Cross-Planking Suitability for “Large” Boat

[gonzo]

You could look at modern versions of Dutch sailing barges.

 

[Scow]

Yes! Actually, if there were lots of previously owned Dutch Sailing Barges here, like in Europe, I’d probably consider that very route. That’s where I first got the idea to incorporate lee boards to sail a flat bottom boat. Although not quite as big as I’m thinking, some of the French Toue Cabanee river boats are interesting to me. These days, they appear to be built into what are essentially great big metal jon boat hulls and often include a fold-down mast and sail. If the hull was a little beamier and had some more freeboard than typical, and a better sailing rig, it would probably get the job done for me. You mentioned in another thread that jon boats could incorporate some vee in bow section that would also be helpful.

 

[gonzo]

The Dutch boats are quite beamy. Canal boat are narrow because they need to fit in the width of the canal and locks.

https://external-content.duckduckgo...18b830e2c2e114164a1c3a3316d081dbbde2772b2f313

 

[Scow]

Lovely boat. The beamier type barge hull is the sort of thing I had in mind.

 

[HelmutSheina]

Is this a solo endeavour or will there be capable assistance? On a 45 foot solid timber sailing houseboat everything you handle is heavy, bulky and dangerous, plus mentioned open water passages are Russian roulette.

Have a look at Richard Woods Gypsy (or other models of sailing catamarans around 30' long), loads of space for a couple, capable of ocean crossings, can be beached for maintenance and can be disassembled and trailed. More importantly, it is easily handled solo.

Sailing Catamarans - Gypsy - 8.5m Budget Offshore Cruiser with central cuddy https://sailingcatamarans.com/index.php/designs-2/3-25ft-to-30ft-catamarans-designs/176-gypsy

A well travelled and highly modified Gypsy:
Light Wave – 28 then 32 37 foot Catamaran – Time For a Catamaran Adventure https://www.time-for-a-catamaran-adventure.com/light-wave-woods-32-37-sailing-catamaran/

 

[Scow]

Is this a solo endeavour or will there be capable assistance? On a 45 foot solid timber sailing houseboat everything you handle is heavy, bulky and dangerous, plus mentioned open water passages are Russian roulette.

Have a look at Richard Woods Gypsy (or other models of sailing catamarans around 30' long), loads of space for a couple, capable of ocean crossings, can be beached for maintenance and can be disassembled and trailed. More importantly, it is easily handled solo.

Sailing Catamarans - Gypsy - 8.5m Budget Offshore Cruiser with central cuddy https://sailingcatamarans.com/index.php/designs-2/3-25ft-to-30ft-catamarans-designs/176-gypsy

A well travelled and highly modified Gypsy:
Light Wave – 28 then 32 37 foot Catamaran – Time For a Catamaran Adventure https://www.time-for-a-catamaran-adventure.com/light-wave-woods-32-37-sailing-catamaran/

Thanks for the examples - I’ll take a look. I could probably limit single-handed use to motor cruising, but what you’ve discussed I need to give more serious consideration to.

 

[HelmutSheina]

Thanks for the examples - I’ll take a look. I could probably limit single-handed use to motor cruising, but what you’ve discussed I need to give more serious consideration to.

Scow for a more basic catamaran style check the Wharrams. The term "Wharram custom innovations" is not always considered in a favourable light. Some are great, and some more about marketing hype.
Tiki 38 - James Wharram Designs https://www.wharram.com/gallery/tiki-designs/tiki38

There is also a free set of rough plans being touted, but would suggest very much "buyer beware".
The $21K catamaran: Build a cat fast and cheap https://www.thecoastalpassage.com/cheapcat.html

 

[Scow]

Scow for a more basic catamaran style check the Wharrams. The term "Wharram custom innovations" is not always considered in a favourable light. Some are great, and some more about marketing hype.
Tiki 38 - James Wharram Designs https://www.wharram.com/gallery/tiki-designs/tiki38

There is also a free set of rough plans being touted, but would suggest very much "buyer beware".
The $21K catamaran: Build a cat fast and cheap https://www.thecoastalpassage.com/cheapcat.html

Thanks. I love the aesthetics and many of the design concepts of the Wharram boats. I’d love to spend some time on one. However, I anticipate my wife and I traveling and living aboard much of the time in northern climes. While I enjoy lots of exposure to cold air, she definitely does not. So, one of the important aspects of our boat will be the ability to enjoy an excellent view of our surroundings from inside the cabins, pilothouse, etc. much of the time. I just don’t think we could safely add enough accomodation (and big ports) up on top of the bridge deck to meet our needs.

With that and other issues in mind, I’ll probably choose to narrow our objectives to relatively calm waters and to emphasize motor propulsion over sail propulsion.

That doesn’t rule out catamarans, but would probably entail something unusual. What this fellow has been doing with a sailing catamaran modified for electric motor propulsion might suggest a potential solution:

SHEWAC Aberration https://martinottaway.com/rhemmen/shewac-aberration/

 

[Rumars]

I think you should take a good look at Oddity, a yacht that's built to do the same things you think you want to do. No, she's not cross planked she's plywood and the bottom has a 3/8" steel plate to protect it when she takes the ground, a feature I highly recommend.

 

[Scow]

I think you should take a good look at Oddity, a yacht that's built to do the same things you think you want to do. No, she's not cross planked she's plywood and the bottom has a 3/8" steel plate to protect it when she takes the ground, a feature I highly recommend.

Thanks. That’s a brilliant boat. I’ve watched that video a number of times.

One thing I’ve gradually realized is that I probably need to narrow down my range of conditions/use cases because being adequately outfitted for a broad range of sea conditions, water depths, use cases, means of propulsion, etc. is going to inevitably add a lot of cost.

 

[jmwoodring]

This is a free book that has some plans in the vein of what you have suggested.

Simplified boatbuilding: the flat-bottom boat : Sucher, Harry V : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Companion volume to the author's Simplified boatbuilding: the v-bottom boat

archive.org

If you create an account you can "check it out", otherwise there are copies available to purchase but the book is out of print so they may be a bit expensive.

If you are considering an actual scow, you can see some details of one that was built with framing lumber a number of years ago. I don't believe it lasted very long as it wasn't constructed with the best of materials, but it was built with hand tools in the traditional fashion:

Crystal River Scow <span style="font-style:italic;">USS Wartappo</span>

The Crystal River Boat Builders chapter of the Traditional Small Craft Association have made good progress on their scow project over this...

dory-man.blogspot.com

Reuel Parker has some plans that might be worth a look:

Sampan 36 - Parker Marine Enterprises

L.O.A. 36’ L.W.L. 31’ 11” BEAM 13’ 8” DRAFT 1’ 6” DSPL. 24,000 lbs. Laden TYPE Sampan-style Houseboat POWER Outboard in well, 25...

parker-marine.com

And there are some interesting box boat designs here as well:

TriloBoats

TriloBoats are a class of box-barge/scow hulls that are proven capable, comfortable, capacious, economical and relatively easy DIY. Intended to help dreamers onto the water, they can be designed and built by beginners on a budget, and support a 'small is beautiful' lifestyle. This site is under

www.triloboats.com

 

[Scow]

@jmwoodring thank you for all the info. I’ll check it out. I have spent some time reviewing the blogs, videos, etc. via the Triloboat website. They do some pretty impressive sailing (and rowing) with basically a big wooden box. Some interesting ideas.