Powering a wooden raft?

There's no reason a boat has to be ugly and I've always failed to see the attraction to the box boats of some. Yep, they may function, but it it could be confused with a concrete mixing tub or a low sided dumpster, than why bother. In other words, if I have to look at myself in the mirror, then I damn well want a good looking boat to compensate.

 

There are plenty of reasons a boat has to be ugly - from oil drilling rigs, to shantyboats of the financially deprived.

Check out the utilitarian feeding and net maintenance boats on a fish farm, the contraptions they use around oyster leases and the weird craft in swampy areas.

Ugly is no shame - if it does the job for the price, its beautiful to me.

 

I would have to agree with you, a so called "ugly" boat does not mean it is not a good/functional boat. I happen to love Jon boats and they are not the most good looking crafts either

 

I like the idea of a pontoon design over a barge. Have a look at the compact yet very functional one built by a forum member "Hoytedow". A basic set of square shaped pontoons with a deck. It's modular building system keeps each piece small and easy to fabricate for a one man shop. In your case it could be further simplified as you are not using a engine for propulsion. Simple scow bow sections could be used. Possibly a stand up rowing position as on the old river barges would be the most pratical. Heck maybe set yourself up with an old pedal bike driving a prop would be fun.

 

A simple compromise would be a barge with 2 lower hull sections which would make it easier to move around in the boat and increase flotation.

 

On second sober thought as prev. mentioned it would require a wider beam in a pontoon set up for stability so something like a Jon Boat set up would be better. Maybe seek out a set of plans making use of stitch and glue fabrication would be the most forgiving for a first time builder. Any wider than normal gaps could be compensated for by filler and tape. Again as prev. mentioned working from a set of plans is the way to go.

 

Ya I like the idea of the barge with wooden pontoons under it. That way it could have better flotation and could still go in shallower water. Maybe some sort of barge made like that only a little larger size in width than a Jon boat.

 

That hull of Hoyts is an abomination. Hydro dynamically poor performance, low buildability as well as being ugly. Remember, ugly is only good if it performs for the price. This wont !

I cant believe you would put slab sides on top of ,and on the sides of, a planing surface, as well as putting drag increasing a tunnel in it as well.

For goodness sake Nath, do use a proven design by a professional.

 

Ok I liked the ideas of the pontoon that is the only real reason. I will have to find some free plans online then for some sort of pontoon barge I guess, but I havnt had much luck.

 

you might check with your state's boat registration requirements, and use that as a starting point for design. It varys all over from state to state, where I live in Washington state, any boat under 16 ft and 10 hp does not need registration, and any size purely row boat or kayak/canoe (without a motor) does not require registration. A 8x16 ft jon boat with a full deck, and either oars or a pedal prop would be a good option, at 16 ft even if you put a 9 hp motor on it it would not require any fees, inspections or registration. check your local requirements, and all the exceptions, they vary all over, some states no registration required if there is no motor regardless of size, some like California require registration on anything over 8 ft long.

For a floating platform, a pontoon boat is more work to build than a simple scow or jon boat. Keep is simple, and as pointed out, stay with known hull shapes that have long proven track records. I also enjoy building, and actually have spent more time building that actually using boats, but do not fool yourself into thinking you are saving money, used boats area a bargain. It is just a relatively low cost "hands on" hobby to build small boats, and very stratifying. That is all the justification you need. Salvage as much of the building materials you can and you need not spend much building such a craft. good luck.

 

Are you averse to actually paying a few bucks for plans ? Its a false economy if so. You will save money on the build with good plans.

 

You get what you pay for with free plans, which are often incomplete and poorly engineered.

A barge or jon boat arrangement will be the cheapest, most stable and most load bearing of the choices. Pontoons are about the worst route to take.

 

I can't disagree that the design is not very good. To use the word abomination may be a little overboard. Use a proven design.

I still had a good time building it. Next boat will be totally different.