A question of boats

[FlyerSkip]

Hey all;
I love to fish and just get out in boats. However, with the tear behind the truck I have to tow two trailers to take the boat. Now I've built a few kayaks and canoes and even a racing shell or two and am concidering building a boat to car top. BUT I was wondering if anyone has had any experiance with the personal pontoon boats. This is the boat that you see with inflatable pontoons and a metal frame that can be rowed or even use an electric trolling motor. Perhaps I'll just buy a plastic fishing kayak. Whatcah think. Ya'll.

[Miriam C.]

When you figure it out could you let me know! I have wondered if a pontoon would work well in windy conditions.

[emiller]

I've been eyeing the Sea Eagle FoldCat http://www.seaeagle.com/FoldCat.aspx
There is a guy who had them at Quartzsite, AZ during the RV and Car show last January. He dememstrated the tuff shell as he tried poking holes in it with a small pick ax.

[FlyerSkip]

I think I'd be more worried about a knife than a pick . Knifes are much sharper. But that's a good looking boat. It does looks kinda narrow for the higher seat. I like the ones at the Bass Pro Shop. Smaller yes but lower too, this will make it very stable. And I get a discount there and that always helps .
I would think that wind wouldn't be a problem with the low seating and the fact that you can use an electric motor is nice, as is the lite weight.
I'm sorry I don't know how to insert a picture here or a hiper link to show ya'll what I'm looking at. But I still want to look at the fishing kayaks . With building the tear I don't want to bother with a boat right now.

[dreadcptflint]

I can't help you as all I got right now is a float tube. I have been eyeballing an unpgrade for a canoe since in a couple of years my little dude should be ready to start paddling.

[Juneaudave]

I want someone to build one of these packable kayaks!!! Yostworks Wonder how it would paddle?

[FlyerSkip]

if you can get the skin tight is looks like it would paddle well. With a kayak it's all about how ridged the hull is. Long and narrow is fast, short and wide is stable but slower. And of course lighter is better.

[FlyerSkip]

I looked at the boats you mentioned. Nice looking and I bet fast These will be tippy not for the beginer. But if you know what your doing they will be nice I'm sure. I did like construction methods used. I can now adapt that to other types of kayaks. I think I like it for a foldup packaway type of boat.

[rmclarke]

In 1977, I built a non-folding folding boat (go figure ) from these guys

http://www.folbot.com/

It's a double laminated vinyl over a wood frame (we're talking 30 yrs ago folks) and it's 17ft..weighs about 75 lbs. I have a little homemade dolly that I wheel it around on and I'm able to slide it up on top of the pickup w/canopy without too much trouble (but I'm not sure how much longer I can do this )

Don't have too many pictures of it (cuz we're always in it at the time!) It's a great lake boat...very stable.




Would you believe in 1977 the kit cost me only $189

Oh, for yesterday's prices again!!


Richard

[Wimperdink]

I've been considering selling a few of my other boats and just going with something like this.... http://www.porta-bote.com/

I've seen one in person with 3 people in it with a small motor. It looked like fun and while its not a ridgid hull, it seemed to handle just fine.

I'd build an outboard motor post on the tounge of my trailer that would hold a 4 - 10hp motor and just slip the folda boat on the luggage rack of the car.

[caseydog]

In 1977, I built a non-folding folding boat (go figure ) from these guys

http://www.folbot.com/

It's a double laminated vinyl over a wood frame (we're talking 30 yrs ago folks) and it's 17ft..weighs about 75 lbs. I have a little homemade dolly that I wheel it around on and I'm able to slide it up on top of the pickup w/canopy without too much trouble (but I'm not sure how much longer I can do this )

Don't have too many pictures of it (cuz we're always in it at the time!) It's a great lake boat...very stable.




Would you believe in 1977 the kit cost me only $189

Oh, for yesterday's prices again!!


Richard

This one is interesting...

http://www.folbot.com/kayaks/edisto/fishnphoto.html

[PanelDeland]

Someone with better search skills than I(could be anyone here) could probably look up a car top carrier boat plan.It was in Popular Mechanics many years ago.I remember it folded in half but was built of ply and when opened it was shaped like a John boat.It fit on a car top frame and could carry the paddles and some cargo when folded.

[tinksdad]

There was also a three piece in Pop Mech way way back!!! Fore and aft sections fit into the center section for car-topping. If I'm not mistaken it was a painted canvas over a wood frame. My dad used to tell me stories of how as a Boy scout, he used to repair canoes with fabric and paint. I never had the nerve to ask him if he actually met Lord Baden Powell!! (Or would that fall in the common sense category???)

[alffink]

Back in the mid to late 70's my son's Boy Scout troop, in Norwalk CA. had what you might call a small interest group that enjoyed combining Kayaking with their camping trips. Their winter project was to build their own kayak for the next season.
The design that was used was a stretched and sealed canvas skin over a wooden frame. I have no idea where the design came from, but I know that for at least three summers they took these home built kayaks to the Grand Canyon for a ten-day paddle.
All the boats, with their Scouts made it back with-out any major dificulties.
Some of my sons fondest memories from those years.

[Wimperdink]

This thread reminded me of this one too... I've always wanted to build one of these no matter how silly it looks.

http://www.woodenwidget.com/