Hickman style hull any good for low powered outboard Houseboat?

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by Stofferaus, Feb 24, 2021.

  1. Stofferaus
    Joined: Feb 2021
    Posts: 31
    Likes: 9, Points: 8
    Location: Cairns,Australia

    Stofferaus Junior Member

    Just found this, Thanks E, you are correct but here in QLD if under 3000mm width you can with a permit and sign, trailer the boat in daylight hours, no escort needed. This suits me as i will use boat as a caravan overnight. The length is maximum with allowance for motors, and allowing for bigger motors as i'm content to see the world go slowly by but my kids don't. Off the east coast most island destinations are under 5km and when on rivers or lakes your travelling to enjoy the scenery not to race along. I do have Cat hull houseboat plans, but looking for more weight allowance as I have 6 adult kids and we still camp/holiday together when possible. Although my houseboat has a double bed and long converts to double bunks there is plenty floor space for swags/stretchers to set up. All chairs are folding and wall hung when not in use. I don't like pontoons as I've seen many photos with them floating half submerged and unlike a cat hull any further sinking your decreasing volume of buoyancy. I could just have rectangle box cat hulls with a tapered bow and square stern, but I too read about Albert Hickman years ago and have been intrigued since so I'm very impressed by DC's efforts and journey all things Sea Sled. It's ability to self right with uneven loads, carry great loads, all this as well as having a small draught just means exciting times ahead when DC gets his bottom wet and experiments continue. As for barge hulls i'm sure any motor would rather not be pushing a wall of water in front of it's hull.
     
  2. Mr Efficiency
    Joined: Oct 2010
    Posts: 10,386
    Likes: 1,042, Points: 113, Legacy Rep: 702
    Location: Australia

    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    You simply won't get a boat that size and on a trailer, and have it come in under 2500kg. As for the barge "push a wall of water", not really, with a well-raked entry, and a tapered exit, it would be the easiest hull to push around, and you would have the advantage of less windage.
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2021
  3. DogCavalry
    Joined: Sep 2019
    Posts: 3,078
    Likes: 1,572, Points: 113
    Location: Vancouver bc

    DogCavalry Senior Member

    I don't know about the trailer. I can sure build the rest of his SOR at 1500kg without straining myself. Empty tanks of course, and obviously no passengers while on the trailer. But there's no reason those weights have to be in the boat, on the trailer. Keep them in the towing vehicle until you're in the water.
     
    Stofferaus likes this.
  4. Mr Efficiency
    Joined: Oct 2010
    Posts: 10,386
    Likes: 1,042, Points: 113, Legacy Rep: 702
    Location: Australia

    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    He was talking about something 33' x 10' just a nightmare to tow even with all the permits, just asking for trouble, and in any case the 2.5t limit is unachievable.
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2021
  5. Stofferaus
    Joined: Feb 2021
    Posts: 31
    Likes: 9, Points: 8
    Location: Cairns,Australia

    Stofferaus Junior Member

    I’m more aware of barge hulls after reading the info that DC sent me. Also I’ve seen a barge houseboat at 9.5 M Aussie made but only made 6 and went bust as the one I saw at a caravan park was the last partly built and the owners had to fit out the interior, aluminium build and on a aluminium trailer. Didn’t find out the weight as I just rocked up asking questions, I knew if I didn’t the chances of seeing another boat like it might not happen again. It was a big rig pulling it can’t remember what so was likely over 2500 kg, had eyes on boat.
     
  6. Stofferaus
    Joined: Feb 2021
    Posts: 31
    Likes: 9, Points: 8
    Location: Cairns,Australia

    Stofferaus Junior Member

    Yes DC you are correct as my thinking, my dual cab was up graded from a one ton to almost 1900 with a suspension upgrade. And if you aren’t full of obese people like me no drama.
     
  7. Mr Efficiency
    Joined: Oct 2010
    Posts: 10,386
    Likes: 1,042, Points: 113, Legacy Rep: 702
    Location: Australia

    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    You don't know if it had a brand name ? That might tell you something, could be something on the internet
     
    Stofferaus likes this.
  8. Stofferaus
    Joined: Feb 2021
    Posts: 31
    Likes: 9, Points: 8
    Location: Cairns,Australia

    Stofferaus Junior Member

    DC finally read your Sea Sled Madness feed, what a project you have going, credit to you for your efforts and letting others like me follow along with you.
    I’ve built a canoe and patched a couple and love building, but I’m not one to do what you have done in designing and building a boat. Myself I like to know the thing I build will float on the detailed lines, I have a mate who like me saw Doug from SV Seeker bending up sheets of tin ....that looks good, I still think it will split open first bit of mild rough weather. Rambling along to much but mate just did the Doug and built a sweet 17’ aluminium deepV offshore fishing boat. He just has trouble finding fishing mates as when fishing the floor is covered with 3 “ of water. It won’t sink just off the water line. I agree with think BB about splitting your top
     
    BlueBell likes this.
  9. Stofferaus
    Joined: Feb 2021
    Posts: 31
    Likes: 9, Points: 8
    Location: Cairns,Australia

    Stofferaus Junior Member

    Sorry E I can’t even remember what state from SA,VIC, NSW and it was around 6.30 pm and 20 years ago, I must have been going for Chinese takeaway as I didn’t go that way much at night. They didn’t say piss off but I was taking too much of there time. Now I would be taking heaps of photos, and this was the last build which they had to finish they were luck to get the shell even. There were 2 couples with two 4x4’s and planed to cover as many rivers in the gulf, leaving one vehicle down stream and then trailering up to leave the trailer, lucky to even see them as only at the park for one night and with a big rig had to park roadside. And in Cairns there’s no free parking for travelers as that’s where they normally stayed.
     
    BlueBell likes this.
  10. Mr Efficiency
    Joined: Oct 2010
    Posts: 10,386
    Likes: 1,042, Points: 113, Legacy Rep: 702
    Location: Australia

    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    Your dimensions, as stated, make it very difficult, if not impossible, to meet the towing weight limits you are operating under. And really, even if you weren't, you would have a lot of windage, be stretched to maintain highway speeds, and with such bulk combined with light weight, be a real handful in strong crosswinds on the road. Unless you can scale it down somewhat.
     
  11. Stofferaus
    Joined: Feb 2021
    Posts: 31
    Likes: 9, Points: 8
    Location: Cairns,Australia

    Stofferaus Junior Member

    Yes E you are correct but that’s my goal if I overshoot want to then be under 3000 if possible, Bernd Kohler has a cat houseboat at 6.2M weight 850kg out of ply/glass. I have plan for and a couple have been extended and up to cabin build now in Europe.They will be heavier as no builder has been able to match Bernd’s designed hull weight of 50kg each.
     
    BlueBell likes this.
  12. Stofferaus
    Joined: Feb 2021
    Posts: 31
    Likes: 9, Points: 8
    Location: Cairns,Australia

    Stofferaus Junior Member

    I'm back and thanks to BlueBell hopefully more informed how to use the forum. Settled on using a barge hull for my shanty/houseboat build. Going a lot smaller first up 16'/17' long and 8' wide externally like LisaB Good shanty but with ply and not completely flat bottom but some rocker as in some of Bolger's boats. Hope you lads are all healthy and hearty.
     
    Lloyd Too and DogCavalry like this.
  13. bajansailor
    Joined: Oct 2007
    Posts: 3,599
    Likes: 1,561, Points: 113, Legacy Rep: 37
    Location: Barbados

    bajansailor Marine Surveyor

    Excellent Stoff!
    That is probably a good move, re starting off with a smaller boat - there is a huge difference between 16' and 32' long re materials and manpower required.
    Here is a link to Lisa B for reference.
    https://www.duckworksmagazine.com/09/designs/lisabgood/index.htm

    Please do post some sketches of your design when they are ready, including the hull design with the rocker.
     
  14. Stofferaus
    Joined: Feb 2021
    Posts: 31
    Likes: 9, Points: 8
    Location: Cairns,Australia

    Stofferaus Junior Member

    Thanks Bajansailor, and I will post some sketches later.
     

  15. DogCavalry
    Joined: Sep 2019
    Posts: 3,078
    Likes: 1,572, Points: 113
    Location: Vancouver bc

    DogCavalry Senior Member

    Stofferaus and bajansailor like this.
Loading...
Forum posts represent the experience, opinion, and view of individual users. Boat Design Net does not necessarily endorse nor share the view of each individual post.
When making potentially dangerous or financial decisions, always employ and consult appropriate professionals. Your circumstances or experience may be different.