The BO-AT Single Sheet Plywood Boat

Step 5 Maiden Voyage

Pick a nice and sunny day on a not so leach infested lake (this is Gropps Lake in NJ) and head out.

As you can see from the pictures, the boat does okay.  It is by no means a speed boat or a stable boat but it is fun and it can displace quite a bit of water (held about 400 pounds and still had just over an inch of freeboard).

This is a much better boat for someone my son's size and handled quite well.  When I got in and my cousin, things went a bit wobbly but were still enjoyable.  When we both got in we were having flash backs of the Titanic!

My next test will include a very small electric trolling motor for some fun.

This was just a fun project to do and I thank Make Magazine and Derek “Deek” Diedricksen for posting it.

Comments

[jerbear1978]

Would you need to register this for use in public waters?

[mharris17]

In most states a row boat does not need to be registered. But if you attach a motor, then both the boat and motor have to be registered. Check with you fish and game office.

[PaleoDan]

You will need to check your local regulations but I think for NJ, you only need to register boats larger than 13 feet or as soon as you put the motor on. That is why the Motor test was in my pool.

[verity33]

I've been looking at the Puddle Duck Racer - PDRacer - "If you like fishing, you can row her into the shallow areas that power boats can't get to, and launch in areas that don't have a boat ramp. She is very stable, enough that you can stand up and cast."

Have a look at http://www.pdracer.com/ - you need more than one sheet of ply though :o) - but I like yours, because it looks easy enough for even someone like me to build!

[PaleoDan]

I was looking at that same site last night. I like the design and the fact that is can be rowed, sailed, or powered with a motor. I will give that one strong consideration for my next build.

This build was very easy and you should go for it. It nothing else, you get a great story to tell friends and have a few good laughs (at least my wife did) watching my cousin and I try not to capsize ;)

Thanks
Dan

[gstephens1]

I wonder how it would work to make stabilizers out of 5 gallon buckets. I have a canoe that gets really wobbly, and I don't want to spend the money on stabilizers. My thought is to use a couple 5 gallon buckets with lids. That might work better on your design than on my canoe, though.
I was thinking to remove the lid and use some bolts and washers to attach a 1x4 cut to the length of the bucket on the side then seal the holes. Attach a couple of 1x2s to the 1x4 about 30 inches. Then put the lid on and make sure it is on nice and tight. Not sure how the clamp to the boat would work, but each 1x2 should have a clamp to attach it to the top edge of the boat.
It will take a little adjusting to get the buckets to sit at the right level, just above the water line so it has a little movement but not too much. It might be fun to try on your design... maybe thats the motivation I need.

[PaleoDan]

That's a good suggestion. I am ultimately looking to build a boat that I can fish and duck hunt out of. I think the buckets would give you the stability you are looking for but I am not sure how much drag they would create. They might slow you more than you want. Perhaps you can try to find something with a more pointed front or build a cone out of some plastic to add the the bucket.

[Madrigorne]

mebbe put fish in the buckets?