Rowboat for Big Guy on Great Lakes

[hoss10]

I'm looking to build another rowboat. I presently have a Welsford Molleyhawk (which is the long version of his Seagull), which is OK but 'm looking for a little more performance (and would like to build another boat). I'm very big and tall 6'5" and about 300 pounds. I will be rowing mostly on Lake Huron, so it's not always smooth water.

I have been doing some research and like the CLC Norteastern dory, or the Bolger Stretched Light Dory. Years ago I built a short Bolger Light Dory and found it fast but very tender.

My building experience is that I have built many boat, but they have all been plywood (T@T or S@G) or Strippers.

Does anyone have any experience with the two boats above, or have any other ideas as for designs to fit my needs.

Thanks for the help.

[kayaker50]

I have a South Haven Dory, and I know what you mean about being tender.
I don't have any experience with either of the boats you mention, but here is another alternative, the Annapolis Tandem Wherry by CLC Boats: http://www.clcboats.com/shop/boats/r...m-rowboat.html

And here is a conversation about this very subject on another forum (warning: your boat is very highly thought of here): http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-an...?msg_id=009vkc

After looking at the sketch of your Molleyhawk, I am thinking about building one myself. I use my dory mostly for fishing, and the tenderness is a liability. I'm thinking the square stern of the Molleyhawk would be a lot more stable. How heavy is your boat?

I hope this helps. Paul.

[hoss10]

Paul

The Molleyhawk is nice and stable, overall a pretty nice boat. It does tend to drag it's stern a little, probably needs the balance rearranged. It went together well. It has been more the a few years but there was a problem, with the height of the frames. Either I messed up (I did check the plans) or there is an error but the frames were about an inch short. I basically twinned the frames to fix it. The plans are metric which was very fast to layout. As for weight I don't really know, it's not really light but I built it pretty heavy. Perhaps 120 pounds or so. With a little outboard this thing would move along nicely.

[Squidly-Diddly]

I'd be rowing in the SF bay, or even shooting some class II.

I haven't been able to find a pic or study plans of this "Stretched Bolger Light Dory".

Any help, and has the SBLD ever been fitted with sails and boards, or a motor mount, and at 19ft does it work for more than one rowing station, or sliding seats?