Seeking plans for tiny marsh boat

Greetings! I've recently moved just down the road from a marsh, and I want to build something quick and easy to explore the little waterways and lakes. I've been diving down the rabbit-hole of one-sheet builds (and an impressive rabbit-hole it is), and could use some help finding a plan that suits my needs.

Must-haves:
- Small and light enough for me to carry down the road and along a questionably-maintained forest path (I weigh under 140 lbs and don't plan on much cargo, so I can get away with a smaller vessel in exchange for ease of carry)
- Shallow draft for marsh navigability
- Narrow locomotion for marsh navigability (so kayak or canoe paddles ok, long oars not so much)
- Cheap and easy build. (Say, under $100) I did a beautiful stitch-and-glue build as a kid and it took me years to finish all the glassing and sanding. I'm looking for something I can knock out in a weekend or so without a table saw.

Nice-to-haves:
- it would be fantastic if I could stand up and peer over the marsh grass, but that may be impossible with the size profile I'm aiming for.
- Cute. Although they're more work than I'm looking to put into this, and probably too beamy to paddle, I love the half pea and baby boat: Halfpea | Free Boat Plans http://hvartial.kapsi.fi/dinghy44/dinghy4.htm, One sheet boats http://flo-mo.weebly.com/one-sheet-boats.html

So far this is seeming like the right direction, but I'm hesitant to follow it directly where the builder doesn't seem to be a boat person: One Sheet Plywood Boat https://www.instructables.com/One-Sheet-Plywood-Boat/

 

Welcome to the forum, @EvelynRose . I'm from Meteghan, just across the Bay of Fundy.
For propulsion, hunt around for issue 100 of Woodenboat magazine. There's a briliant article about sculls and yullohs.

Have you thought about a stand up paddleboard? It would seem to meet your SOR (Statement of Requirements), quite nicely.

 

Skin on frame kayak does everything except allow you to stand up. At least I can't.
Dave Gentry has a whole site on SOF boats.
His method should be cheap.
You can paint it to look "cute" with household paints.
Quickest, cheapest kayak I built - 7 of them, especially compared to strip planked kayaks - 5 of them.
Can be very light also.
Gentry's kayaks seem to have a heavier frame than Yost kayaks.
There are others of course.
Good luck, and keep use informed in your progress - please.

 

Hi @DogCavalry ! Nice tagline
I have looked at SUPs a bit, and they seem like a great option except for the cost. Every reasonable build I've seen requires a full coat of fiberglass/epoxy, which is well over $100 by itself :\

Checking out skulling and yulohs now, super cool!

And thanks @upchurchmr , I'll look into skin frame kayaks. I was also looking at coracles.

 

@EvelynRose , you say the nicest things.

 

There is a beautiful little duck hunting boat on display at the maritime museum in Halifax. I recommend you look it over. You may pick up some good ideas. I posted a picture of it here several years past. Post #4.
DIY human powered drive and prop design https://www.boatdesign.net/threads/diy-human-powered-drive-and-prop-design.54295/#post-752923

 

With prices going up on everything that $100 target will be hard to hit.

 

SOF can be done for under $100, barely.

SUP can be built for a bit more...

 

Foam platform, sculled with a long paddle. Tastes great! Less filling.

 

I agree with the foam platform!!!

Just substitute oars or paddle for the motor/battery.
A shorter chair would help, and shape the foam.

 

I suspect that stand uppable and (seated) paddleable are somewhat contradictory. But puntable?

I'm a fan of Hannu's boatyard. I'd suggest that the micro auray Micro Auray Punt | Free Boat Plans http://hvartial.kapsi.fi/ossauray/auray_u.htm would give you a better boat than the half pea. If you carried oars, then you've got options to row, paddle or punt, depending on conditions. A little trolley might help with the walk in, but its still less than one sheet of 4mm ply...

Or... would a small inflatable/ float tube work for you? Home made from an innertube?

Kinetic Fish Hunter Float Tube Belly Boat Green, Waveinn https://www.waveinn.com/nautical-fishing/kinetic-fish-hunter-float-tube-belly-boat/138443151/p?utm_source=google_products&utm_medium=merchant&id_producte=14504837&country=uk&gclid=Cj0KCQiAk4aOBhCTARIsAFWFP9GeWAbS33RNx8bCmKJgCmjU2bGPKMFRJ_m7LDkC_W7-ODF2NzgLbM0aAuWWEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

Well folks, it turns out sometimes the best way to get into a really shallow and densely-vegetated area is to wait for it to freeze over and walk XD

After further scouting, I don't think I'll be able to get a boat of any description in there come summer. I'll have to contain my boating to the much more navigable lakes a bit further afield. (Possibly with a SUP >.>)

Appreciate all the great suggestions, definitely got my gears turning and may turn into a future project yet.

 

Well, good luck anyway but take a day for yourself and visit the maritime museum in Halifax, N.S..

 

I love that place.

 

It's a great place. I was able to see it thanks to the generosity of viking north.
I haven't heard from him lately. I hope he is well.