Some of you know that I have been working on a new design.... well, nothing new really, but I'm working this one up from scratch. Basically looking at Rapid roberts, mini drifters, "tubbies" and the like and making my own flat-rockered low side version.
Stay tuned on my personal blog for coming posts when I start to make dust. For now, all I have to offer is a few mannilla folder models!
I'd like to thank Roger Fletcher and Rick Finnell for the long discussions about this type of boat.
This is a sweet design. i was just thinking about this myself and looking to the Koffler Rocky Mountain Trout Boats for inspiration. You should take a look at those for some ideas. i think something like this will be my next endeavor. Way to go! Keep us posted!
Funny you should say that. I rowed a Hyde rocky Mountain skiff this summer on the Bighorn for a few days and found it to be a nice design for soem of my home waters. That's where the rumination started on this one.
This boat for me, would be perfect for the high lakes here in Oregon where no motor is allowed. And for most of the floats on the lower McKenzie for steelies in the summer. Good luck to you on you design. I am really excited to follow along! Keep us posted, and if you do come up with some plans, let us know! I am sure some here would love to pay for a set!
I will probably make plans available at some point if this all works out.
The specs I'm shooting for- I think I listed this on my blog-
11-6" side panel
48" bottom width or as close to it as I can.
20-22" side height
60-62" beam at the 'locks.
My plans for interior is totally functional. That boat AJ posted a while back- has the side rails that the seats slide on and side pockets with fly rod storage-I'm totally stealing that design!
My kids are having fun with all of my scrap models.
Next I'm going to settle on one or two that I have and work the dimensions to the nearest 1/8th" (no long decimal places) then carve a plug. refine the lines.
...then model in real wood to scale.
.....then start sawing some timber!
I have one point to consider about the pointless ends. The amount of angle of the end is important to consider. The shorter the boat the more you will want the boat to have an end more near vertical.
As the short boat drops into a hole the end, if made with too much angle, will dive deep and take water like a big spoon.
This happened to me to in a square ender. Hit a big standing wave and when we went through it, the boat took on about 20 gallons of water! Was a hilarious moment, thankfully it ended well. It was one of those situations where you didn't see it coming, then all of a sudden realized it was going to happen.
Nice, I can see that being a useful and attractive design - model looks good, like the relative size of the ends. Put a pair of handles on each end and two guys could carry it a short ways without regretting it, a good thing, particularly if it opens up otherwise unaccessible water. I am guessing rocker is reduced from that of a Trapper, by a couple inches? Looking forward to developments.
Michael