Building Something, Opinions, Suggestions

[Wavewacker]

I'm back again. The search for a boat just hasn't worked out in my area, I've looked, but nothing trips the trigger.

If anyone recalls my past few posts on building a boat, reality set in. I built a small raft thing as a kid and a hydroplane so no experience really, but man have I been studying. No, I can't talk stability or hydrodynamics as I'm no engineer.

I'll get to it. Now, I'm thinking small, 24', a freighter canoe, about a 53" beam. Sail and small OB. A camper for the rivers, lakes maybe the Eastern ICW and gulf area. If you think that's nuts, just wait.

I have a heavy PVC swimming pool cover about 18x34', when deployed you can walk on the water, it weighs about 120/40 pounds, too heavy to mess with on the pool and one season took us to an automatic cover.
Anyway, an experienced designer said it was a good material for a stich on frame project, not really stitching but gluing.

Ok, so it's durable, UV protected, waterproof and pliable enough to work with.

Now, with that, here is the nuts part, maybe.....build a large canoe (or maybe a pram the same size) with ribs but instead of thin stringers as with SOF, use planks. Lumber! Yes, it's heavier, but I don't have a towing problem.

Like building a regular boat but not having to mess with fillets, epoxy, glass or cloth, just butt joints. Then cover it as we would for a SOF.

I'm thinking to of adding air tubes for flotation. May even try some amas or floats just for stability, as many do for sailing. Using leeboards as well, no box. Keel is outside the covering BTW.

This won't take half the material I have, plenty for a soft/hard foredeck, tent camper top with windows welded in (plastic welding shop here can do that).

15/20 hp OB.

Gaff or Marconi sail (?), not a speed machine, just to move along.

Yes, my long voyage is still on my mind, this would be a challenge, very economical, harder on the old body but manageable. Camp shower and water jugs/tank, porta pottie, a good cot and pad and maybe 12V fridge/ice chest, add on as I go I guess for what's really needed.

Big enough for 2, 4 at times for short jaunts.

Thanks!!!