I'm going to build a boat this winter! I'd rather not design my own but so far I haven't found an example of what I want. I'm a whitewater guy. Been kayaking (and canoeing) for 40 years, rowing rafts and catarafts for over 10. I'm a pretty good boater. (rowed Middle Fork Salmon at very high water, rowed the Grand Canyon at 20,000 cfs, kayaked the Grand Canyon in a self-supported 5 man kayak group,... and kayaked and rowed most of the East Coast) I'm a decent craftsman (once I built and flew an airplane) and have pretty much any tools I need. (I'm in the market for a good use band saw)
Anyway, I want a mini dory for just myself and my cameras. I'm thinking 11 to 12 ft. and tough as heck -- with tumblehome, symmetrical, and either decked or outfitted with airbags.
Check in with Mark Stubber here on wooden boat people or at http://shoelessmusings.blogspot.com. He started the I.R.H. in 2013. If you work back through the 98 posts for that year you can follow the development and on river photos. I can't find what I.R.H. means but it is a kick butt little river playboat!
I've designed a little dory based on Tubby from Roger Fletchers book on drift boats and river dories.
Ilf you are interested in this boat I have some parts here in my shop and we can work something out. The shop is closed now but I love this boat so much and have a few parts already cut so I would like to see it them come to life.
My son Sanderson took this video of running Black Bar on the Rogue River. Removing the front seat and strapping in camera geat in front of the rower would work well.