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> After have built three strippers over the past three winters, I am ready
> for a slightly different project. What I am contemplating doesn't really
> qualify for this board, but I trust the advice of the builders here, so
> bear with me if you will...
> I need a motorized tender for a sailboat - something that will hold
> 1000-1200 lbs, and handle (ugh!) a small outboard. I like the inflatables
> with a rigid bottom, and am wondering if anyone has ever attempted
> building one. Any thoughts....or directions you can point me in?
> Thanks.
I'd suggest you take a look at the sevylor inflatables. www.sevylor.com
These are plain vinyl boats (very heavy weight vinyl) at prices in the $200 or less range.
The caravelles or the fish hunter series should serve your purposes. They take a motor mount and either electric motors or gas motors up to about 3 horsepower. I have one of the 5 person caravelles and it is rated at a capacity of over 900 pounds.
You can cut a sheet of 1/2 inch exterior plywood to the shape of the uninflated floor. When the side tube are inflated they will fit over this, giving you the advantage of a solid floor. To keep things really tight, cut a hole in the plywood that is large enough to allow you to easily reach the inflation valves for the floor, and after the side tubes are inflated, put some air in the bottom. Round the edges of the wood so you dont get any splinters that might injure the boat.
If you want, you can build a bench seat on this wood floor, or install brackets for holding your battery or gas tank in place. Just make sure no fastenings extend through the bottom of the wood floor to the point where they might wear through the boat material.
Hope this helps.
Paul G. Jacobson
This is an archived message from The Kayak Building Bulletin Board.
Guillemot Kayak - High
Performance Wooden Sea Kayak Designs
