rnlock, I think the Bolger sneakeasy boats are way too narrow, I would want a usable deck for walking around and a motor bike to get me to the grocery stores and for sight seeing. I could lift and carry a motorized bicycle for a short ways, maybe, so I could set it off the boat.
The Bantam is an interesting looking boat and would work but, an extra hull to build.
I really do like catamarans for their stability, deck size, and shallow draft. I am positive that if some miracle occurred and my back would let me, I would be on one and gone.
I'm going to look at Bolger's and instant boats and see what I may have missed.
Thanks for your input, and anybody else that knows of a boat I may have missed, let me know, and remember that while I will probably have an opinion, I wont have a clue.
A few years ago I had the same idea of doing the loop with a motorcycle on board a catamaran, you should have seen the responses I got, LOL.
I was going to take a 650 Honda Transalp, a dual sport, 320 pounds or my cruiser at 700 pounds.
Cats aren't good for load carrying abilities, the cabin is probably where the bike should be as to the CG.
I was told I'd need about a 40 footer with fat hulls and there goes that efficiency I wanted.
Motoring a cat is best with 2 motors, efficiently so that cost doubles.
Along the loop it's pretty muddy, not many ideal places to off load a bike.
Loading you'll need a ramp or a crane rig, that helps to get you past the muddy banks, if you just lift a bike off and set it aside, you're either setting it in water or mud.
You're then looking for boat ramps and paying fees I'd suspect. How many are there and where did you want to go on the bike?
Off load at a dock, chances are you'll have steps to go up before getting to the street. Where there are ramps, they are intended for pedestrians pulling a wagon or cart, they may tell you to get your motorcycle off the sidewalk!
Some went so far as to claim the salt air would rust my bike pretty fast, not an issue really, the paint is pretty good, so is the chrome and alloy, but whatever. Coat it with WD40.
Dock space, by the foot and beam, cats cost more to spend the night.
On the cat subject of this thread would have the bow in the air with a bike on the back and crew aft of the CG, not good in open waters.
Anyway, my quest for that arrangement ended quickly taking under consideration a monohull landing craft. After more investigation of where to load and unload, the bike idea was dropped.
Now, if you mean a bicycle with a small weed eater motor, well, okay. But a motor cycle worthy of touring, it's going to be a big boat.
The loop will take you a good 3 months at displacement speeds and that is rushing it. That means lots of gear, water/food and fuel. I can see a foot locker full of seasonal clothes, boots and shoes for 2 people.
I have no doubt that our cat build here could do the loop, but it won't carry a lot of weight and keep its sea keeping attributes. The idea of operating in the shallows will probably mean in knee deep water.
So, from what I've found is that to have an economical, efficient, stable looper with much load capacity, that defaults to a mono that is long and narrow. Can't get around that. For every additional foot in beam there will be a cost in all of these areas. The most efficient and stable boat will have a flat bottom, the trade of is your teeth falling out in the chop, it's a trade off.
Another craft that fits the bill might be a trimaran over a cat, might check those out.
I think someone has already mentioned a "Strawler" sailboat converted to a trawler, also a great option for the loop on a budget.
Seems too that the USCG has regulations that kick in at 26 feet, with a home built wood boat you may want to stay below that length. That will be a minimal cruiser, IMO, for the loop that offers the comfort required by most of us mature folks.
Now, I really like this BK cat, I'm watching for the finish and a splash. But I think one week on that boat and I'd be wanting to head home.
