Gavin Atkin has produced an interesting design for a rowing skiff called Julie, flat bottomed, which at nearly 16ft long is about as long as you can get out of two sheets of 8ft by 4ft ply.She should be a reasonably fast and stable river boat, nice for fishing or just mooching o'er the stream.
One thing I disagree with Gav over, however. He says a boat that long is not car-toppable. Phooey! I used to pop my 19ft Otter skiff on the roof rack all the time until we got a new car and my dear lady wife started worrying about scratching the paintwork with the outriggers.
With Gav's Julie, removing the rowlocks removes all risk of tramlines on the roof of the car, and a line from the bow to the front bumper removes all risk of the boat coming adrift, however long. The picture shows Gav's model placed on a glasses case that is unnervingly similar in size and shape to my estate car, which shows it will be perfectly car toppable. All you have to do is put it the other way up and strap it down securely.
So build her light, I say, and you will be able to row faster as well!
6 comments:
I meant it was unlikely to be light and easily managed enough for cartopping. In fact you can often put one end on top of a car, lift the other and then push up - but I still think that's an exercise that isn't for everyone - or even for most people.
Gav
That's why you have to build it light, duh!
Actually, the Julie does have flotation compartments and stuff that my Sprite doesn't, so it will come in rather heavier. But I still think it should be possible to cartop for anyone strong enough to row it. Tell you what, when Ben builds one in his invisible workshop (he seems rather taken with it) we'll go to Tarragona and try....
Let's all go to Tarragona anyway. I want to play with that Light Trow!
Gav
And of course some people don't build anything light - partiuclarly those who live in places where epoxy is cheap and comes in gallons that are smaller than ours. And now you may see the reason for my caution...
I suppose lightness is one of my hobby horses. I can understand why many home builders encase their hulls in 94 layers of fibreglass, but the added weight really does impact useability and performance very badly. Especially if you row rather than sail.
I'll put the kettle on...
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