First boat build discussion of 2012.

Brandon Yuchasz

Brandon Yuchasz

Well-known member
I spent the some time hunting Lake Erie and Lake Superior this year and really enjoyed the hunts. I am a diver big water hunter at heart and just love chasing the birds in the waves and wind. This year I hunted safely and comfortably in my Garvey but obviously there are places I can't hunt with the boat because of safety concerns. Even if the trip out to those locations were safe to travel in the boat its not acceptable because conditions can change quickly and travel back could be dangerous.

So with that in mind I started thinking about what a safe big water build would look like. Its obvious that a 20 foot alaskan would fit the bill but if you were to build a wooden boat for layout tending and open water hunting what would you consider building? Plywood builds are fine. Cedar would be better. I won't be building anything in the next year due to some constraints on my time this summer but I can see myself getting into another build as soon as my free time increase.
 
I would be thinking about a Tolman for a tender and open water boat.

Still last year this far west.
 
A Tolman was what I was thinking also. Nice lines and not too complicated if you just build the hull without a cabin. I've wanted to build one myself but just haven't gotten to that point yet.
 
Brandon,

If you think a "well boat" would be advantageous/safer for layout hunting, I'd consider either a Bartender or Simmons Sea Skiff also.

Can't wait to see this project unfold!
 
I was familiar with the Toolman The other two boats were slightly less known to me. The Bartender is really cool looking so of course that adds to its appeal. The Simmons is interesting as well following seas would not present much of a problem. Thanks for the idea's guys I am doing some reading on all three. I am hoping to build out of all fir, cedar and ash but its looking like plywood is the choice in bigger boats.
 
If plywood is acceptable, you know my recommondation.... a 20" Devlin Honker with a whaleback.

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Brandon
I would not hesitate to build out of either strips/planks or cold mold with layers of thin planks cross laid and epoxied if you want a complex shape. The technique requires a layer of glass on both sides to get the core effect of a skinned panel but that is not a big deal.
Plywood just covers a big area in a hurry and most guys dont want to do the extra work if the shape of the hull will work with panels.

I do admire Phils boat every time. That is a tank.
I am a Tolman reader from way back as well. I have borrowed his ideas on a stern well and his fore and aft bilge keels, and been very happy. But I am not sure building that boat makes sense in 18 feet if you can buy an old AquaSport and repaint it. IF you cant stand polyester resin, wood works very well.

For some ideas you could scale back, look at the builds on these sites.

Rich may have some ideas from the sunshine state as well.


http://www.fsboatworks.com/models.html

http://www.baylissboatworks.com/b16
 
Phil.
I have owned the little cod plans from Devlin for a while now and its something I am considering. Do you have any pictures of the wale back? Have you done any big water like Green Bay?

Bob,
Those are some big boats but the hull design on the one site does give me food for thought.
 
Yeah.. I have hunted GB and usually hunt Michigan 2 or 3 weekends a year. It has been in legit 7 footers...as in when in the trough, and standing driving, I was looking UP to the crest of the waves around me.

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Phil,
I did not mean to let this thread drop off. Thanks for the pictures. Like I mentioned i have the plans for the Little Cod 21 foot. Its says its based on the Cackler but really so is your boat and the snow goose as far as i can tell. Do you not many differences between those designs?

Also how does the hull design of your boat match up against a Lund style hull like the Alaskan? Just wondering how they cut the waves. Do you hunt yours open water with a blind often way out from shore?
 
Phil, what is the "whale tail"? The sloping rear deck? What are the eye bolts and rod across the transom for? Part of your blind?
 
I love your boat, When I win the lottery and retire I'll be asking you some questions about it while I build my own
 
What I call the whaleback is the humped to deck ( TDB, Banks, ond Duckwater style). If you look at the Devlin site, you will see in the Honker pictures it has a flat deck. The whaleback makes it a much dryer ride IMO.

I have never been in Alaskan...I think the deep V lunds would cut the waves better/ deeper, than my boat does, but I have never felt unsafe in my boat. I once dreamed of an Alaskian 20 CC. I am glad I never got one. As to the little cod. I haven't studied the plans... I will try to take a look at them. I have only used my blind a couple times... the primary purpose of this boat is to be a tender for layout hunting.

The Eye bolts and rod on the transom are the pivots for folding dog ramps...also used as entry steps and pee pltforms...
 
Phil,
you could add a spray rail to the side of the hull easily and it would knock down any water trying to get up the hull side on a windy day. They work awesome if that is an issue. Ren Tolman shows how in his book on the skiffs he builds.

I dont think an Alaskan has much more dead rise and I would be surprised if the ride wasn't close to even.

I still am very impressed with the documentation of this Boat. It is the most capable Wood duck boat of its size I have seen on the web. Very big plus to have the raised deck in the big water. It adds reserve stability due to the water having to displace more volume as the boat is leaned over. And It keeps the hunters and the load close to the centerline of the boat for added benefit. With the engine well It would take a heck of a sea to get water inside the boat.
Again, Phil nice job.

Bob
 
Phil, another case of what you read is not what you comprehend! You wrote whaleback, and I thought the back was refering to the transom and converted that to whale tail in my mind! I like the humped deck. Thanks for the explaination.
 
Thanks for the praise Bob.

John... I only have about $4500 into this boat... 2006 dollars....no need for the lottery.

I just looked at the Little Cod... Yep... I would say that is a similar boat. but 2' longer... I measured mine at 19' 3". That being said, the Devlin site says it will cost $12,000.... I used US Composites epoxy... which is significantly more economical than the big brands... I would love to have and aditional 2'... but if you don't put a tiller on it... (Yamaha has a 115 tiller) the console will take up the additional 2'... With a 60 2 stroke I hit 32 mph... 28 loaded... Devlin says the Little Cod will do 40mph. (moderately loaded) and is rated 100-150 hp.... I am not going to say my modified Honker is better... I am just not sure that the added size is a benefit when it comes to lost space and extra HP. If I did the Little Cod I would still put what I call a Whaleback on it. ( the top of my cockpit is 31.5" off the floor). FOr me a requirement is to have 10' of clear cockpit space, so I can go down the road with my MLB Classics in it. Not sure about the BOM on the Little Cod, but on mine, I used 4 sheets of 5'x10' plywood, I had 1/2" of drop ...... JMO.....

The below pictures are of the dog dock, the spray when hitting a wave coming at me, and an unfinished interior shot...

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Phil,
I had assumed you ran the boat with a council I am surprised you are able to run a tiller with the way you have the transom designed. It was a concern of mine with the splashwell on the Garvey so I did not build it as high as I could have on the interior.... lets call it the second transom since I can not for the life of me think of what you would actually call it. Ill see if I can find a picture.
 
I think Devlin calls it a transom bulkhead.... but I could be wrong....

Yamaha has longer tillers... I think... the bigger motors have EXTREMELY long tiller handles.
 
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Sounds right. Here is the pic. I saved the cut out and plan to put it back in because it does not interfere with the tiller. Just have not done any work on the boat since I decided to add it back in to allow the well to take more water on. Not that i want to take more water on but I do go out in some chop.

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looking at that picture I might have to build in cedar again!

Here is one from the dog during the boat build. Gotta love a chessie.

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