Overview

As of 27 November 2011, these are the new lines for my next boat. In short it is a 13ft x 4ft rowboat.

Note that I had worked on the lines for quite some time, making small changes here, small changed there. Based on my previous lines I have deepened the forefoot to a degree, made the bow more full to a degree, and also increased the beam

It is hard to know how these changes will work out in practice. A rowboat is compromise between many competing factors, for example a narrower beam might give better performance in very rough conditions, as happens with a dory, but at the expense of the boat being less welcoming for those less used to small boats. If the boat is too tender, then although the boat may have excellent rough water capabilities, if people are not confident in using it, then if will not be used.

A finer bow may create a faster boat, yet a more full bow will rise up into a heavy sea, and in so doing keep the water out. So the degree of fineness is a compromise between these two competing factors.

Main features of this boat when compared to my previous 18ft dory are

• Greatly reduced windage
• reduced weight
• Easily car-toppable
• Easy to build
• Requires a small amount of materials
• Has greater initial stability for those less agile and for children
• Is optimised for one person, with ability to carry 2 at times
• Long waterline length for good speed
• Optimised for smooth water, with ability to survive moderate conditions if encountered

The older skecthes of this rowboat can be seen HERE

Specifications for this boat are as follows


Length = 4.03m (approx 13ft)
Beam = 1.22m (approx 4ft)
waterline beam at 220kg = 0.87m
midsection freeboard = 0.244m

Below can be seen the excellent Spur II rowboat by Jim Bolger. An extremely capable boat, I have shown it as an example of how a rowboat that has rough water capabilities, has a bow that fills out very quickly