Instant Boats Message Boards

Doug,

I'm of two minds here concerning the building aspect of your post...

On the one hand, you're being careful and honing your skills. And that's super. It really is.

On the other hand, Dynamite didn't name these boats "Instant" for nothing. These boats are "buildable" by novices, and you aren't a novice anymore. True, to be safe, you'll probably have to stick to the Payson build scheme, and you may even mess up a sheet or two of ply (welcome to my world)... But stuff like the CarTopper are doable even by the beginner so long as he or she is thoughtful, determined, and prepared.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that IMHO the decision to build a small boat (especially an Instant Boat of any ilk) should be based on need, resources, preferences, time, etc., and not on concern about skills. (If you were thinking about building a Beetle Cat and had to wrestle with lofting and steam bending, then I'd say back up a bit.)

Anyway, my best advice is to find the design that fits your needs and so long as it isn't the QE II, build it. The skills will come.

My plug nickle...

Alan

That's pretty sound advice Alan,

I need to make a boat that looks as pretty as the car topper, and can motor, row, or sail. Emotionally and spiritually so to speak.

My next boat has to be good for rowing a passenger ( Mrs. Doug - her first outing in Mary Margaret resulted in my first man overboard - despite taking many many landlubbers for their first canoe ride, she still wants to go out again though)

I want to make one where I can tinker with sail design, that fixed centerboard location doesn't seem to lend itself to that.

Has to car top, not ready to haul a boat yet.

Would like one I could camp/cruise on.

Make no mistake, I will build a cartopper if'n the Almighty is willing and the creek don't rise. Just looking like it won't be my next.

Hi Doug,

Actually, I wasn't referencing the CarTopper... What I was trying to say is, IMHO, I think that you should find that "special boat" that you want to build and go for it. So long as it isn't a horror build, you can do it without huge hassle. (Actually, even a horror build is doable too... Plenty of first timers have built tough stuff like wood-frame aircraft and survived. (http://www.jdtmini-max.com/woodandfabric.php).)

Alan

Ahhh, said the blind guy! Therein lies the rub. I haven't really met too many boats I don't want to own, outside of a certain genre of plastic boats previously discussed. Even within that genre, there are examples that I adore ( usually old beat up ones ).

So I guess it's determining what I want most, because we all know any design is a trade off. The Nimitz will get you from Gloucester to Key West faster than you can imagine and in comfort, but finding a parking space for that tub is a true hassle.

Not to mention all the hairy mojo the man will send your way if you try to privately own a nuclear ship. Then there's the bazillion dollar sticker price..... She's prolly really hard to build from plywood too

But for somebody with a million bucks to burn, that CC01 has been deemed do able by no less than PCB himself. Close enough to owning the Nimitz for most DIY boating enthusiasts. Double the Wyoming, put on a flight deck, Shazaam!

My affordable inflatable kayak gets me into skinny water and doesn't require a berth or registration, but there's no getting a hot shower and a freshly grilled cheeseburger at four bells on that yacht. I read about one brave soul who put on outriggers and sailed one in the Texas 200, but it's not a cruising proposition for most.

Trying to narrow down the short list between those two extremes is a fun process. Especially being fairly new to the world of DIY boats. Kind of like that first visit to Baskin Robbins when you were old enough to order for yourself. Many choices, and almost all of them delightful to ponder.


That "special boat" changes every time I sit down for my daily reading. But I have a few months to nail down the next build.

This process has sold me on the benefits of modeling forever and ever. It may take a few models before I find "the one". But Dynamite really knows what he speaks of when he advises a model first.

It's a shame he's such a gentleman. If he came out and said: "Call me and ask a build question that would have been answered by doing a model first and I will personally stow your boat where your sun don't shine" the number of horror builds from his plans could diminish appreciably.

Hi Doug,

OK, I understand... The decision becomes, "which boat do you want to build?" Ouch... So many boats... Thoughts...

* The CC01... (http://www.brucesboats.com/page3.html) Ummm... You first. Though I'd be sorely tempted to go the auto-gyro route if I built something like the cc-01...
* Which boat to build? Why just one? If nothing else, build and sell at cost plus a little to support the hobby. One boat worth a ton of attention (sooner later for me) is the Gypsy. I built the model, and that is one sharp looking boat! There are other must-builds before I leave this earth: Gloucester Gull, another Teal, the Sea Hawk, finish the Micro, maybe the AS-29, the Surfmaster 19 looks sweet... I guess I've reached the point where I know that this ain't no dress rehearsal... "Build 'em if you've got 'em".
* Amen about modeling. As I type this, I have a Gypsy model in front of me... Even crude models (like mine) speak volumes.

Alan

I've got to tell you Alan, the more I lurk and occasionally post in other boat forums, the more I love the work of Bolger and Michalak.

Just got done straightening out a fellow who called another man's dream of an open camp cruiser "foolhardy" and makeshift boom tents "ridiculous" took me all morning that day to edit out the venom from my retort. Something the guy who started the beef evidently didn't bother to do.

A bit under the weather today, and one side of the Cartopper model needs regluing to the transom. Hope to mill some model stock this week for this one and others......

Then there's that junk sail and associated parts to make for the Mary Margaret. Might as well enjoy the rest from this little bug while it lasts. Also need to go ahead with the rudder for the Cartopper model. Might just find a way to use it on my BT. That and a centerboard would be an interesting experiment in mitigating weather and lee helm in a tiny junk rigged cat-punt.

Feel better...

Alan

Thanks Alan,

Update on the Cartopper model - PL premium is not a good model glue in my hands. Haven't given up on the 1/8 stock yet, but have to find a different adhesive and get all the PL gook off the rear transom and side panels. Pretty determined to make this model though...

I would think that PL Premium would be way too thick to use with any model. Elmers Glue or even the old stye model airplane glue would be better...in my opinion.

Just before I quit driving myself crazy building RC airplanes I was using a lot of Cyabiacrykate Super Glue. When sprayed with an accelerator it forms an instant joint. Most model supply stores sell the stuff in small and large sizes. Like epoxy...they even make gap filling super glue!

Hi,

I found that I used (use) four different types of glues:

• white Elmers for plain stuff
• CA when I need a quick grab (half the time it grabs me)
• 5 min epoxy which is good for strength and fillets
• Titebond III gives a semi-quick grab

Alan

It's official, the 1/8 stock is too darned thick. Rudimentary testing had led me to believe that it would take the bend. Methodology was apparently incomplete for an accurate conclusion. Might be able to save the bottom, perhaps even the transoms and frames. But those sides need to be thinner. Looks like I will have to get off my sorry butt tomorrow and break out the table saw.

Going to the waste stock from my seating supports, a.k.a. the pig iron resembling 2x4 framing from heck.

well, Here's the thing. I have the book, and the plans for CarTopper. I have built a model. love the way the boat looks. Build scares me just a little bit, but I know I can do it.

the cartopper won't be the two man fishing boat I want it to be. Nearly impossible to trim for rowing with two on board according to the man who designed her. Tender handling and somewhat over canvassed according to a much better sailor than I'll ever be. But she is so pretty.

Able to row, sail, take a small electric or outboard motor. Good for fishing, probably for clamming too. Able to ride on the luggage rack with some care.

Probably not the next boat I want to build. I need and easy sailor that will carry two, spend most of it's time on the ponds under oar and carry two anglers occasionally. When she sails she can't be tender, or over canvassed. Sometimes the wind kicks up here with little warning.

She has to able to camp cruise solo, and do so handily. The CarTopper will do most of that, but there is another. I also have plans for Michalak's piccup squared.

Have ripped some thin stock from 2x4 scraps, and availed myself of an Xacto knife and razor saw. Here is a crude model of piccup squared next to the cardboard cartopper model.









The piccup squared will clearly have more initial stability and more built in flotation in case of knockdown. Easier to stand up in, easier to sail. Better for fishing the ponds. More capacity.

But that cartopper is so darn pretty.

Here's the cool part, I have plans and books for both, and there ain't no law against building more than one ( this year anywho)

Looks like the piccup might get built before cartopper, but more modeling and thinking is needed to be sure. How convenient that winter is coming up! Maybe I should start laying in Epoxy now.....

Well, Doug, you know the old saying "Pretty is as Pretty Does"!

But, I do agree with you, the Cartopper is a pretty boat for sure. However, it appears the Piccup Squared would carry a heavier load, have more cockpit room, and be much easier to build, as well as being more stable to stand up in.

Yeah, the only thing for you to do is build both of them! Ha! i can just guess what the little woman would say about that!

I'm still plug away at the computer, but have high hopes for getting out to the Okie Boat Works before long!

Hi Bill,

I think a fellow who likes to fish on ponds and wants to sail in the bay needs to build both of them. the other side of the coin is that the Cartopper's pointy bow and multiple chines will handle the rough stuff much better than the pram.

There is absolutely no way that I can be expected to make it through my mid life crisis ( would that it were, I don't think I can get another 48 years out of this lifestyle...) without a boat that's as pretty and versatile as the CarTopper.

It's not a stellar motorboat, or a fantastic rowboat, or a top line sailboat, definitely not a first class workboat. It will do all of the foregoing competently and in style. Having both would be like the ultimate luggage rack fleet. Throw in a Rueben's Nymph to go with my Mary Margaret............

Then it's time to shop around for a trailer.

Hi,

I'm looking at my model of the Cartopper... Man alive is that a pretty boat.

I took the time and scanned in the plans out of the book... Then I scaled them to 1:27. (All my models are that same scale... That way I can compare boats.) Once the plans were the right size, I made a bunch of copies and glued them on light cardboard (I use 30-pack cardboard). After the glue set I carefully cut out the parts and assembled per the full-size build instructions using Elmers, yellow glue, CA, and "plunger epoxy". A little dab of paint, and there you go...

It looks like such a "traditional" boat. Dang!

Alan