Here are a couple of photos of the wooden power dory i built over the last year and a half. Hope this works (never posted a pic. before)

http://www.piscatorialpursuits.com/uploads/UP5232.jpg

Well, looks like only one photo shows, click the link and it will take you to the other photo.
As for a few details. the boat is 16' long. Is powered by a 40 hp. merc. (she scoots right along with that). The boat is made from marine plywood and held all together with epoxy and fiberglass. The boat is known as a headwater 16, power dory (just like the ones that launch in thd surf, but scaled down in size). she was designed by a man out of chehalis washington, by the name of Tracy o'brien. I'm now down to adding the little extras that all boats need. Hope you enjoy the photos.
chumsalmon

That is one cool boat, Stupid question could you use that like a drift boat (motor up) or is more of a deep river and inlet boat....Im wondering because I know where one could be had cheap.....DJ

dj,
The boat isn't ment to be used like a drift boat. Although the boat doesn't draw much water. You could put a pump on the motor and the boat would then only draw a couple inches of water. I plan on useing it out in the sound and the lower parts of the skagit river. hope this answers your question.
chumsalmon

Nice looking boat! Thanks for sharing the pics. Are planning on using it in the salt or is it primarily a river/lake boat? I'd be interested in hearing how it handles the bigger water.

little fish,
i plan on using it in the salt quite a bit. I don't have experience with it in rough water yet, but will let you know after that has been tried. From a couple other people that have built them, they've said they handle rough water very well. I guess this kind of answers your question, but i don't have any personal experience as of yet.
chumsalmon

Very nice! There's nothing like building your own and then having people up and down the river pay homage!!! She's a beauty.

Beautiful job! Nice looking boat.

Great looking boat and a cool design.

Does the designer sell plans over the internet? If so, could you post a link? If not, does he have a shop or business phone?

My father, who recently finished the wooden boat school in PT, is looking for a design something like that.

Cool design that would not cost a fortune to power.

Thanks for the pictures.
Jeff

JEFF B :

How did the hatchery steelhead Bush Pt /Whidbey Is. fishery go this winter? You hook up a keeper this year? I believe you and I were discussing this at about the beginning of winter? How would you rate the season there this year?

Congradulations! Pretty damn satisfing isn't it. Stitch and glue? Flat Bottom? I think I saw one of his boat comming out at Westport last year. About a 20" with a cuddy cabin?

Thanks for the compliments everyone!
It is pretty satisfying. The boat is "stitch and glue" and the bottom is flat.
The reason for building this boat was...at the time i couldn't afford a boat of it's size, so i started looking at ones to build, i finally came across Tracy o'brien's plan on the internet
(here is his link http://www.tracyobrien.com/showcat.asp?id=2
). And it all kind of clicked. it was the size of boat i wanted, i could buy here and there when i could afford it, it took relativly low power to make it operate, and to top it off from the reports i was given from a couple other people that built the boat it was supposed to be very seaworthy. So that is why i origanally started the project.
Once i started the boat i made a few decisions and altered the plans some.
The bottom of the boat is 3/4 of an inch thick (a layer of 1/2" ply. and then a layer of 1/4") and is covered with 18oz. of fiberglass cloth and to top that i used an expoxy/graphite coating, so in short the bottom should be pretty tough. The sides are made of 3/8" marine plywood also coated in fiberglass (only 6oz. on the sides) and the transom is a full 2" thick ( 1 1/2" dug. fir and 1/4 marine on each side, so plenty heavy duty). The top rails are 3/4" x 3/4" mahog. strips. The boat without the motor weighs around 600 lbs. so she's fairly light. With the 40 motor she pop's right out of the water and is on plane within a boat length.
Well, i've probably rambeled on enough.
Thanks again for the compliments.
chumsalmon

SWEEEEEET! nice job, May you have many hours of pleasure in that beautiful craft, Fishy........

Pretty boat!

My wood driftboat had the graphite/epoxy bottom for the first 8 trips, until I turned it over. I would suggest investing in a pail or two of Gluv-it.

Separate the Gluv-it into three separate equal portions, and in three other separate containers (six containers now) pour in equal portions of the catalyst. Mix one batch at a time and apply with a throw-away 2.5" brush. One pail did three coats on the bottom of my 16' boat. I have a total of three pails on it.

The epoxy/graphite bottom was not very impact resistant (you used West System, right?). Now when I hit the unseen rock, I don't flinch quite so bad.

Outstanding job on it, now don't ever think of parking it outside. Garage it.

I'd like to see some closer shots of the boat, especially the front "apron". Looks like you've got some pretty looking wood up there!

Andy

Lofty,
In early winter I made a trip down to the beach for steelhead about once a weekend, and saw a lot of fish, but didn't land one. That continued for me all season, but I quit going once blackmouth opened in Area 9. (Mid Feb)

Overall it was a good season and at least I got to see several fish and had some follow my lure, but no takers. Maybe next year, or the summer run wich I think starts around June.

They are still catching a few now and then, but they are all wild, so most guys fishing now you don't want to fish with. I know of a couple landed as recent as 2 weeks ago.

Were you able to find your way down to the beach this past winter to give it a try? Keep that rod in the car for summer! It opens mid July, but the coho don't show in numbers until mid to late August.

Looks perfect for the lower Skagit. You should have some good times in that boat when the silvers and chums are in.

Thanks for clearing that up. I looked at the one on the Navys Lemon Lot (thats just what they call the place where the sailors unload there cars.boats,trucks,etc before they transfer) and was wondering where it was used...

andy,
i'll take a few more photos of the inside and post those too (may be after this weekend though). right now i'm working on a couple of split bench style seats and had to make room for a 12 gal. gas tank.
I used system 3 epoxy (just about the same stuff as west system), If the bottom gets to scratched or worn i'll just add more epoxy and a little more paint. well, look for a few more photos after this weekend.
chumsalmon

DogFish, What is the Gluv It , made out of? Does it go on like epoxy and what are the costs?

Very good job Chum... Lets see more pics... I'd like to see some detail of the insde etc. Do you know the Sgagit yet? I live in Mount Vernon, fyi

West Systems 3 is a line of interchangeable products. West systems = sytem 3.

Gluv-it is a two part epoxy mixture that folks will put on the bottoms of their boats to prolong the life of said boat bottom. It also helps slide over rocks better. It is used on wood and many metal boats. Not sure about glass boats.

I have 3/8" of wood on the bottom of my boat + 2 plys of 10 oz. fiberglass including two wet coats + three epoxy coats with graphite + anywhere from 1/8" to 3/8" of gluv-it, depending on the area.

Pails of Gluv-it are about $60 at Boater's World.

Titanium,
i don't know the lower skagit yet. I've talked to quite a few guys that have told me i will be fine running a prop in the lower river. I've fished the upper river quite a bit but, always from the bank. so needless to say it's going to be a learning curve for the lower river. I look forward to when it opens and the learning process can commence. For now i'll do some practicing/getting acquainted running the boat on a few lakes and get all the bugs worked out.
chumsalmon

Chum, Have family up that way, may run into you sometime,have fun with the new boat.
Dog, why graphite in the epoxy? and do you buy it with it or do you mix it in?