Building My Boat : Pros and Cons

I think another thing that needs to be factored into the equation is just how much an individual enjoys building things. I think some people enjoy building things far more than other people do.

I love to build stuff and work in the shop. So if I'm not building a boat I'll probably be building something else anyway. Working in the shop is my hobby.

People who complain that building a boat from scratch is too much like work would be well advised to not do it.

That's for sure.

 

Or, maybe uses pontoon hulls can help to start the project. Your design is very good too.

 

Yes, pontoons have been considered and haven't been ruled out yet.

I'm only in the early design stages right now and hope to draw up several sets of plans for various methods of construction, and then choose a final plan in the spring to actually dig into to for construction.

 

Sweet Dreamer, since you've expressed interest in paddlewheels can I direct you to some resources I've managed to come across?

You may already have them for all I know, of course....

I've found this old handbook very easy to deal with and it seems, when it comes to sizing feathering paddlewheel floats, to be a method that involves more "real world" factors: http://books.google.com/books/about/A_manual_of_marine_engineering.html?id=BCEOAAAAYAAJ

Of particular value is that some details for frame construction scantlings are given.

... note that the rules given (p.315 on) assume side wheels, which would be roughly half of a unitary stern wheel.

Seaton's Pocketbook of Rules, http://books.google.com/books/about/A_pocket_book_of_marine_engineering_rule.html?id=nKANAAAAYAAJ , p.211 on, is a nice companion.

Both can be downloaded in PDF form for free.

Then there is the relevant sections of Saunder's Hydrodynamics in Ship Design, vol.1 and 2 are thankfully available on line.

Some points of interest in this book are "thrust coefficient": http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.31822002320422;skin=mobile#page/242/mode/2up

... the vol 1 discussion of paddlewheels: http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.31822002320422;skin=mobile#page/444/mode/2up

... which includes a some very interesting comments on paravanes that seem like they should be practical on sternwheelers.

... and more detail found in volume 2 here: https://archive.org/stream/hydrodynamicsins5765saun#page/638/mode/2up

I've found no access to volume 3 ... yet....

I wish you well!

 

Thank you very much, I'll look into those. I definitely want a paddle wheel boat. Building a boat that artistically emulates an old River Showboat is one of the major goals of this project.

We live in a resort area that is also a college town. And there are a lot of artistic festivals going on here. So this "showboat" will add to that atmosphere. There are also steam-engine shows, antique tractor shows, and antique car shows etc. So this emulated showboat will fit right in perfectly.