Gavin Atkins "cinderella" opinions plz....

[MO_Angler]

Gavin Atkins of Duckworks Boat Builders Supply has some *free* plans for a 12' single person Canoe.
I am wondering if any one has any experience with them as I am looking for a car topper single person boat for fishing shallow waters for the prize of all Missouri anglers, CRAPPIE!!
I posted about it on "boat design forums" under the thread "small fresh water fishing boat" and one person gave a glowing review.
I was wondering if any one here on WoodenBoat forum had ever dabbled with it or maybe just some thing Gavin designed. Plz any experience with this design or the designer would be great.
I just want to know if its a good stable boat before going ahead with all that work and of course the WOOD. Here is a picture (I presume) of him in the canoe in question. He calls it "cinderella"
http://www.duckworksbbs.com/plans/gavin/gav2.jpg
Thanks all,
Mo Angler

[Dick Wynne]

I expect Gavin can put you in touch with a builder or two, you can contact him through his blog www.intheboatshed.net (http://www.intheboatshed.net)

[James McMullen]

It's less "crappie" than most of G. Atkins's designs, but it's still not what I'd pick. (the Cinderella is not the boat he's paddling in that picture by the way--look at the study plans page and you'll see the actual Cinderella) The CLC Sassafrass canoe is similar, but with a better shape and a lighter-weight, more elegant construction method. You can buy a kit of precut panels from them even instead of just plans if you want.

Choosing a "free" plan for a cruder, simpler design ain't going to save you anything in the long run, I'd say. If you're going to spend a few months of weekends of your time putting a boat together, build one you can really be proud of when it's all done.

[MO_Angler]

so what boat is he paddling in the picture? I really liked it.

[PaulC]

Gavin is also "famous" for his Mouse Boats which are easily built and fun to paddle.

[JimConlin]

so what boat is he paddling in the picture? I really liked it.
Pete Culler's Butternut?
It has more strakes than Tom Hill's 'Charlotte' or the CLC kit.

[Gavin Atkin]

so what boat is he paddling in the picture? I really liked it.

I can't remember what it was, I'm afraid. I paddled it a little at a messabout in Texas quite a few years ago. I remember it worked well but also that my knees weren't up to the job!

Cinderella has a moderately wide flat bottom and rounded sides, and is therefore not massively stable, so if you're not used to small open canoes it will take a little getting used to. That's ok and even right for paddling - for all sorts of reasons 'stable' and 'good' aren't necessarily synonymous in boating.

I don't fish myself, but I'm pretty sure you would not fish from her with a rod, though a line might be ok once you were confident.

Cinderella makes a perfectly effective easy to build canoe, so long as you're not looking for sophistications such as hollows in the waterline at the bows.

I can find some photos if anyone is interested, but in the meantime, this link showing a Cinderella converted for rowing might interest some of you: http://intheboatshed.net/2007/03/21/a-cinderella-canoe-adapted-for-rowing/

One thing I would say is that the plans were updated a little time ago but the update doesn't seem to have reached Duckworks. That's probably my fault and I will get in touch with Chuck to sort the issue out this evening.

On the Mouseboats - they're much steadier on the water than a canoe of this kind and for that reason are often used for fishing. If built from 1/4in ply and without using too much 'poxy, the small 8ft ones are also light enough to be carried under one arm, and fit into the back of some vehicles.

To get a sense of what the Mouseboats can do, I'd suggest signing up with the Mouseboats Yahoogroup - there are plenty of folks there with good stories to tell.

Gavin

[Gavin Atkin]

PS If you have any questions, you're free to ask me, even though I'm an amateur and make nothing from them. I'd far rather people got in touch than built the wrong boat, or built it in a way that caused them problems. That's why I include contact details with all of my plans.

[Gavin Atkin]

PPS Mo Angler - can you please direct me to the forum post you found? I can't find it and naturally I'm pretty curious...

Gav

[Lewisboats]

That was on Boatdesign.net and it was me :)

[Richard Jones]

I've built two similiar canoes; a Tom Hill "Charlotte" and a 11'6" Rushton Vaux Junior(plans from Adirondack Museum)which I adapted to glued lapstrake. Both are great little boats. The Rushton does have a flatter bottom, thus is more stable. Of course, those plans take a lot of thinking and tinkering with to switch over to modern construction. I believe most of the designs of today are based on Rushton's Wee Lassie design of over 100 years ago. Unlike the picture, use a double paddle and you'll really move along. As for fishing, the boat is a bit small. Leave the big tacke box home.

[Gavin Atkin]

That was on Boatdesign.net and it was me :)

You, sir, are most kind! Thank you!

Gav

[Lewisboats]

Us irresponsible amateurs gotta stick together ya know. Besides... looks pretty darn good to me :D.

[Gavin Atkin]

Too true. As far as I know your boats work too!

Gav

[MO_Angler]

Mr. Atkin,
I did not find it on a forum, I found it in the web site. I was just trying to find out if it was a good canoe to go fishing in. That is what I am looking for, a fishing boat that is designed for paddling or small electric motor out of wood. some thing cheaper than a canoe at the store.
Thanks,
MO Angler

[Gavin Atkin]

Mr. Atkin,
I did not find it on a forum, I found it in the web site. I was just trying to find out if it was a good canoe to go fishing in. That is what I am looking for, a fishing boat that is designed for paddling or small electric motor out of wood. some thing cheaper than a canoe at the store.
Thanks,
MO Angler

Hi MO Angler:

I'm afraid I don't know how to put photos in these forum posts, but these are photos of Al Burke's Cinderella:

http://intheboatshed.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/R0010523.JPG

and http://intheboatshed.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/R0010518.JPG

And here's a Mouse: http://intheboatshed.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/ecdd.jpg

And there's another here: http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/03/r/gatherings/kingston/

The Cinderella is a bit tippy for fishing, I would have thought, but the Mouse is a good stable platform, paddles much, much better than it looks and is easy to make. In fact it was designed for kids to make (which is why aesthetics were low on list of objectives) but it has become quite popular with adults including fishing types, as it will carry someone of up to 180 or 200lbs in reasonable comfort.

Gav

[PaulC]

Here you go Gavin:

http://intheboatshed.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/R0010523.JPG

http://intheboatshed.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/R0010518.JPG

http://intheboatshed.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/ecdd.jpg

[Gavin Atkin]

Thanks for putting the pics in Paul C!

Gav

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

.
Crikey Gavin, I've seen far worse-looking boats than Cinderella around. Congratulations on her. (And on making her plans freely available, too.)

Mike

[Cuyahoga Chuck]

Mr. Atkin,
I did not find it on a forum, I found it in the web site. I was just trying to find out if it was a good canoe to go fishing in. That is what I am looking for, a fishing boat that is designed for paddling or small electric motor out of wood. some thing cheaper than a canoe at the store.
Thanks,
MO Angler

I don't know if building is cheaper than buying any more. Cabellas was selling plastic Old Town "Otter" kayaks ( 9½ feet long) for $299-$399. I had $160 worth of epoxy and glass tape in a 14 ft plywood pirogue before I bought the first piece of plywood.
I paddled an Otter a couple of times and it is has a nice seat and is so wide there is room for fishing gear and bait and beer. It's not an ideal paddle boat but it will fill the bill for little money.
Since I am a paddler I'll give you the song and dance about building and paddling short canoes.
A lot of folks fall in love with little canoes but they are not usually experienced. In any human powered boat waterline length tells you whether the boat is meant for anything beyond lounging in small waters.
Longer hulls are inclined to have more glide and are, thus, easier to propell over modest or longer distances. The shorter a boat is the more it will yaw with each stroke. It will snake thru' the water and add distance to your course.
If you have a choice get a canoe design that is, at least, 14 feet. If you want a motor you can build an 8' pram Like the D4 that can be rowed, motored, and light enough to cartop. A pram 8' x 48" is plenty commodious for a single fisherman.
This is me in my plywood wonder.
http://www.bateau.com/boats/NC16/slides/CC14_Erie%20Canal2.html
It is slow even tho' it is 14 feet long. Cost about $275 to build.