Mini Barge

[beachaccess]

I have only beach access to my property. I want to build a small barge type of boat to help get stuff to the house. Looking for plans for a boat 14-16 feet long with flat bow. Even better would be a flat front that could be lowered onto the beach like a landing craft. Any ideas? Aluminum or Wood.

[PAR]

I would think folks that have the recourses to buy beach front property (beach access only, when available) would also have the pockets to hire someone to move their stuff in.

What's the difference in building a barge and taking several trips (maybe borrowing a friend's boat) in a runabout? Fuel money, less time, less trouble, cost? Come on man, if we all had these types of difficulties, the world would be a much better place. I guess renting a barge is just to down scale.

After you've moved in to your water view home, drop an email at my address, I have a good deal on some land in south west Florida I'd like to talk about . . .

[EmilSB]

Hi,
I'm agree with PAR, but if you still want a mini barge let me know. I have some ideas, and I can design a mini barge for you.
EmilSB
sultanemanuel@hotmail.com

[Portager]

I disagree with PAR and EmilSB. If you look, beachaccess is located in Washington, which is much different beach than South Florida. In addition, this is his very first post to this forum. Get over your jealousy and give the guy a break. Otherwise, I'll make you a deal on some Washington beach property.

You might be interested in the boat that Willallison recommended to me http://www.nauticaintl.com/r18_36o/r20c.html .

If you need something bigger, to land light construction equipment or what ever, try this http://www.wolfboats.com/landcrafts/landcraft.html

Regards;
Mike Schooley

[PAR]

I truly meant it all in jest, though beach front is premium property no matter where you by it. What's wrong with using a friend's or rented pontoon boat? I can't imagine it costing less to build a barge then to rent or hire out the job. In fact, I'd think that buying an old barge would serve up much cheaper then building.

I'm not sure what Portager has a problem with. The post says beach access only. This means he's on an island or clumped in with a bunch of other homes where access to a frontage road isn't available so they have to come down the beach. I grew up on an island, I'm well aware of what the life style is like. We didn't have a bridge to my island until I was 12. Most all had two boats, one for each side of the spit where the parking lot was for the islanders. When getting home too late for the ferry we'd grab a boat and it may not have been ours. When we'd get home we'd call whom ever and tell them we have their boat. We'd also get a call from the folks who had ours at their dock. It all worked out the next day when at some point the proper boats were in the proper places on the mainland docks, while everyone was off to work.

I have to admit I didn't notice the number of posts on the thread starters banner thingie. Portager is quite correct in that regard and I'm sorry for jumping on the new kid.

Beachaccess, welcome and PLEASE don't let my foolishness drive you off. Are you in the Seattle area? Lots of islands up there, I know a couple of folks that enjoy the island life there. Noted designer, George Buehler lives in the area also on an island.

[SeaDrive]

There are plenty of possibilities here:http://www.boatplans-online.com/products.php?id=16 . If you are really ambitious, you could make an open barge version of the HB-16.

[beachaccess]

Thanks for the comments. As you have guessed the property is near Seattle, we have a 1/3 mile hike on a trial to get to it. The barge ( utility boat ) is something I will use for heavy buiding stuff and just getting friends from the ferry dock. I had a similar boat when I was in grade school and it was great fun.

[Specmar.Aus]

beachaccess

Mini Barge
I have only beach access to my property. I want to build a small barge type of boat to help get stuff to the house. Looking for plans for a boat 14-16 feet long with flat bow. Even better would be a flat front that could be lowered onto the beach like a landing
craft. Any ideas? Aluminum or Wood

Although this may be outside your requested size the 18 Landing Craft from Stephen Pollard would be suitable for you and your neighbors as well.
http://www.specmar.com/products2.html

Specmar.Aus

[betelgeuserdude]

Yup, Specmar.Aus is right on track. Steven Pollard's designs are well suited for Washington's environment and resale market. This is an utilitarian vessel, with ease of construction and maintenence in mind. Were I on an isolated property, this is the design I would use. Here's a direct link to the design, but Specmar.Aus' link takes you to the site.

http://www.specmar.com/blueprints/18_landingcraft.jpg
18_landingcraft.jpg (JPEG Image, 550x363 pixels)

DC

[CDBarry]

There is a guy in Port Angeles who has a LCM 8 conversion and does just for this type of thing. It may be cheaper than building your own. You may also be able to modify an aluminum seine skiff. Munson Mfg made this type of thing by the hundreds, and you could probably find one out there used.

If you want new, cheap and rugged aluminum is a good idea, but steel is cheaper.

[BrettM]

I seem to remember that there is a company in the UK/Europe that makes a plastic roto-moulded landing barge. An associate of mine brought back some pics a couple of years ago and they looked reasonably well built.

Brett