½’ FIDDLEHEAD
From
BRYAN BOATBUILDING
The 10½' Fiddlehead is a redesign of Henry Rushton's "Wee Lassie". This was done in
order to use the much simpler dory construction. She is a very able boat for her size
and will carry an adult equally well on a still duck pond or open bay. Her watertight
storage compartments and spray deflecting cover give her extra security despite her
small size.
PARTICULARS
LOA 10' 6"
Beam 28"
Weight 42 Ibs
DESCRIPTION
Hull type: Flat bottomed decked canoe; Round sided dory
Construction: Lap-strake cedar.
Intended capacity: 1 person up to approx. 200 Ibs. and 6' ht.
Propulsion: double paddle
BUILDING DATA
Skill needed: Basic to intermediate
Lofting required: No
Alternative construction: Glued lap plywood (not detailed)
PLANS DESCRIPTION
Plans consist of 4 sheets: 1. full sized patterns
2. construction drawing and scantlings
3. dimensions of deck parts and plank offsets
4. setup jig, lines and offsets.
A 30 pg. instruction booklet is included.
Cost per set: $60.00 Plan #1



This is a fun to build and fun to use boat. Harry's step by step instruction booklet is very helpful.







Steven

[johngsandusky]

Whatever you choose, make sure it's a boat you will use, fits your body, your local waters, and your style.

[Thermo]

Once again, I want to do them all! I live in canoe/kayak country, but I don't do it much. But they're still such nice boats.

And those prams are wonderful too.

But I think for the sake of learning the most skills on the least boat, I'll pick something with a stem and a transom, instead of two of either.

That Selway Fisher dink is looking good, if I wanted to do a ply boat. If the learned skills are the same, I guess ply strakes would suit, though cedar would be a whole new level of goodness. Really, with all the local woodcutter-fellowes around here, I might be able to get boatwood cheaper than ply. :)

[Peter Belenky]

Phil Bolger's Queen Mab is a bit complicated, but incontrovertibly a small (7') lapstrake boat:

http://web.comhem.se/chby/segling/bilder/QM04/QM37.JPG

[goodbasil]

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=48450&cat=1,46096,46097&ap=1

[Thorne]

Why not build a lapstrake ply tender for your Chebacco? You'll need one anyway, so this is the perfect excuse...er...opportunity.

[boylesboats]

Thermo,
You didn't clarified on how small of boat you are asking about...

I built a couple of 32" dories.. Planked from ripped construction lumber.. Heck, they'll fits on each of your feet :D Naaaa, they're just models...

[JimD]

That Selway Fisher dink is looking good, if I wanted to do a ply boat. If the learned skills are the same, I guess ply strakes would suit, though cedar would be a whole new level of goodness. Really, with all the local woodcutter-fellowes around here, I might be able to get boatwood cheaper than ply. :)

Unfortunately, the learned skills would not be the same. 'Real' planks clench nailed would be quite different in many ways from glued plywood.

[Thermo]

Unfortunately, the learned skills would not be the same. 'Real' planks clench nailed would be quite different in many ways from glued plywood.

I forgot about all those nails. Maybe ply is the way to go. Or else, isn't there a less jagged and pointy rivet technique?

[JimD]

I forgot about all those nails. Maybe ply is the way to go. Or else, isn't there a less jagged and pointy rivet technique?

Sure, there's rivetting. But what I meant was that working with solid natural wood is very different from plywood, and fastening with any sort of metal fasteners is very different from gluing. And you end up with very different boats, too, despite their outwardly similar appearance.

[Thermo]

Sure, there's rivetting. But what I meant was that working with solid natural wood is very different from plywood, and fastening with any sort of metal fasteners is very different from gluing. And you end up with very different boats, too, despite their outwardly similar appearance.

I wondered about that. Aren't wood boats designed for expansion/contraction, with planks shifting on each other?

I reckon I'll need to supplement my library with a couple lapstrake books before I start this project.

[rbgarr]

Walt Simmons' 'Lapstrake Boatbuilding' is a useful start.