Wooden Boat People

By McKenzieDriftBoat.com

Extending a 16' design to 17'

Hi all,

I'm building a drift boat for the first time and picked up drift boats and dorries. I was wondering if anyone had experience with extending the 16' double ender with transom to 17'. It doesn't seem like a radical change to the design but I like the idea of being able to have a fisherman in front and back.

Any advice would be helpful.

Thanks,

Chad

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on June 21, 2015 at 4:37pm

In the old days when Douglas Fir forests were available for harvest buying long plywood was easy. Now days when Douglas Fir plywood is no longer available without voids or holes within it, and especially not in 16' sheets, we have to revert to different woods or materials. Okume and other similar imported BS1008 graded sheets of marine plywood do the job. However there is also the possibility of using foam and honeycomb synthetic materials instead. Not much discussion here but a lot more on Sandy's site.

It is my understanding that many of the newer dories built for use on the Grand Canyon are using such materials. There are numerous options and points of view regarding materials, the type of epoxy to use, coatings, the amount and type of fiberglass to use, etc, etc, etc. If you can phrase questions properly you can gather quite a bit of knowledge from the posts here and on Sandy's pages. Use a sentense or a phrase rather than just a word or two to get the best results.

Rick Newman

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Permalink Reply by Eric Loudenslager on June 21, 2015 at 7:19pm

There is a thread here on Woodenboat People - Framed Beavertail - Don Ward, June 30, 2014. Also check various threads at the Montana River Boats forum. Someone a while back scaled the Beavertail up; but I think it was 18 ft side panel, not 17 ft.

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Permalink Reply by Gregg Maddock on June 23, 2015 at 7:38pm

Charles, Look up Mike baker, Don Hill or Ray's on the web and buy their plans for a framed 17 dory. I have all three and will start 2nd build in month. I just completed a 14'. But just buy a set of plans that don't need too much modification. Mike probably has the best step by step instruction.

Good luck