Planning hulls - Sailboat

Dave Diefenderfer

Dave Diefenderfer

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As most know, I have the over built Sam Hunt BBSB as my 1 man boat. While plenty sea worthy, it displaces too much for some of the places I want to hunt in the tidal marshes. While a SouthBay would fit my needs, they are few and far between lately. I could build from scratch, and have collected several plans to work from, but a much cheaper way would be to utilize one of the smaller "sunfish" like hulls that show up cheap or free. I am curious if anyone know what are the flattest/more planning hulls to look for? I always though the Sunfish was more displacement with the slight V to the transom. The Laser looks flat, and I know is a faster boat.... anyone know their dingy sailboats? I am just trying to to something on the cheap. Total effort less than $500 or so.

Looking at 13-14ft, beam 4.5 to 5ft... just me and 2 dozen decoys, maybe a dog again some day. I have the Scaup for hunting more than that, and I have the BBSB for solo deeper waters.
 
Dave,
While I have no specific knowledge about powering small sailboat hulls, I will say this:
Boats as small as these can be very sensitive to weight distribution. Some boats also respond badly to the application of too much power. Before investing much time into the project, I would suggest you jury-rig a motor mount and see how the boat responds to that much weight and power on the transom. Check it at rest and under power through its entire speed range. Might be fine, I don't know, but if not, it could save you a lot of work and trouble.
 
These boats really aren't designed for a motor, or much weight on the stern, and are relatively narrow for the length. I made up a sailfish hull which is 10' , and it came out nice, but no way would a outboard have worked.
You would also have to put twin keels under it to account for the V, or it won't sit level in shallow water or pulled up on the shore. To put a motor on it, there'd have to be some major reinforcement to the transom.
Yes it can be done, it has been done, doesn't mean it's a good solution. but...YMMV
 
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