new Great lakes heavy weather cruising houseboat!

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by assycat, Jan 14, 2013.

  1. Submarine Tom

    Submarine Tom Previous Member

    I believe the Edmond Fitzgerald was 15 miles from port when she sank, loosing all 29 hands.

    It was November 10th 1975 ~1900hrs.
     
  2. Richard Woods
    Joined: Jun 2006
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    Richard Woods Woods Designs

    This thread has drifted somewhat

    No matter. I would not take a boat that looks like the OP's to sea in the English Channel. So if the great Lakes are rougher than the Channel then no way would I go to "lake" in it

    I suggest the OP googles "silverton July 4th capsize"

    BTW have you considered a power catamaran?

    Richard Woods of Woods Designs

    www.sailingcatamarans.com
     
    1 person likes this.
  3. michael pierzga
    Joined: Dec 2008
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    michael pierzga Senior Member

    Nothing wrong with a houseboat, I like them...... but A SEAWORTHY HOUSEBOAT ?

    Perhaps you could design a houseboat like a JackUp oil platform ? 10 meter legs ?

    Perhaps you could even power these legs and create a seaworth Brontosaurus type mobile platform? This transformer Bronto boat's tail could be a boarding plank
     
  4. assycat

    assycat Previous Member

    there were 27 people on that boat! doesn't surprise me what happened.
    my boat would have two at most.


    Richard what are OP's? I did consider a power cat- to be honest the ones i looked at were very homely. And - the other issue- they need twice the engines. i.e. one per float unless there are ones designed that can use one engine..if so ive never seen one...
    Im going to likely build a stock plans design in wood/epoxy.just gotta find one .
    my requirements are-
    1. It has to be stiff in a rough seaway.
    2. It has to be a unique design- not common looking i.e. function over form.
    3. large enough to live on.
    4. cheap to build.
    N.B: im not going to publically anounce my budget- but suffice to say its not a lot. but enough that in a couple years i could be in the water. and i dont plan on fitting out the thing in gold plated teak.

    *** let me expand on this.I can get away with much less space than most people- I dont need A 45 ft boat to be happy on. Im content with something the size of a 30 ft boat or even 27 ft would be fine- the boat has to be heated and this costs money hence the larger the boat is...

    Ive lived in small rooms before so- a 25 ft boat or trawler would be sufficient.
    im Looking at two designs right now for this-


    both glen-l designs
    1. the coastal cruiser 25 ft (hankinson)-small but adequate for me. however , I dont like the engine arrangement..i won't use an outboard so its inboard power for me.

    2. the Jolly Roger - 28 ft x 10' 10" beam. this one seems more realistic in size and seaworthiness but its more costly. fuel efficient needing about 30 hp diesel.

    3. im going to do a test model of my design. Ill video it, ballast it as much to scale as possible using the keel ballasting system.

    Im going to take Spenance's advice and cut the keel back away from the bow. but it will still be filled with ballast.
    Ill see how this performs.

    scantlings on the 32 ft'er:

    5/8th ply bottom, 1/2 inch topsides, three layers
    of 24 oz biax tape 8", 6", 4"
    both inside and out on the seams.
    all ply is scarfed or payson jointed to get full length panels.
    then glass both the inside and outside with one layer of 18 ox biax with a layer of heavy (1.5 oz?) csm under that. all epoxied.
    the hull will be stiffened with that keel, engine beds, two bulkheads and some top hat stringers.

    if you know of any power cat designs that look good and are easily powered-(i dont need a planing cat) let me know?
     
  5. assycat

    assycat Previous Member



    Its pretty obvious to me also-:D

    especially if i do all kinds of theoretical calcs etc. Im a neophyte here. thats why Im happy for all the feedback. I dont agree with all everyone says but I also dont want to make a foolish mistake and build " a boat who won't float"!

    Par can you please explain to a neophyte such as myself what specifically could happen if I build it and use it as a coastal cruiser on the lakes?

    and what if any could be done to correct it to make it more seaworthy? this would be a big help...if you dont mind?
     
  6. michael pierzga
    Joined: Dec 2008
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    Location: spain

    michael pierzga Senior Member

    Jeez a power cat must be the most expensive boat you can build and its far from a Houseboat concepts.

    Far better to build a proper barge with a proper house...Google Thames barge or look at dutch boats. Plenty seaworthy as you can see from this Youtube.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kg_QweiLy0

    [​IMG]
     
  7. assycat

    assycat Previous Member

    Micheal- when I was watching that- one word came to mind- Vomit!(ing)

    Yes thats quite amazing- i would never had thought one of those thames type barges were so seaworthy..the weather looks like superiors on a bad day.
    and notice there would have been no where for that boat to take refuge. nasty place to have to "hove to"
    Thanks for the suggestion. They do seem practical...ill do more research on them.
     
  8. michael pierzga
    Joined: Dec 2008
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    michael pierzga Senior Member

    Cheap simple and seaworthy
     
  9. gonzo
    Joined: Aug 2002
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    gonzo Senior Member

    That's a beautiful and simple design.
     
  10. JRD
    Joined: May 2010
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    Location: New Zealand

    JRD Senior Member

    Boats dont scale like you may think. That barge Michael posted looks like a great option, you can apply your design talents down stairs.
     
  11. assycat

    assycat Previous Member

    yes they scale as models. using balsa wood.this is why tank tests are done on potential vessels...;)

    i really don't have design talents:)
     
  12. Submarine Tom

    Submarine Tom Previous Member

    Assy,

    Design isn't a talent, it's an achievement.

    Scaling is complicated.

    Don't change a design more than 10% and you'll be fine.

    Zero, and you'll be better.
     
  13. assycat

    assycat Previous Member

    :confused: scaling? i was going to do a 1:1 model in balsa and csm..
    should do the trick to test stability of my proposed design..if it fails --then its a no go.

    i think we are miscomminicating. 10% is for lengthening a hull, rule of thumb. but not an absolute for all designs.

    for a model- 3/4" to 1 ft is good too.
     
  14. Submarine Tom

    Submarine Tom Previous Member

    Go with a proven design and you wont need the test model.
     

  15. JRD
    Joined: May 2010
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    Location: New Zealand

    JRD Senior Member

    Yes they scale. No they dont scale the way you will be expecting. A stability test on a two foot long model will confirm nothing whatsoever about the stability or seakeeping of a 30-40 foot version of the same boat. Even if you can make your model stay upright, how will you know if you are applying equivalent loads, and accounting for scalable wave effects.

    Tank test results are interperted using a myriad of complex calculations by experts, and they still dont always get it right. It's not a matter of "look boys it floats, lets build one".

    Have a look at this. If you dont feel like watching minutes of uncomfortable, vomit inducing pitching and rolling in waves, go straight to 4m:40s

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yt69DcjgZsA&playnext=1&list=PL264D7E4222F9A927&feature=results_video
     
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