A Minimalist Oar Cruiser

Paul Butler designed, among a wide range of boats and other projects, a Montana Guide Boat. The Guide Boat is 11’ 6” (3.5m) long, double ended, flat bottomed and weighs 60 pounds (27 Kg).

The Montana Guide Boat Weighs 60 pounds

She’ll carry 250 pounds (113 Kg) and has 4 water-tight compartments, two at each end of the center cockpit. The two end compartments are accessed through deck plates, while the two inner compartments are accessed through bulkhead mounted hatches. These hatches not only provide access but also, when left open, give room for your feet for sleeping.

Specifications:

• Length: 11' 6" (3.5 m)
• Weight: 60 pounds (27 kg)
• 3-panel design
• Capacity: 250 pounds (113 kg)
• Draft is 4" (102 mm) fully loaded
• (Other measurements are not available except on the plans. I have estimated the other measurements based on the photos in Paul's site.)
• Estimated Water Line Length: 11' (3.4 m)
• Est. Water Line Width: 42” (1067 mm)
• Est. WLL/WLW Ratio: 3.1:1
• Est. Hull Speed: 4.4 knots, 8.2 kph, 5.1 mph

The Guide Boat can be rowed, paddled, poled and, with the addition of a short outrigger, powered by a small electric trolling motor.

Rowing with 6' (1.8m) Oars

Stable Enough to Fly Fish 

Hoops attached to the coaming support a tent.

Cockpit Showing Tent Supports and Plank Rowing Seat

Comment from a builder:

“It actually rows better than I expected with my 6 foot oars, sitting on the removable plank seat. It didn’t paddle very well however, with me kneeling, but I added a small shallow keel and that made a lot of difference.”

Commentary from Paul Butler:

"This is a lightweight and much simplified version of an old market hunters boat used to hunt river bottoms and sheltered lakes. This adapted version makes a good fishing, water-fowling and general recreation boat… The boat can be carried by one person, but with its tough graphite/epoxy bottom its even easier to drag the hull using a short tether hooked to a bow eyelet. The hull slides easily over parking lot surfaces, launch ramps, river rocks and gravel, and dragging the lightweight hull makes the graphite bottom slicker with use… The wide flat bottom provides stability to stand, kneel or sit… It usually takes about 25 hours for a first-timer to cut out and pre-finish the plywood parts, and another 25 hours to assemble the basic hull."

Summary-Pros:

• Easy to build.
• Large compartments to store water-proof bags holding supplies.
• Additional built-in water-proof compartments for emergency flotation.
• Stable enough to stand up and fly-fish.
• Full decks and high coaming ensure safety in any rough water encountered in protected waters.
• Very low windage/profile.
• Light enough to car-top.
• Ideal size and configuration for (stealthy) exploration of wildlife in wilderness 'back-waters'.

Summary-Cons:

• Short waterline length, low WLL:WLW ratio (3.1:1) and large bottom surface area (skin friction) all will make her slower than other Oar Cruisers.

Plans are in a 40 page building guide that includes lots of options and comments from builders.

The Montana Guide Boat is not going to be very fast, but would be an oar cruiser that is easy to build, easy to car top, and provides basic protection for ‘weekend cruises’ in protected waters.