Jon boat or bay boat

Ok so I've seen a lot of flat bottom boats and none of them unless I buy a Carolina skiff offer as I call a wide hull and high sides on jon boats so I've discided that im going to build one but I really like the stitch and glue method of building it seems simpler and easy for a first timer. But I also thought of building a bay boat using this method since flat bottoms don't use such building methods. Since building with foam is out of the question I've changed my mind and started a savings account for this build. I really like center console boats but I don't want to feel like I'm trying to squeeze between it to get to the front of the boat so it must be wide. I would like to be able to take it out on Lake Michigan or Lake Huron or the saginaw bay. So it must be able to handle alittle chop. I know flat bottoms general don't go out in deeper waters like the Great Lakes but since I want to build a deep flat bottom I figured it would be ok if during rough days I just slow it down. But I've also hear that bay boats aren't really made for rough waters as well but I've never tested that out. I grew up on prolines. But hate having a cabin and don't really want to buy. I'm looking to build in the 16 foot or bigger hull range and about 8 feet wide and about 2 to 3 foot deep if I build a flat bottom but if I go with the stitch and glue method I would just build a 16ft or bigger hull thats 8ft wide but as for depth im not too sure I haven't really took any measurements for myself but I would say a normal multi species hull but center console of course. Does anyone have experance in such builds. Is it even possible to build such a boat. I love fishing but hate having to shore fish so this is my solution. I know buying and restoring is easier but it's about making what I want and having a project to do for awhile. since this will be my first ever build i was partial to the flat bottom but if stitch and glue is just as easy to start with than I will go with that. I want to hear your opinons. And get as much knowledge as to what not to do as I can.

 

Jasonswood,

Welcome to the forum. You have many choices. Here are some to be going on with.

There is Digger from PAR. http://paryachts.blogspot.com.paryachts.com/p/blog-page_39.html


See Jacques Mertens site. http://www.bateau.com/boat_plans.php?
cat=29#.VMM5A0esWSo

http://www.oldwharf.com/ow_workskiffs.html

http://www.devlinboat.com/

http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/r/plansindex.htm

http://www.woodenboatstore.com/category/powerboat_plans

http://www.glen-l.com/boat-plans-catalog-300-boats-you-can-build/

http://spirainternational.com/

All the best.

 

Here is one that I did than has had a number of builds. The boat in the picture was a request for a deeper boat (included in the various model panel offsets). The boat is designed to have up to a 4' wide bottom but I can widen that somewhat for you if you wish... perhaps up to an additional foot.



Here is a video of one on the Danube river/reservoir done by Schiopu Valentin. The plans are actually free and only available from Duckworks Magazine.



a link to the free plans:

http://www.duckworksbbs.com/plans/lewis/duckskiff/index.htm#vid

 

I've made my mind up and im going to go with a center console fishing boat 16 or 24ft I will be using the stitch and glue method and scarf joining the peices of wood together. I assume marine grade ply not sure on thickness yet but 4ft by 8ft sheets will be used with epoxy and fiberglass. My question is about the hull how much fiberglass tape do I use to joint the sheets together, meaning layers, how many layers of tape do I use on the joints inside the hull and how many layers of fiberglass cloth do I use for the hull in total I assume 2 to 3 layers of tape for joints 2 to 3 layers of cloth inside and the same for the outside of the hull before I can start working on stringers.

 

One thing I forgot to ask what oz fiberglass tape and cloth will be fine for this build

 

Jasonswood.

The answers to all your questions will be found in here.

http://www.westsystem.com/ss/assets/HowTo-Publications/GougeonBook 061205.pdf

This is the short version.

http://bateau2.com/

Good luck.

 

Looks like a lot of reading I got ahead of me for awhile