new materials, old shapes

[Ssor]

Has anyone here used the beautiful shapes of a whitehall or rangeley or wherry and built a foam cored composite boat? It seems to be a natural evolution from wood to composite.

[Eric Sponberg]

Ssor,

Several years ago, a close friend of mine, David Stookey, published a newsletter called Open Water Rowing, and in the process also published a Buyers Guide for all the rowing boats that were available. David sold the magazine to some people in California, and you can still reach them at www.openwater.com. Copies of the Buyers Guide are still available for $12 plus shipping. In the Guide are many examples of companies that build whitehalls, rangeleys, dories, wherries, Adirondacks, skiffs, sculls, and shells, both in composites and in wood. The Guide includes 114 different designs.

Eric

[cyclops]

Ssor. Go to Antique Boat Regattas when they are near you. You will have the best day of your life. You will look for permission constantly, to touch, feel and lift most boats with the builder. WARNING. Do not buy the best boat at the first show.

[Ssor]

Thanks, What I have a mind to do is build John Gardner's version of L. Francis Herrshoffs 10 foot pram. I plan to follow Gardner's setup but will use half inch corecell for planking but not lapped. My intention is to build up the ribs of corecell and tie them to the moulds, glue the planks on to the ribs and glass the outside. Then turn the hull over on the moulds and add intermediate ribs and glass those before I remove the moulds. Of course I will support the hull in a fitted cradle when I turn it over. Do any of you see a serious fault with this plan?
Again thank you for your input.
Ross in Bel Air

[cyclops]

I HAVE SEEN MANY CANOES AND PRAMS BUILT WITH EVERY MATERIAL AND TECHNIQUE AT THE REGATTAS. Many of the boats will have plans and or kits. Many builders will share their mistakes with you. Small boat builders are a different and pleasant group.----------------------Herrshoff's are there.

[Ssor]

On the wooden boat forum there are members that have used the strip technique and epoxy/fiber glass overlays inside and outside. No ribs in that method. Just the thwarts.