Wooden flats boat designs ?

[Robmill0605]

I have been asked by a friend if I could build him a wood (plywood) flats boat to be used for fishing here in SW Florida. Apparently, the fiberglass flats boats like a Hewes are very expensive .
The boat needs to be in the 16 ft range and have a live well and polling platform. I did a quick google search but not much out there for a wood version of this boat.
Anyone have any ideas or designs?

[Cuyahoga Chuck]

Bateau has a line of S&G ply/glass flats boats. Details like casting/poling decks may be something left up to the builder. If you want to do something that is not on the plans Jacques Mertens, the designer, will give you specific advise at his builder's forum.
http://www.bateau.com/proddetail.php?prod=PH16
There are several others, as well.

[Thorne]

Try an Advanced Search of this forum URL from the Google page. Several good threads on flats boats, including posts from the builder of this one -
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/Prestoboat/Misc%20boats%20etc/txflatsfloatbow.jpg

http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93250

http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65441

[Robmill0605]

Perfect, thanks!

[rbgarr]

Is there a reason catamarans aren't used for flats boats more? Too hard to pole? Too complex to build?

http://i41.tinypic.com/waqero.jpg

[spirit]

A catamaran would be fine for a flats boat if it were designed for carrying a considerable load. Think several fishermen, live wells full of water, and big coolers full of ice!

[Bill Mercer]

You know, it seems like this would make a good flats boat: http://www.boat-links.com/Atkinco/Utilities/RescueMinor.html

http://www.boat-links.com/Atkinco/Utilities/images/RescueMinor-2.gif

Not as quick to build as a skiff, but economical to run, can plane in six inches of water, and one would think that the wide stern would give enough stability to have a casting platform over it. Anybody know if Robb White used his for this?

[SMARTINSEN]

You know, it seems like this would make a good flats boat: http://www.boat-links.com/Atkinco/Utilities/RescueMinor.html

http://www.boat-links.com/Atkinco/Utilities/images/RescueMinor-2.gif

Not as quick to build as a skiff, but economical to run, can plane in six inches of water, and one would think that the wide stern would give enough stability to have a casting platform over it. Anybody know if Robb White used his for this?


Isn't there a photo of Blue Jacket floating in about an inch of water somewhere here on the Forum?

[Bill Mercer]

John Gardner's got a nice clam skiff in, I think, Building Class Small Craft V. 2, which would build really fast, move right along with 15 hp when lightly loaded, and hold a lot of cr@p. I think he claimed it could take a 1000 lbs (I'm at work and don't have access to the book). It's a flat bottom skiff with a small amount of rocker over the whole length of the bottom, to give it better performance under oars and at displacement speeds when loaded to the gills. Apparently you would need either a console, a tiller extension, or weight in the bow to offset the captain sitting back by the engine.

How about Bolger's Diablo? The dory bottom might limit the draft, and people who own them seem to love them. A casting platform might not work though--I'd bet it'd be too tippy and you'd end up on yer backside on the sandflat.

[Bill Mercer]

Rescue minor pics:



http://www.boat-links.com/Atkinco/Photos/RescueMinor/Antiquity-13.jpg

http://www.boat-links.com/Atkinco/Photos/RescueMinor/Antiquity-16.jpg

[Paul Pless]

You want to talk to forum member RodB.

[Cuyahoga Chuck]

Is there a reason catamarans aren't used for flats boats more? Too hard to pole? Too complex to build?

http://i41.tinypic.com/waqero.jpg

They don't use catarmaran hulls but they do use the Hickman sea-sled ideal.
http://www.bateau.com/proddetail.php?prod=TX18

[flyinwall]

have a look at this it is a good looking boat

https://www.boatdesigns.com/products.asp?dept=740

[RodB]

Flats boats can vary in features... depending on your needs. Do you want to fish very shallow waters...? (under 1 foot)... How many people with their gear? Do you need to pole (in wind or not) to intercept fish.. to sight cast with a fly rod?? OR... are you mostly going to drift flats, perhaps using a drift sock to slow you down?

The Texas Flats skiff by Tracy Obrien (designed for me) is produced in a 16 foot and an 18 foot version... It is a fairly beamy stitch and glue design ( 63" bottom width on the 16 footer, and 66" bottom width on the 18 footer). I also commissioned another design that may be of interest to you....

Contact me in a pm and I'll fill you in.

RodB