building a runabout

I have been looking for a set of plans for a small runabout, and have been completely overwhelmed by plans that are available. Can someone point me in the right direction. Here is so info on myself.
I am a woodworker by trade and have a large professional wood shop at my disposal. Currently I am building some Whaler consoles. I race one design dinghies and have general knowledge of repair work including fiberglass work, fairing, joinery, painting etc. I would like to find a beginner to novice set of plans for a 12-14' outboard runabout to knock around a small inland lake in the midwest.
I would appreciate any assistance that would be offered.

Andrew

 

Andrew,

To make any suggestions, we need to know more about what you want in a boat.

planing?
how fast?
general - sail, row, power?

There is a boat that I have built that I like really well that can meet either the first two or the last one depending on small modifications to the aft running surface.

It's called the Bay River Skiff and is 15 feet long. It can be seen at:

www.bandbyachtdesigns.com

 

runabout

I am looking for a power boat only that uses between a 30 and 60 HP outboard. Not looking for a lot of speed.
Planing I guess wuld be nice but not necessary. I figured a plywood construction instead of lapstrake.

 

This is a link to a thread about a boat that might fit your needs. Easy build and good performance.

http://media5.hypernet.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=005819

Gary

 

Andrew,

I don't wish to sound patronizing but in a 14 15 ft boat that you don't need to plane, you only need a 6hp outboard. In a reasonably efficient 14 ft hull, a 10hp will plane it with at least two aboard. 30hp and up is overkill (maybe literally) for what you are talking about.

Gary, the Diablo is fast but it is very easy to over power this boat with unsafe consequences. The only one I drove had 25hp and it was pretty skittish. By that I mean that it had a tendency to do unpredictable things, especially if the load was not exactly ballanced laterally or someone shifted position. It would be advisable to part your hair in the middle. I would not recommend the boat to be used by unsuspecting novices unless it is with limited power. The skiff I recommended is a better boat (in my opinion).

 

Thanks Tom,
The Bay River Skiff sure looks like it would fill the bill. All I know of Diablo is what I read.
Are the pictures of Loon, your boat?
Gary

 

Yes Gary,

Loon was our boat until a couple of profs from Duke Univ bought it from us. We trailed and sailed the boat to Maine, Quebec, Ontario and the Great Lakes in addition to camp cruising on the NC coast.

The new owners now are at the Univ of Utah and sail on the Great Salt Lake and have done some extensive camp cruising on the Baja side of the Sea of Cortez. That boat has really gotten around and it is, I think, as good an all purpose boat as can be had. It's a better sailboat than most and will get 10mph with an 8hp outboard. I never rowed mine but Graham rowed his many times.

Loon was the easiest boat to trail, rig and get underway that I ever saw. Easier than our Sunfish or Laser, if you can believe that.