In life, bigger isn't always better. If you have to carry it, that cetrainly applies. It is considered efficient and a good use of resources to make small things engineered to a specific task. It is easier to make and maintain small things. These factors certainly apply to small boats. Sure they have their useful limits, but good use can be made of them.
One sheet boats have a certain draw. Theoreticly 32sq ft of hull is all a person needs for a beach toy, small fishing boat or row boat. This has been accomplished in a myriad of different designs as will be illustrated in upcoming posts. The "OSS" has had success, even I have built a few. Barges and prams have been done with good success and offer utility to their owners.
It was the "Prism" that offered up the design constraint of using 100% of the sheet on the hull. It only makes sense to max out all 32sqft. The variation on the designs were all intriguing and fun to study. In an effort to make the design look more "boat like" and still use all 32sqft, I have come up with my own way of cutting up a sheet of plywood.
Much like the "Prism" variations, I have made variations for longer, wider and designs that use a board for a transom. These latest units may not meet the purists requirements, but do produce the most "boat like" version and can be adapted to engines. The basic design can be adapted to a 2 sheet 12' Jon boat or a 3 sheet 16' runabout.
It is winter in Chicago. There is nothing you can do to scratch the boating itch, but get it ready for spring, or if you don't have one, build one. My design has been modeled and tested. Now, to decide between the Kayak or Skiff, clear the garage floor and let the cutting and gluing begin. This blog serves as a location to post my resources in a handy, universaly accessible place.
The internet is a wonderful way to bring people with such specialized interests as "one sheet boats" to gather and discuss their ideas and experiences. So I would like to offer this very specialized community of boat builders and designers, my take on the best way to make a single sheet of plywood into a boat you can use.
I hope you like what you see and try to build one yourself. If you do, post pictures of a completed project for others to use as inspiration. If you find a better way, please advise. If you have questions or concerns, let's hear them. It's collective inteligence and building off other's ideas that advances development. I can hardly wait for the next innovation in one sheet boat design.
One sheet boats have a certain draw. Theoreticly 32sq ft of hull is all a person needs for a beach toy, small fishing boat or row boat. This has been accomplished in a myriad of different designs as will be illustrated in upcoming posts. The "OSS" has had success, even I have built a few. Barges and prams have been done with good success and offer utility to their owners.
It was the "Prism" that offered up the design constraint of using 100% of the sheet on the hull. It only makes sense to max out all 32sqft. The variation on the designs were all intriguing and fun to study. In an effort to make the design look more "boat like" and still use all 32sqft, I have come up with my own way of cutting up a sheet of plywood.
Much like the "Prism" variations, I have made variations for longer, wider and designs that use a board for a transom. These latest units may not meet the purists requirements, but do produce the most "boat like" version and can be adapted to engines. The basic design can be adapted to a 2 sheet 12' Jon boat or a 3 sheet 16' runabout.
It is winter in Chicago. There is nothing you can do to scratch the boating itch, but get it ready for spring, or if you don't have one, build one. My design has been modeled and tested. Now, to decide between the Kayak or Skiff, clear the garage floor and let the cutting and gluing begin. This blog serves as a location to post my resources in a handy, universaly accessible place.
The internet is a wonderful way to bring people with such specialized interests as "one sheet boats" to gather and discuss their ideas and experiences. So I would like to offer this very specialized community of boat builders and designers, my take on the best way to make a single sheet of plywood into a boat you can use.
I hope you like what you see and try to build one yourself. If you do, post pictures of a completed project for others to use as inspiration. If you find a better way, please advise. If you have questions or concerns, let's hear them. It's collective inteligence and building off other's ideas that advances development. I can hardly wait for the next innovation in one sheet boat design.
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