Sunday, August 21, 2016

Pacific Loon: A SoF Oar Cruiser

The Pacific Loon is a Skin on Frame (SoF) rowboat that is designed from the start as an Oar Cruiser. The plans include a design for a tent to be used for shelter. The frame (that supports the skin of the hull) is an ingenious design that goes together, as Matt Hickey (owner and designer at "Hermit Cove Boats) says, "…like Ikea furniture." This approach guarantees that all components of the frame will be perfectly aligned and locked together. The design includes a floor that sits on top of the frames (a couple of inches above the skin) and is long enough and wide enough to be a comfortable sleeping platform.

 Pacific Loon is light enough to car-top and carry to the launch site. Full details on all components as well as a complete building manual are contained in the Pacific Loon web site. 


Two Pacific Loons Loaded for Cruising

Actually, this is not just a rowboat that can be converted into an oar cruiser. It IS an Oar Cruiser, designed for cruising, although it functions beautifully for fishing or just sightseeing. The custom tent for sleeping on board can be made from the included plans.

The Tent for the Pacific Loon -- Plans Included

The frame is an ingenious design that goes together, as Matt Hickey (owner and designer at “Hermit Cove Boats) says, “…like Ikea furniture.” This approach guarantees that all components of the frame will be perfectly aligned and locked together. The design includes a floor that sits on top of the frames (a couple of inches above the skin) and is long enough and wide enough to be a comfortable sleeping platform.

Two views of the Frame

The design, based on Phil Bolger’s recreational rower (see The Folding Schooner... Chapter 21), is comfortable and can easily carry a passenger for day trips with its two rowing positions.

Rowing from the Forward Rowing Position

The topside flare, freeboard and lightness of the hull all ensure that the Loon can handle rough water.

Rowing in Rough Waters

Matt Hickey on Rowing Pacific Loon:

Matt says she is not a fast rower; "If I row the 14' Loon at an easy pace she goes 2.5 knots (2.9 mph, 4.6 kph). If I throw my back into it, 3 knots (3.5 mph, 5.6 kph)."

Specifications:

  • Length: 13' 4{" (4.1 m)
  • Beam: 4' 8" (1423 mm)
  • Weight:  No weight given in documentation; however, SOF are typically half the weight of same boat constructed in wood.
  • Estimated Water Line Length: 13’ (4.0 m)
  • Est. Water Line Width: 39” (991 mm); measurement taken on frame 3 at the second stringer below the gunnel.
  • Est. WLL/WLW Ratio: 4:1
  • Est. Hull Speed: 4.8 knots, 8.9 kph, 5.2 mph (these calculated numbers are high compared to Matt's experience noted above.)

Summary-Pros:

  • She is designed as an Oar Cruiser.
  • She is light enough to car-top single-handed.
  • She has a proven track record of cruising in the Pacific Northwest.
  • She can carry two people for day-trips.
  • Seaworthy.
  • She can handle all the supplies/equipment needed for multi-week cruises.
  • Plans include design for shelter.

Summary-Cons:

  • Lower cruising speed than most other Oar Cruisers.



(Thanks to Matt Hickey and Friends for all the photos)

7 comments:

  1. ld stability cope if you plan to camp at anchor?
    Thanks Brooks -Bartlett

    ReplyDelete
  2. Brooks-Bartlett, if I understand you correctly, you are questioning the stability of the Loon while anchored and sleeping on board.
    Given it's width at over 4', the low center of gravity while sleeping, only about 4" above the bottom and small amount of deadrise in the bottom (shallow "V"), I'd see no issue at all sleeping aboard at anchor. Matt Hickey and others have done it many times.

    ReplyDelete
  3. 2.5 kts cruise speed seems slow. The boat is fairly short so probably hull speed limited. I would like to see the same concept stretched to 16 - 17 feet, and include slide seat. That should still be light weight and car top, but faster and more carrying capacity. I don't see advantage to the 13' 4" length, longer is usually considered optimum for a solo rowing boat.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Tom - On the Hermit Cove site all the links to row camping in the San Juans and Gulf Islands are dead. I would like to see those trip reports, do you know if the trip is posted elsewhere?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Rick... sorry for the late response... agree on the Pacific Loon... seems pretty slow... could also be partly due to the wide hull and thus skin friction... I was thinking the same way, stretch it out to 17 feet, keeping all else the same...

    Regarding the San Juan videos... I looked at them about two weeks ago and all was okay... I don't know any other location for the videos... I sent you a private email.

    Tom

    ReplyDelete
  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  7. It's a neat boat. I wrote Matt and he said his weighed in at 105 lbs. This is a bit heavy for me to car top, but maybe other people can handle it. This design doesn't include flotation and I think that would be needed for safety.

    ReplyDelete