need advice on boatplan selection

Well, I like some of them, but most have a bit too much beam, to be comfortable to row in a rough patch. Sprite is just too fat for rough water work under oar, though Katelyn is a fair bit better in this regard, still a sailboat more than a row boat. Jebb is in between and I think her transom might drag with much weight. Chessy looks to be pretty heavy and a typical early clamming skiff. My Digger is based on this style of craft, though much less complex and a bit lighter too. There were two types of these skiffs initially, once the sailing and rowing types had been abandoned, in favor of real power craft - fat ones, which could carry quite a load and the skinny ones (like Digger and Chessy). These couldn't carry as much on the same length, but handled chop better and where usually better poling boats in the shallows. The fat ones eventually became what we now call flats boats, with 250 HP Black Max's on their butts. They're only good for one thing and have developed into a wholly different craft now.

There are lots of choices, but a firm definition of the boat's requirements is necessary, to help sort through all the options. If it's going to be strictly row, look at fat canoes or pea pods or maybe a full up pulling boat. If it's going to be powered, pick a relatively narrow skiff so you can row it occasionally, when you've run out of gas or are looking for a deal on an engine. If you want a boat that will do both, then pick a side of the coin you want to be on. One side of the coin will be a better row boat, but has some issues under power. The other side of the coin has a powerboat that doesn't row really well, but will do in a pinch.

 

I think Erica is the nicest, about 4ft 2 beam, thats nice, not super beamy so should be OK to row. A fair bit of flare, I like that. Still stable enough to be a general purpose boat. The bottom of the transom is high so should not drag The stern is narrower than a pure power boat thus better for rowing, but still has a little width which allows for reasonable going under power.

I think your looking at 2hp or less? these boats dont need much to go 4 or 5 miles per hour.