Question about boats

[dhazard]

I would like to second the idea of an inflatable. I just got my second one. My first was a 12.5 foot Zodiac with a 15 hp I used it for the last 13 years for diving and just sold it for $1000. This year I replaced it with a 13.8 foot from West Marine with a 25 hp. It is definitely over your $500 but it is the most stable small boat and folds up real small. Deflated I could carry the Zodiac by my self. The new one dose require several volunteers. (Thank to all the helpers at Ocean Cove this year) If you get an inflatable I would recommend getting a good one not a cheep one.

Regards Dan H

[eamarquardt]

I don't know why there hasn't been more talk about infatables on this thread. They provide lots of flotation, are verrrry stable, easy to store and pretty easy to put together and a heck of a lot more durable than most people think. I still have my Archilles purchased in 1983, used regularly for 10 years, and the fabric is still in excellent shape. They are available used for reasonable prices and there is even a nice looking one right in Phoenix.

I, IMHO, think inflatable is the only way to go for occasional use.

Look at these. If you need help in this neck of the woods lemme know.

Cheers,

Gus

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/boa/1247879446.html

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/boa/1254628641.html

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/boa/1254286162.html

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/boa/1254572569.html

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/boa/1249814863.html

[jopasm]

I'm resurrecting a thread, but you might want to check out Duck Works magazine (it was mentioned earlier but no link):
http://duckworksmagazine.com/

Articles about boat building, designing, catalogs of plans, and all sorts of good things. Kinda reminds of this place.

One designer who sells plans through the site is Jim Michalak. His designs are relatively simple to build using lumberyard material and epoxy and are quite popular. He has a book out with several designs in it - there's enough info to build from, but the full size plans are available. The QT Skiff or Jon Jr. might fit your needs. Check out the other designers on the site as well!

I'm tempted by the Eureka canoe from Michael Storer Designs and Duck Flat Boats. It has the lines of a strip-built canoe but it's stitch-and-glue plywood, supposed to be very lightweight and easy to paddle. The plastic canoe I currently have shares neither of those attributes!

[Cliffmeister2000]

That's a good looking canoe!

All plans are on hold as I struggle to survive the current economic conditions, but I have not stopped dreaming!

Thanks!

[Barefoot]

Thank you, ZendoDeb for the link to the Flapdoodle. It's a fascinating site and, though I'm a long-time fan of "messing about in small boats", completely new to me. There's even a link to a Yahoo group for people interested in them.
I'm enjoying building Toad Hall so much that I'd begun to worry as the end came in sight, wondering what to do next, not that a TTT is ever completely finished! Thanks also to the Search function and to DeeBee who shared building his Flapdoodle about two years ago. Now I have the next project --and something else to take along to some destinations. It will fit on the side of the 5x8 trailer or just barely inside the tow car.

[Creamcracker]

I've been contemplating Cajun Pirogue.....I'll need to get back to this thread tomorrow.
Philip