On Jan 27, 11:34*am, HK wrote:
wrote:
On Jan 27, 10:45 am, HK wrote:
wrote:

So anyway, what do you guys want to see in a small boat under 20 feet.
Seating, electronics, storage, suncover, tiller, console? What do you
think the pricing should look like? Should I go with a quick down and
dirty flatbottom, a quick down and dirty Vee, or a more elaborate
hybred with clinker construction and a little brightsides?? Any input
will be appreciated...
You might be better served asking those questions of prospective buyers..

If you are getting into the small runabout biz, though, I always thought
that 14-16' boats with nice varnished decks and seats and round chines
were fun, and offered a decent ride with 20-50 hp outboards. Look at the
old Penn Yans (though I wouldn't waste time on a strip built boat). If
you are going clinker built, use bolts, not rivets.

--
Billary, the most sold out Whitehouse in history.

Clinker would be built with bronze alloy screws at the joints and
copper nails, crimped over inside on the seams. All backed up with
epoxy and glass fabric. A stripper would be a personal project, not to
sell. The first few boats will be knockdown workskiffs as noted above,
but I am trying to decide to go from there. I have been looking at a
particular old school semi-dory for over a decade, I really think it
is going to be the direction I move after I get going.

One of the biggest problems with wooden boats of this size is the
seating. Everyone wants to remove the thwarts but few understand just
how important they are to the structural integerity of the boat. Wrap
around seating is one option but creates problems of it's own. I have
to tell you, "most" of the very well established "new school" builders
I see are not building legal boats, especially when it comes to the
flotation. Unfortunately, the USCG has not the manpower or the teeth
to do anything about it..

We always liked the boats built by Stur-Dee dory. Of course, in "my
day," they were built of wood, and now they're built of fiberglass with
nice wood trip. Check out the site...I'm sure you know of the place. The
founder, who was a buddy of my father, died last year, but I understand
his children or grandchildren are continuing the business.

These dories are perfect fishing skiffs for Long Island Sound, and are
easily driven with small outboards. They row nicely,too.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The Amesbury dory is just about where I am going... It is 14 feet
iirc.. It is also a Gardner boat like the one I am looking at. I am
looking at a somewhat larger boat, and I will probably stay with wood
for now. Who knows, maybe someday I will build a mold or two but I
know there is a lot more to that than I am ready for and don't want to
contract one out.